In this video, I cover unique features exclusive to Windows eleven
that will make upgrading worthwhile for productivity focused users.
Plus, I discuss some of the productivity features you missed from Windows
ten and updates you would love to see added to Windows eleven.
Windows eleven officially launched on October fifth, 2021,
and includes some useful new productivity upgrades over Windows ten.
However, upgrading from Windows ten might not be appropriate for everyone
at this time, especially if you're not using your computer for work.
While other YouTube videos have covered all the general feature updates,
I wanted to take a deeper
look at how Windows eleven actually improves my productivity.
With that in mind,
here are the main features unique to Windows eleven and how to use them
so you save time and streamline your workflow.
Plus, three missing features I'd love to see added if you were Windows
user that uses multiple programs,
being able to easily see and access different windows is extremely important.
Whether you're working on spreadsheets to transpose information into a presentation
or have a streaming set up that requires multiple programs running at the same
time, the ability to organize your workspace is important.
Windows ten did make an important leap forward with the way that you can drag
and place windows into quadrants on your desktop.
However, Windows eleven takes the concept even further.
Not only are you able to drag and place windows
to suit your preferred layout, but you can also hover
over the maximize window icon and choose from some preset arrangement.
They include more flexible ratios that were previously unavailable
without manually dragging the edges of your window.
But still, you can make multiple groups of windows arranged into grids,
and Windows eleven now enables
you to have quick access
to those groups by simply hovering over the icon in the taskbar.
For my own setup, having Premiere Pro media encoder audition
available as a single group is helpful.
When editing my videos,
then being able to quickly switch gears and join a video conference on Google Meet
alongside a document I'm reviewing and call participants is very convenient.
Another exciting evolution of the new snap layouts and groups is the ability
for windows to manage your workspace for you
if you have to move between locations regularly.
If you are a laptop user who docks your device
with an additional monitor,
you can detect and reconnect
your laptop, and Windows eleven will automatically arrange
a workspace to your last configuration without the need to do anything.
Another feature that has been given a usability tweak is desktops.
If you haven't already discovered the feature in Windows ten, desktops
is a feature where you can set up bespoke environments on the same computer
but delineate your personal space from your workspace.
The feature works by clicking the desktops button and creating
additional workspaces, even giving them unique names.
Now, you can switch between the desktops using the button on the taskbar,
or by using the keyboard shortcut of control windows
and then arrow keys to navigate back and forth between them.
Windows eleven has improved on the feature with the ability
to customize your desktops
with unique wallpapers to really help differentiate and compartmentalize
your spaces between your personal use work or other preferred setups.
one nice additional touch is the subtle way that each app or program that is open
shows an indicator on the taskbar as you navigate between the different desktops.
Windows eleven now introduces a very helpful feature
that was previously only available in File Explorer.
Quick access and recent files in File Explorer enable you to quickly
locate recent files.
Now, Windows eleven Start Menu includes a section called Recommended,
which shows your most recent files in reverse chronological order.
Adding the feature to the Start menu
now means it takes one less step to quickly pick up where you left off.
Helping you work even more efficiently.
Another minor but very welcome addition to File
Explorer is also the use of color coded and customized folders.
While this wouldn't be considered a massive new feature, it's
a nice addition that incrementally speeds up your workflow
by making it easier to identify the correct folders.
Despite these useful new features and additions to Windows eleven,
there are still areas for improvements and updates.
There are three main issues I have personally,
but I'm sure there are many more depending on your preferences.
News and interests were first launched in Windows ten in May 2021,
after update users found that a new button had appeared on their taskbar
and the feature received a mixed reception.
Now, news and interests has
been integrated into a new Widgets app that appears in the taskbar.
By default, pressing the widgets button brings up a sliding sidebar.
Here, you're able to configure a limited amount of default
apps to display everything from the latest weather in your outlook calendar
through to your favorite stock prices to even a Windows
eleven tips and tricks widget to help you keep apprized of the latest features.
Below the widgets, there's a section where you can find news and interests.
Unfortunately, Microsoft still insists on making Use Edge to launch a browser
to read the article, but it's understandable given Microsoft
and Google's ongoing competition for search and advertising dollars.
But it would have been nice to be able
to set your own preferred default browser, such as Chrome or Firefox.
However, all is not lost for those users who can spend a bit of time and effort.
You can download a third party app called Edge Deflector.
Once installed, you can set Edge Deflector as your default app to open links,
and it'll automatically redirect your preferred browser.
Another frustration right now is the inability to add non-Microsoft
widgets, while Microsoft has said more widgets will be added to the library
at the moment, users are limited to the eleven official options also due
to Microsoft and Google competing for uses for their productivity platforms.
The option to add Google Workspace to your widgets is unlikely
to become a reality despite the broad adoption of workspace by a lot of people.
It would have been great to have been able to add Gmail, Google Calendar
and Google Drive, but sadly it's unlikely to ever happen.
Finally, one admission from Windows eleven that I personally found really useful
in Windows ten was the ability to group and Nest programs in the Start menu.
Previously, it was possible to drag and drop icons into user
defined groups and even create sub folders or shortcuts.
Sadly, Windows eleven just features an area to pin
your most used programs into an unorganized area
at the top of the start menu, but with no other functionality at this time.
The result leaves you with just a patchwork of icons, which are
best you can order into your most used or order of importance instead.
Overall, Windows
eleven is definitely worth the upgrade for any productivity focused users
who consistently use multiple windows and programs concurrently.
The new features enable you to organize your work in multiple ways to streamline
the workflow and provide a way to focus and switch between tasks seamlessly.
If you're someone who
regularly finds themselves using
and processing many different types of programs and file types,
the updates are going to provide even better tools to get your work done faster.
However, if you're a user who is more singularly focused on individual tasks.
Windows ten will continue to provide
everything you need at this time, at least until support ends in 2025.
Thank you for watching, and as ever, it would be great
if you were to like the video and subscribe to my channel
for more content on personal technology and the connected home.