Windows Insiders now have access to the Canary Channel, which allows Microsoft to test new features and updates for this upcoming release.

While the tech world eagerly awaits an official word on “Windows 12,” enthusiasts and fans are already imagining what they hope to see in the next iteration.

One such vision comes from designer and YouTuber Addy Visual, who recently shared a concept video showcasing an amalgamation of user-requested features and innovative ideas.

Windows 12 Concept Video

Conceptualizing the Next Start Menu

Addy Visual’s concept video introduces a fresh take on the Start menu, combining elements from Windows 11 and Windows 10.

While adopting Windows 11’s aesthetic appeal, the concept retains the functional aspects of Windows 10, such as the prominent display of the All Programs list. Additionally, the Start menu incorporates widgets, allowing users to access these interactive elements within the menu itself.

Revamping the Taskbar

The concept video also breathes new life into the taskbar, introducing dynamic elements that display relevant information and notifications. Users can now interact with the taskbar to summon widgets, which can then be placed directly onto the desktop. This fluid integration between the taskbar and widgets provides a more versatile and efficient user experience.

Prioritizing User Choice

Throughout the video, the underlying theme is the importance of user choice. Many users expressed dissatisfaction when Microsoft removed various options while transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11. In stark contrast, Addy Visual’s concept embraces choices, allowing users to have either a separate taskbar or one that spans across the entire screen, depending on their preference. This emphasis on customization seeks to cater to individual needs and preferences.

Welcome Return of App Groups

A particularly well-received feature from Windows 10, App Groups makes a comeback in the concept video. This reintroduction would delight users who found great utility in organizing their apps more efficiently. Additionally, the video explores similar functionalities available on smartphones and tablets, highlighting the potential for cross-platform integration.

Redesigned File Explorer and Innovative Features

The concept video also delves into a redesigned File Explorer, aiming to enhance the user experience when navigating and managing files. Furthermore, the video introduces several innovative features, promising exciting possibilities for Windows users.

The Reality of Designing an Operating System

While Addy Visual’s concept video presents an inspiring vision of the future, it’s crucial to recognize the immense effort required to create an operating system with functional and cohesive moving parts.

Designing an OS involves extensive work, coding, and rigorous testing.

Microsoft cannot merely drag and drop elements to effect changes; rather, each alteration must be meticulously evaluated to ensure smooth functionality, usability, and backward compatibility.

Conclusion

As the tech community awaits official updates on Microsoft’s next major Windows version, enthusiasts and designers like Addy Visual offer inspiring conceptual glimpses into what the future could hold.

Emphasizing choice and familiarity, this Windows 12 concept seeks to address user feedback and demands while introducing innovative features.

However, it’s essential to remember that creating a new operating system is a complex process that requires careful consideration of various factors to deliver a seamless and user-friendly experience.

You know, new options like the tabbed File Explorer, Taskbar overflow, and a whole lot more.

Attention has now shifted to the Moment 2 release, which is tracking for arrival sometime early next year. Just like the first such release, this second one is expected to be packed with new additions.

What they are exactly remains a mystery for now, as these features are not fully confirmed yet.

But as luck would have it, Microsoft showcased one such addition in a video that demonstrates what appears to be a new feature in the Windows 11 22H2 Moment 2 update.

This is from the preview build number 23003, in case you are wondering. And this is a build that Microsoft seems be using and testing internally. And one that the company was confident enough to show off during a special livestream.

This video was streamed earlier today on the 8^th Anniversary webcast on the Windows Insider Program’s official YouTube channel.

The pre-recorded demo video shows the touch-optimized tablet taskbar, with Microsoft explaining how the taskbar goes from its normal 48-pixel height to an even taller height for user interfaces meant for touch usage.

You can catch it in action at the 33:55 mark.

Of course, keener minds among you may already be aware that this is the second time that references to the Moment 2 update have surfaced.

The previous instance was back in early September when an internal build numbered 22940 was the one where things first popped up. Shows that Redmond has churned through quite a few development builds in this time span.

Yes, a new Microsoft 365 app is being readied to replace the current Office application.

Days after announcing this new piece of software, the software titan has prepared a short video that provides us with a first look at this upcoming application and all the features and options it is expected to bring.

The video, which is rather quick and covers some of the app’s key features, has been posted on the official Microsoft 365 YouTube channel.

At just 55 seconds, there is not much time to discuss the app in detail, but it suffices for an initial peek at the upcoming app.

Give it a watch:

We get a look at the app’s new icon and look, and the clip does a good job of showing how this app will serve as a new hub for all your documents, presentations, and files across all your applications. It will even include third-party content.

Quick access to all your recent files is also available right within.

You can also easily search for and find files shared by specific people, and all your company apps are conveniently located.

A feed is available to help you prepare for your upcoming meetings and see updates from the people you follow. Powered by Microsoft Graph, personalized recommendations are also available.

So, a pretty neat package overall.

Interestingly, the Office app on Google Play Store has now been renamed to Office (Microsoft 365), though it does not offer the new functionalities that are highlighted in the video above.

This rebranding is all part of the new drive from the company to put the Microsoft 365 branding left, right, and center. Redmond has said that Office.com, the Office app for Windows, and the Office mobile app will all become the Microsoft 365 app in the coming months.

The software titan also announced several upcoming improvements and apps coming to the OS.

These changes and best illustrated in this video that Redmond had prepared to outline the additions in development for the operating system. The clip is a mix of the old and new, with File Explorer tabs and the Xbox Controller Bar getting equal billing with the upcoming new features.

Take a look:

Really, the OS has never looked better!

While the video may be of the Windows 11 2022 Update, the platform as a whole has seen massive improvements in all areas. Users will also be able to try a range of new features that will soon be available.

These include a native screen recorder, iCloud integration, and a couple of Apple apps.

To start things off, we have built-in screen recording capabilities that will finally arrive for Windows 11. These will be integrated into the Snipping Tool and allow you to take screenshots and record your display from a single application.

We also have a handful of additions that will improve the compatibility of Windows 11 computers with iPhones and the overall Apple ecosystem.

The redesigned Photos app is getting some new powers. It will be able to collect photos not only from OneDrive but also from iCloud. This integration will require installing the iCloud for Windows app from the Microsoft Store, which is now available to Insiders for testing.

Apple is also getting ready to launch Apple TV and Music apps in the Microsoft Store, which means Windows 11 users can finally stop using iTunes for Apple Music.

These two apps are on track to be available for testing later this year and to be launched publicly in 2023.

The real-time strategy game launched last year to critical acclaim.

With the one-year anniversary approaching, the studio behind it is finally ready to unveil a couple of great new civilizations for the title. Ottomans and Malians are the two new entrants to the arena, and both further expand the already diverse offerings in the game with their unique units and abilities.

Before we get any further, let’s rewind a bit.

Relic announced these new arrivals as part of Gamescom 2022.

The company confirmed that the two civilizations will arrive as part of the free Anniversary Update, which will go live on October 25 for game owners and PC Game Pass subscribers. More information on this massive update could arrive during the Xbox live stream on August 25 during Gamescom.

In the meantime, feast your eyes with this trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kewbhZWZOf8

The footage shows the Ottomans having a new type of powerful siege unit while the Janissaries are out and about. There is also a new type of horseback unit that seems to be playing the drum in a bid to buffy nearby allies.

The Malians, meanwhile, are highlighted by spear throwers that have taken to the battlefield alongside some spear and shield wielders.

Relic’s announcement post on the official Age of Empires IV website has more details on these new additions, which you should check out.

Speaking of checking out, Microsoft and Relic have put Age of Empires on its deepest sale yet with a 50% discount across Steam and the Microsoft Store. It should drum up a lot of interest, alongside the special offer with the game available for free for a week on Steam.

A fun little ad campaign is now live in collaboration with Marvel and Disney.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is the company’s newest miniseries, which premiered on August 17. Microsoft has joined in with a new advertisement that highlights the Disney+ app available on its operating platform and one of its finest devices.

The short 30-second ad shows She-Hulk using Windows Hello to log into Windows 11. She then multitasks various documents and PowerPoint slides using the new Windows Snap feature in the OS. One of the slides is about the effects of gamma radiation.

Watch the ad below:

Life’s full of trials. Ace a case and save the day with Windows 11. Don’t miss @MarvelStudios’ #SheHulk: Attorney at Law, now streaming on the Disney+ app on @Windows: https://t.co/6z3n5RLpis #ad pic.twitter.com/qi9qyNVcTp

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) August 19, 2022

An effective little ad, if ever there was one.

The short video does a good job of telling people that they can download Disney+ on Windows 11 to stream the new show. It also puts the Microsoft Store front and center—a rather neat push for the apps repository that launched last year and continues to improve.

Then there is the Surface Pro 8, which is the company’s flagship device and the flagship model of its Surface brand of machines.

Ads like this help promote products to mainstream audiences, particularly if they are well thought out and tie in with the property in question.

Pretty good stuff, this.

These videos are put together to help users learn basic stuff regarding the new OS.

The introductory video series goes by as “Meet Windows 11”, and it highlights the basic instructions for using the operating system as well as a selection of valuable tips that are sure to come in handy for users new to the platform.

You will learn elementary stuff regarding personalization, apps, and tools, as well as the features and capabilities of the Windows 11 operating system.

The first video teaches new users how to use universal search, desktop groups, cloud clipboard, essential shortcuts, and accessibility features in Windows 11.

Second on the agenda is personalizing your experience. You will learn about creating collections in Edge, how to use Windows Widgets, and change desktop backgrounds.

And finally, we have the third clip highlighting the new stock apps included in the OS, like Photos, Phone Link, and the good old Microsoft Store.

Many of these lessons can be considered helpful for newcomers. But more experienced users will not find anything special in these videos, considering this series is aimed at those starting out with the Windows 11 operating system and users looking for refreshers on making the most out of it.

The good news is that every video has a dedicated support page for those of you who want to read about the features instead of watching these clips.

Here you have it for the first, second, and third video.

Job well done!

And while there have been differing opinions regarding the usability of the latest version of Windows, few will deny that most thing the development teams have tried have been dipped in quality sauce — that is to say that the new features and additions in the OS come with necessary attention to detail.

Quality be the mantra for Microsoft.

And that is exactly what Panos Panay reiterated today at Computex 2022 in a discussion with Nicole Dezen, the CVP of Device Partners Sales at the company.

Echoing the statement that the quality of the operating system was the highest priority for the Windows 11 development team, Panay said:

“And it (Windows 11) has the highest quality scores. Here’s the most important thing for our team, quality, quality, quality. People using it are finding the quality in the product, which has just been awesome. That also translates to product satisfaction. It is the highest product satisfaction of any version of Windows we’ve ever shipped. You kind of see that.”

You can watch it below:

Of course, this is not Panos Panay’s first hint at something like this.

In a January blog post penned by the Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Microsoft, he claimed that Windows 11 had the highest quality scores and product satisfaction of any version of Windows that the company had ever shipped.

In fact, product quality was a huge focus for the team.

Back to the Computex keynote, Panos also talked about other things like the various features baked into Windows 11 and the hybrid work culture that has become prevalent since the COVID pandemic.

The Surface Laptop Studio made its way out late last year.

And it remains a peculiar piece of technology inside out, thanks to its complex form factor with a quirky hinge. That said, though, getting into the guts of the device is not all that hard, as the video below so aptly illustrates.

Give it a watch to see the unique design ideas that Microsoft implemented in its newest machine.

The above has been posted on the Surface YouTube channel and is bound to come in handy not just for folks who repair devices for a living but also for fans to see what the shiny exterior holds inside. And it also does a good job showcasing the repairability features of the Surface Laptop Studio.

Perhaps the most important bit you will learn is that repairing the machine does not require removing the motherboard to replace the battery, screen, SSD, and ports.

Connectors are also modular, which means that replacing a Surface Connect or audio jack will be a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure.

The way it should be!

This should come as no surprise, as Microsoft, unlike some other companies, has backed the Right to Repair movement. This means that it avoids using excessive adhesive or purposefully overcomplicating the internal design.

We spend our time going through Windows 11 and taking stock of the different features.

This new Windows 11 tutorial video shows you how to Sync Clock Time with the Internet Time Server.