Exciting Features in Windows 11's October 2022 Update
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Chapter 1: Overview of the October 2022 Update
On October 18, 2022, Microsoft launched the build 22621.675 as part of the 22H2 version in the public channel.
This indicates that your system likely received the update. If you’ve delayed it or haven’t been following the updates, this article highlights the new features introduced in this release, which are quite impressive!
Section 1.1: File Explorer Tabs
I’m particularly excited about the new tabs feature in File Explorer, as I often find myself juggling multiple windows while working on coding projects. Managing several windows across two monitors can be inconvenient, and I often lose track of their locations. Additionally, having each window occupy space on the taskbar doesn’t help, especially since I’ve opted to disable taskbar grouping.
Now, with the ability to consolidate all File Explorer instances into a single window, my workspace will be much tidier. The intuitive nature of tabs, which have become standard in web browsers, is a welcome addition to File Explorer. I wish this feature could be extended to document editors as well.
Subsection 1.1.1: Suggested Actions
The latest version of Windows 11 introduces a feature known as Suggested Actions. It claims to recognize text patterns such as dates, phone numbers, or emails, and subsequently offers shortcuts for adding events to a calendar, making calls, or sending messages.
Upon further exploration, it appears this functionality is designed to work system-wide, meaning it should function not only in browsers but also in text editors. This excites me, as I had researched suggested actions during my thesis years ago and wished it had been universally available back then. Witnessing this independent implementation in Windows is truly thrilling.
Section 1.2: Enhanced Window Management
Many users enjoy having numerous applications and windows open simultaneously without closing them, while still keeping track of everything. To accommodate this, Windows has now introduced a three-dot icon that displays all your open windows when the taskbar space is maxed out. This enhancement allows users to run hundreds of applications concurrently.
Personally, I prefer to keep a minimal number of tabs open to enhance focus and reduce resource usage. However, since this feature was introduced based on user feedback, it certainly has its merits.
Chapter 2: Task Manager Accessibility
Although Task Manager has always been part of Windows, it has become less visible to users recently. I’ve occasionally struggled to find the shortcut to access it, and using the Ctrl + Alt + Del combination was cumbersome as it required an additional mouse click.
Now, Microsoft assures that Task Manager will be readily accessible from the context menu on the taskbar, which is a welcome change. Let’s hope this remains consistent; it’s a nice improvement.
Section 2.1: Additional Enhancements
These features are the highlights of this release. Other minor updates include:
- A Favorites section in File Explorer
- Greater integration of Microsoft 365 and OneDrive into File Explorer
- An expanded list of apps and devices available for file sharing
- Improvements to the Photos application
- Enhanced OneDrive integration within Photos
- A geographically limited Amazon Appstore featuring Android apps, which is currently unavailable in Poland and seems to be in a testing phase.
As evident, this release offers substantial improvements. I appreciate that Microsoft is pushing boundaries beyond our traditional expectations of operating system features.
To dive deeper into these updates, check out the link below. If you enjoyed this article and would like to see more like it, please subscribe via email, clap, like, share, and let me know your favorite feature from this update!
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