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Windows users have been desperate for Microsoft to do something about its troublesome widget feature for some time, and the tech giant has finally responded. In a major step forward to enhancing the user experience, Windows now offers users the option to disable widgets. That means that the news feature can be switched off and won’t get in the way anymore. However, it’s important to be aware that there are some bugs to watch out for, and that this update may not suit everyone.
Caption: Windows 11 widgets explained.
Why Has This Rollout Been Requested For So Long?
For many years now, the news widget has been the bane of many Windows users’ existence. A vast amount of people have complained that it is annoying, and can get in the way when they are trying to do other things. For instance, people busy working in focus mode have accidentally clicked on the widget and found themselves distracted. Likewise, the last thing casino players want is to click on it during a fast-paced round of live blackjack. Some games, such as 888 XTRA and 888 Select, require players to have intense concentration to make the right plays – clicking on a widget in the middle of a round could, therefore, be more than annoying.
Despite coming as much-needed relief for some Windows users who found the widgets too distracting, there are some issues with this new update that people should know about. Indeed, after you’ve toggled the news feed off, there are some potential glitches. These include some other widgets such as Microsoft 365 and the Outlook Calendar getting stuck in an error state. There’s a chance that you’ll also still see announcements in the Microsoft Start feed even when the widgets are hidden.
The great thing about this Windows 11 update is that it allows for greater customization, with users getting more creative freedom and control on their home screens. This means fewer distractions and less unwanted content. However, it does come with a few cons as well. For some, navigating the settings required to turn off widgets could be too complicated. There’s also the chance that it could lead to potential errors, such as the glitches that users have reported so far.
What Other Recent Windows Updates Have Boosted the User Experience?
The new widget-disabling feature is just one of many fresh updates that Microsoft has introduced to try to improve the user experience on Windows. There are plenty of other notable advancements that are helping the classic desktop to stay relevant in the modern age. For example, the glanceable VPN on the taskbar is a cool element that highlights the growing popularity of these tools. Now, when the VPN is active, users see a small shield over the active network connection symbol on the taskbar. This is useful, as it allows users to quickly check if they are safe before they open their internet browser.
Each new edition of Windows comes with new security protocols to keep up to date with evolving threats to internet users. The latest new integration to Windows 11 is the Microsoft Pluton security processor, which offers stronger protection against malware and hardware attacks. This is a chip-to-cloud technology that was developed using the Zero Trust security strategy. It’s built directly into the CPU, making it harder for cybercriminals to get to sensitive data.
One of the most popular new additions in recent times has been the live captions expansion, which was first introduced in the 2022 update for Windows 11. When watching videos or listening to audio content, users can now see captions in 10 additional languages. Now, there are 21 different options for live captions including Korean, Japanese, German, French, and Portuguese. This is highly useful for online meetings, where users can see the captions on people’s speeches in real time. It means that users can add subtitles to make sure they don’t miss a word that someone says, and foreign languages can be translated as well.
Will There Be Any Other Useful Updates in 2024?
As Microsoft continues to lead the way in the tech race, there are going to be some huge updates in 2024 that could blow everything that came in 2023 completely out of the water. That’s because rumors suggest that a massive Windows update is on the way, and this could come with several groundbreaking artificial intelligence features. It’s currently nicknamed Hudson Valley, but industry insiders are predicting that this will be the next major edition of Windows. It may end up being released as Windows 12 or an update to Windows 11 – nobody is quite sure yet.
Caption: An introduction to the Windows copilot.
One of the key components of this new advancement is the copilot, which is integrated into the AI-powered Windows Shell. This will enhance the Windows search feature and assist users throughout their day-to-day lives using natural language processing. AI will enhance many of the existing features of Windows too and is expected to boost live captions and real-time language processing. There will also be AI-powered wallpapers, which have interactive elements.
Along with all these AI-based additions, there will be other enhancements to the Windows user experience in 2024. These include super resolution for videos and games, which will utilize neural processing units to boost visual quality. There will also be energy-saving advancements that could potentially offer up to 50 percent more battery life on some devices.
The new update to widgets on Windows 11 appears to be just the start of a huge rollout of new developments that will make the user experience more enjoyable. With the help of AI, Microsoft is ensuring that it stays at the forefront of the PC market with loads of innovations.
