The Windows 10 and 11 operating systems share a lot of similarities and there are some big differences. The newer version provides a more Mac-like aesthetic and far more productivity features – plus the chance finally to utilise Android apps on your computer using Windows 11.

Windows 11 is a reaction to competition coming from Apple and Google, both which have been nipping at the edges of the market-leading desktop OS with sleek new designs. Despite its drastically updated look intended in order to respond to the competition, Windows 11 works much as Windows 10 does — with more polish and a couple of new features and conveniences. Coming after six years of mediocre upgrades, this major revamp to the look and feel of the world’s most popular desktop OS is very welcome news.

Here’s why Windows fans have something to get excited about.

Android App Integration

Android apps are now offered for Windows 11 out of the Microsoft Store, via the Amazon Appstore. (There were a number of ways to get access Android apps on Windows 10, together with if you owned a Samsung Galaxy phone, however this will make it native.) This is something which Windows users have been patiently waiting for years and years and marks yet another move towards the merging of mobile and laptop devices.

Start Menu And Taskbar

If you’re examining at the differences between these two OS versions, the most significant ones are the Start menu and the Taskbar.

Beginning with the Start menu, in Windows 11, it is a little bit more simplistic. You will only see a static list of apps which is followed by your most visited documents on the bottom. Crucially, Live Tiles are gone in Windows 11 and this makes the Start menu look much neater.

As for the Taskbar, Microsoft has summarised the search box into an icon and has also taken away the Cortana functions in Windows 11. At the moment, you’ll find a devoted icon for Microsoft Teams in the Taskbar that is incorporated into Windows 11. You’re free to take away the icon if you don’t utilise Teams, though.

In addition, the other big change involves shifting the weather in the Taskbar to the left side of the screen. This was known as News and Interests in Windows 10 however in Windows 11 that gets replaced by Widgets. You’ll still see the weather, but you’ll also see other things like news, sports scores, traffic, your favourite Aussie pokies online sites, and more.

Widget

A brand-new feature that Microsoft is attempting to push on Windows 11 is “Widgets,” which is a concealed panel which comes out above your desktop from the left-hand side of the screen.

There’s a devoted button for it on the Taskbar or – alternatively – you are able to access it via swiping in from the left-hand edge of your display screen. The panel comprises a widgets area at the top which has a few of customisable widgets to select from, and your Microsoft Start news feed below it.