Windows 11 Update: Android Apps, Taskbar, Editor, and Media Player

Microsoft has released the first major update for Windows 11. This so-called feature update enables the use of Android apps from Amazon’s App Store, but only in the USA for the time being. In addition, the taskbar, media player and text editor have been revised. Microsoft promises to roll out these types of continuous updates now rather than waiting for fixed feature updates twice a year.

Android apps on Windows 11 are still part of Microsoft’s Public Preview program and are limited to Amazon’s Appstore and apps from users in the United States. Microsoft promises in its blogAmazon to expand App Store availability later this year.

To use Android apps under Windows 11, higher system requirements are required than the operating system According to Ars Technica Modern processors, including eighth-generation Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3000, require an SSD instead of a mechanical hard drive, at least eight GB of main memory, and virtualization support. Amazon and Microsoft use the “Windows Subsystem for Android” for Android applications, a further development of the previous “Windows Subsystem for Linux” (WSL). Previously, Android apps on Windows 11 could only be tried through Microsoft’s Insider Program – that too only in the US.

Taskbar with clock on multiple monitors

Microsoft also expanded the taskbar with the February update. Now in the left corner are the weather reports, which automatically pop up when you mouse over them. If the taskbar is aligned to the left and is no longer centered, the weather symbol appears on the right. If multiple monitors are connected, the taskbar now shows the date and time on all of them.

In addition, Microsoft provides the facility of video telephony. The taskbar gets an icon for quickly turning the microphone on and off. Sharing your screen in a team meeting is possible by simply clicking on the app you want to share in the taskbar.

Text Editor Revised and New Media Player

According to Microsoft, the integrated text editor got an improved search function with the February update, supports Night Mode and offers multi-level undo and redo. The new media player replaces the previous apps Groove Music and Windows Media Player. It supports audio and video and is optimally optimized for Windows 11 in design.

Going forward, Microsoft promises “continuous innovation” for Windows 11, after Windows 10 recently received feature updates only twice a year. It’s a departure from Microsoft’s previous update strategy for operating systems.

(FD)