Windows 11 operating system unveiled.

Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 at a virtual event.

This software will allow Android apps to run on desktops. Panos Panay, product manager, promised faster and smaller security updates. This is a common complaint from users. He said that they would occur in the background.

Windows 11 allows users to create multiple desktops for home, work, and gaming. Microsoft claims that there are approximately 1.3 billion Windows 10 devices at the moment. App developers will receive an early preview of the new system next week.

Windows 11 will be free for existing Windows 10 users. However, some devices may not have the correct specifications. These requirements include at least 64 gigabytes storage and 4 gigabytes RAM.

One cosmetic modification is to place the “Start” button in the bottom-center of the screen, rather than on the left-hand side. Windows 11 will also integrate better with Microsoft’s communication platform Teams. Xbox Games Pass, which is a subscription service that gives access to hundreds more games, will be pre-installed.

The tech giant claimed it would share more profits from the app store with creators, developers and other users – while rival Apple continues to face difficulties over its business model. Microsoft stated that Win 10 would be the last version of its operating system when it launched in 2015. Microsoft has now announced that Win 10 would be discontinued in 2025.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, described the launch of Win 8 as “a significant milestone in the history” but Geoff Blaber, an analyst at CCS Insight, said that he didn’t consider it to have been “a revolutionary step”. He said that Win 11 was an iterative release, which focuses on areas where operating system has greater ambition rather than making sweeping changes like its predecessor.

Microsoft’s ultimate goal is to ensure that Win 11 delivers significant enough improvements to override any complaints. JP Gownder, Forrester’s principal analyst, noted that the new operating systems were based on Win 10 code. This should avoid upgrade glitches like those experienced with Vista.

He said that these user-friendly nods back to the past were a double-edged blade, however. They are great for continuity, but you have to wonder what the 11 actually stands for. This is more of a feature-rich upgrade than a full-version version.