- Windows 11 24H2 introduced a Start Menu Side Panel to Android users
- The same panel is now in testing for iPhone owners
- A few other options are added, including a button to quick and easy to send files from your PC to your phone
Windows 11 users with an iPhone that was jealous of Android’s extra integration in the start menu will undoubtedly be happy to see that Apple smartphones are getting a very similar treatment.
If you remember, Android phone owners got this perk with the permission of Windows 11 24H2 update that introduced a floating sidebar right at the start menu. This contains details of the mobile battery level along with functionality as the possibility of listening to voice messages, seeing photos and continuing recent activities.
It is a very number of extra abilities that are bolted on the start menu, and now Microsoft iPhone users give pretty much the same thing, albeit with tests to begin with.
Microsoft notes in a blog post: “This trouble -free integration allows iPhone users to enjoy the same benefits as Android users, including the possibility of viewing the phone’s battery status and connection, ability to access messages and calls and keep track of the Latest activities, all conveniently integrated into the start menu. “
In addition to this, there is another new feature at the bottom of this sidebar, a convenient button to ‘send files’ instantly from your PC to an Android device or iPhone.
Finally, Microsoft has also done so, so those who have not got the start menu sidebar started, but still get a quick setup process presented to them.
Analysis: A righteous effort for a (relatively) quick release
This is for Windows insiders (testers) to start with, those in beta or dev ducts originally. It is worth noting that this starting menu function, for both Android and iPhone users, is dependent on the phone link app (and Bluetooth le). So you need a recent version of phone link installed to use it (v1.24121.30.0 or better).
Not all features introduced to preview buildings make the clip to release, but with this functionality I don’t see that Microsoft would give it up. It would hardly seem fair on iPhone users and there are many of them (although the number is still bleached in comparison to those on Android devices globally).
I would expect this to continue through the test relatively quickly, as, being introduced to the closer period, if one assumes that everything is going well in Preview -Builds, that is.
Via the rim
