Subj : Windows 11s next big update could arrive in February 2024, packin To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Dec 23 2023 11:45:05 Windows 11s next big update could arrive in February 2024, packing some nifty features but it might miss some tricks too Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2023 11:37:18 +0000 Description: The next major update will be Moment 5 and it could be the last one ever for Windows 11, potentially. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Windows 11 could be getting its next feature drop early in 2024, courtesy of what will be the fifth Moment update for the operating system. As youre likely aware by now, a Moment is the name given to smaller feature updates that arrive outside of the big annual upgrade Microsoft pushes out for Windows 11 ( which was 23H2 this year ). And we just heard from Windows Central (Zac Bowden) that Moment 5 should arrive in February (indeed its alternative name is the February 2024 Moment). That said, the catch is that this will be the initial preview release, late in the month, so the full version of the Moment 5 update wont actually arrive until March. On the second Tuesday of the month if the typical release cadence of Microsofts cumulative updates is adhered to which would make the date to mark in your diary March 12. What will this update pack in the way of new features? Well, dont get your hopes up for anything too exciting, as were told this will be a more minor release compared to some of the previous Moments. Even so, there will be a healthy dollop of tweaks and additions, and one smart piece of functionality is targeted at stylus users namely the ability to write directly into text fields with their pen (something Microsoft has promised will eventually be an OS-wide capability in Windows). Voice Access is also receiving some laudable attention, including support for multiple monitors, and powerful new voice shortcuts . The latter are customizable commands allowing for the opening of files, folders, or pasting a section of boilerplate text, for example (and they can be chained together for multiple steps). Microsoft is set to make a bunch of minor tweaks some of which are useful, like giving Notepad a character count, and being able to rename devices with the Nearby Share feature, to make them more easily identifiable at a glance (Darrens PC for example) but some of the work elsewhere is purely about complying with European regulations. Specifically, these changes are bound up in compliance, and destined for the European Economic Area (EEA) . They include the choice to uninstall the Edge browser from Windows 11, as well as the ability to strip Bing out of the taskbar search box (and instead have web results piped through from an alternative, like Google). (Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: March of progress Unfortunately, Windows 11 users outside of the EEA wont get those latter options, but they will benefit from another move to let the user uninstall a larger number of default apps like Photos, for example. Furthermore, Microsoft is introducing an option to specify that the widgets panel contains just widgets, with users being able to remove the news feed. Interestingly, were also told that Microsoft will make it possible for other third-party services to be integrated into the panel so you could infuse the widget board with Google news, if you wanted to. These widget-related possibilities are coming for everyone , fortunately, not just the EEA and we can keep our fingers crossed that the other mentioned Europe-bound changes will be rolled out more widely, too. Plenty of folks would like the ability to declutter Windows 11 a bit more by getting rid of Edge, no doubt. Of course, we must bear in mind that these changes are all rumors, though weve seen all the mentioned features going through testing of late, so all of this makes sense. The release date of February (for preview) and March is the nugget of info that needs more salt applied, but Bowden is one of the more reliable sources out there for info from Microsoft. Its always possible that an intended timeframe might slip a bit, mind. From what weve heard, this could be the last Moment update before the next-gen version of Windows is launched later in 2024. Whether that will be Windows 12 , or something else (Windows AI?), or if Microsoft might stick with Windows 11 ( making the upgrade version 24H2 ), we dont yet know, but the theory is this might be the last Moment before that next big move arrives. As per another of Bowdens recent rumors, Microsoft is supposedly set to switch away from Moments , releasing fewer of these updates going forward, and making more changes and feature additions in the big annual upgrade. (And yes in short, this is returning more to the way things used to be). You might also like... Windows 11 remains an unloved OS but why won't people upgrade? This stunning Windows 12 concept video shows us everything Windows 11 is missing Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11s-next-big-update-could- arrive-in-february-2024-packing-some-nifty-features-but-it-might-miss-some-tri cks-too --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .