operating system

Interest in Microsoft's next big Windows release immediately turned into confusion over the hardware requirements to run Windows 11. One of the most controversial parts of that requirement is TPM or the Trusted Platform Module cryptographic hardware. Where it was previously considered a "soft floor" requirement, Microsoft has just raised TPM 2.0 as Windows 11's hard requirement. It turns out that it might not be that hard at all since Microsoft is willing to waive it for certain special cases and markets.

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There has been an unsurprising amount of lively discussion about Microsoft's next big Windows release, and, also unsurprisingly, even Windows fans seem to be split on Windows 11's value. Just like the operating itself, Windows 11 is complicated in more ways than one, and nothing is perhaps more complicated than its compatibility with existing Windows PCs. While that story seems to continue evolving, Microsoft is putting its foot down on at least one aspect of that narrative, giving Windows 10 users until next year to make up their minds about Windows 11.

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Microsoft made a point to list all "feature deprecations and removals" with Windows 11 this week. Before the operating system is launched to the public, Microsoft wants to be extra clear about what they're adding and what they're taking away. For some features, like Internet Explorer, the changes should be obvious. For others, like the Start menu, you might need to keep a keener eye.

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Today Microsoft revealed bits of this newest version of Windows 11 before releasing said software into the wild. If you're interested in using Windows 11, you'll be able to download the update soon - provided you have a new enough and powerful enough computer. It's likely that most new Windows devices sold starting in the year 2022 will have this version of Windows - and new devices will be launched with this future edition starting later this year.

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Windows 11 has been officially revealed, and it looks like the operating system is bringing new touch, pen, and voice features along with it. In this era of detachable 2-in-1s that double as both a lightweight laptop and a tablet, Microsoft has previewed how Windows 11 will adapt between different form factors.

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Today, Microsoft revealed Windows 11 for the first time. According to Panos Panay, Windows 11 is "A space, a place, that feels familiar." Panay suggested today that, now, more than ever, the PC is the place where we live our lives. As Panay suggests, Microsoft knows how "functional and practical the PC must be, and believe me, we know that more than we ever have before," but that "it also must be personal." Today we're going to look at everything that makes Windows 11, "the Windows that brings you closer to the things you love."

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A huge portion of computing in the past years has focused on the "cloud", but there have been new movements recently to bring computing back down to Earth, so to speak. Just as microcomputers marked the decentralization of computing away from mainframes, hybrid and edge computing are now bringing some of the responsibility back to on-premise devices, such as IoT appliances and NAS. To keep up with the trends, Synology is pushing a big version 7.0 update to its DiskStation Manager OS, introducing features that not only adapt to the complex needs of users and businesses but also set up Synology NAS devices to become makeshift Google Photos replacements.

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Big changes in Windows 11 can be reverted at will, according to early testers of the operating system. Early leaks of this newest version of Windows suggest that the Start Menu and the taskbar, central to operations in Windows 11, will both be literally centered on the users' screen, too. Thankfully, it would appear that this major change can be reverted with relative ease.

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The earliest glimpses we've had of an unofficial Windows 11 build focused mainly on what users will see first. Those revolved around the very visible changes to the Start Menu and Taskbar and some small nudges to the theming and multitasking features of the platform. With just a few days remaining before its official announcement, analyses of Windows 11's inner working are also starting to pop up, and the good news is that there might be some substantial improvements in performance where every CPU clock cycle counts.

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Microsoft has a plan to reveal and potentially release Windows 11 this year, the year 2021. When you get your first look at the operating system, courtesy of leaked Beta builds and teasers, you might be shocked. You won't be shocked because the OS looks so shockingly different from what's available now in Windows 10 - you'll more likely be shocked by how similar it all looks to what you already have on your computer right now.

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Microsoft has an event scheduled next week to reveal what CEO Satya Nadella has painted as one of the biggest Windows updates of the past decade. Of course, it might just be Microsoft's top honcho hyping up what is now believed to be called Windows 11 but it has definitely gotten people talking. A leaked build of this Windows 11 upgrade just leaked this week to give a partial preview of what's to come. If that represents what Microsoft has to offer, however, Windows 11 might end up being more of a dud and yet another anecdote to the platform being chained forever to its past.

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Time and again, Microsoft has attempted to replicate on Windows the systems that are implemented on other platforms, particularly mobile devices. That primarily involves imposing restrictions not just on what users can do on Windows but also what they're able to install. That restricted version of Windows has gone by many names, from Windows RT to Windows 10 in S Mode. A new Windows 11 SE might be Microsoft's next stab at the idea, and it might actually be even more restrictive than previous iterations.

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