- Microsoft is changing the way Windows 11 updates are delivered
- Such as .NET, driver or firmware updates will be bundled with the monthly update
- This change is now in testing, along with a lot of work to make Windows 11’s default apps better
Windows 11 gets some more very useful changes, including an improved process for updates and a number of tweaks to default apps in the OS.
Microsoft has just released a new preview in the experimental channel (build 26300.8687) that packs the changes for Windows Update (which were announced as coming a while back in April).
Microsoft tells us: “We’re rolling out a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We’re starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to match the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly reboot.”
Elsewhere, Thurrott.com points out that Microsoft has a lot of work going on with the various core Windows 11 apps, and that the company is now documenting these changes under separate release notes for apps in its Learn portal.
The calculator will be fine-tuned to have readable text using high-contrast themes and more accurate square root results (with rare bugs fixed).
Windows 11’s Camera app now supports more video resolution options and a full range of zoom levels (plus the zoom slider now works with more cameras, including the latest models). Microsoft has also ensured that the front-facing cameras on several devices are supported.
The watch has the ability to run multiple countdowns (up to three simultaneously) and a new 15-minute snooze on alarms, among a whole host of minor changes.
Microsoft Paint now offers functionality to adjust how transparent the eraser is, and the AI image panel has been cleaned up with a cleaner layout. The toolbar also loads faster, and a lot of stability tweaks have been applied, reducing the likelihood of crashes.
The Photos app also has some useful changes, so it now displays very small images (like pixel art) at an appropriate zoom level so they look sharp instead of a blurry mess, as well as tweaks to the interface and again stability (to fix a crash that happened during text recognition).
With improvements to Media Player (customized captions, bug fixes, and better overall reliability) and Audio Recorder, Microsoft is clearly busy with these standard apps.
Analysis: a better way to work with updates
Keep in mind that all of these changes are being tested right now, but the various tweaks and new features to Windows 11’s core apps shouldn’t take long to come through.
The move to consolidate the rollout of Windows 11’s updates will take longer, as it’s only in the experimental channel (early testing) right now, and it’s just gradually rolling out there. However, it is great to see this in detail because it will represent a great convenience for the average Windows 11 user.
Instead of having to deal with separate updates for firmware or the .NET framework or device drivers, Windows Update will bundle them all together with the monthly cumulative update that Microsoft releases. The result is that you only have to reboot once to apply all these upgrades, and while the installation will take longer, it’s definitely worth simplifying how updates work this way.
This is one of many improvements Microsoft has coming to Windows 11 updates, and the most important functionality already in the pipeline is the ability to delay a monthly update indefinitely. Update installation failures have also long been a blemish on Microsoft’s reputation, and efforts are underway to cure these problems.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
The best laptops for all budgets
