I ended up going back and watching the replay of the Windows 11 event (mentioned in this week's ICYMI). I really like this focus on the cross-device, cross-platform experience that Windows is taking. I also think I want a Windows 11 Surface now.

As I've done with previous events, I took a bunch of notes and I thought I'd share them with you. As always, I hope you find it useful 😊

• Introducing Windows 11
  • Create, Connect, Play
  • All new themes
  • Snap your apps
  • Pick up where you left off
  • Connect with one touch
  • Personalized feed with widgets
  • Automatically adapts
  • Input the way you want
  • Sort & switch
  • Unrivaled gaming experience
  • All new Microsoft store
  • Design for any device
  • All your favorite products
• Visual Design
  • Attention to detail
  • Modern & beautiful
  • Rounded corners
  • Heavy on glass metaphor
  • Transitions
  • Lighting
  • Light / Dark mode
  • Focus on emotional state for better productivity
• Performance
  • Faster web browser
  • Faster apps
  • Updates are 40% small
• Productivity
  • Faster & simpler
  • Centered Start Menu & Task Bar
  • Utilizes the cloud and M365
  • Cross-device connectivity to pick up where you left off
  • New multi-tasking experiences
    • Snap layouts tailored to the size of your screen
    • Get set up & get started
    • Get back to where you were after an interruption
  • Snap Groups, a collection of apps that you were previously using
    • Switch between apps or entire projects
  • Docking (extra monitor)
    • Disconnect and apps minimize into a Snap Group in the Start Menu
    • Reconnect and resumes previous layout
  • Always know where you are
    • Vertical tabs in Edge
    • Separate desktops to stay organized & focused
• Connecting with people
  • Teams integration directly into Windows
  • Connect with one touch
  • Cross-device (PC, tablet, phone)
  • Cross-platform (Windows, Android, iOS)
  • Lots of focus on emotional appeal
• Windows widgets
  • Sheet of glass metaphor
  • Personalized feed powered by AI
  • Curated content
  • Touch, pen, voice, mouse, keyboard
• Adaptability, flexibility, versatility
  • Redesigned experience without a keyboard
  • Adapts to you instead of the other way around
  • Flexibility to work how you want
  • Not just for work & productivity, but for entertainment
  • Adaptability
    • 2-in-1 example
    • Always feels like Windows
    • Same Task Bar, more spacing
    • Bigger touch targets
    • Subtle visual cues for resizing & moving windows
    • Snap to make the most of your screen
    • Layout stacks to screen rotation
    • Added gestures, same as what's on trackpad
    • Consistent experience with subtle differences so it adapts to you
  • Flexibility
    • Optimized for use with pen
    • Enabling haptics for a more engaging pen experience
    • New touch keyboard with new themes
    • Minimized, mobile-like design optimized for thumb
    • Voice optimization with automatic punctuation
    • Voice commands
    • Better voice recognition
  • Versatility
    • Not just for productivity, but also for content & entertainment
    • Widgets modeled after quick interactions from mobile (calendar, weather, news, etc)
    • Slides over desktop
    • Panel view, full-screen view
    • Rearrange & resize widgets
    • News feed adapts to you & your interests
    • Support for local authors & content creators (leave a tip)
    • Microsoft Store, redesigned entertainment tab
    • Brings top movies & TV shows from across streaming services
    • Ability to project to TV via wireless connect
  • "As you move through your day, Windows 11 moves with you."
• Gaming
  • Superior graphics
    • Auto HDR
    • Introduced on Xbox
    • SDR vs Auto HDR
    • Games automatically enhanced if they support HDR
    • No additional effort by the player or developer
  • Amazing speed
    • New games will load faster via Direct Storage
    • Games quickly load assets to the graphics card
    • Experience incredibly detailed game worlds without long load times
    • Direct Storage optimized Windows 11 PCs come already configured with hardware & drivers
  • Incredible games
    • Xbox Game Pass built into Windows 11 via Xbox app
    • Subscription based
    • Hundreds of games available
    • Xbox Cloud Gaming integration
    • Play seamlessly across devices
    • Global community of players
    • Can buy games to keep directly from Xbox app
    • Connect gaming peripherals
• Microsoft Store
  • Rebuilt from the ground up
  • Built for speed
  • Easy to use & search
  • Safest & most secure way to get apps
  • Developers
    • Can bring any technology to the Store
      • PWA (Progressive Web App)
      • Win32 (Traditional Windows API)
      • UWP (Universal Windows Platform)
    • Making it easier to bring to the store
    • Support for building app business
      • Microsort commerce engine
      • BYO commerce engine (keep 100% revenue)
    • Adobe partnership
    • Separate session for developers
  • Android apps coming to Windows!
    • Integrated into Start Menu
    • Integrated into Task Bar
    • Can "window" them like other apps
    • Discoverable through Microsoft Store via Amazon Appstore
    • Intel Bridge technology
• Hardware Partners
  • Importance of intersection between hardware & software
  • Starts with the silicon
    • Intel
    • AMD
    • Qualcomm
  • Focusing on…
    • Battery life
    • Performance
    • Touch
    • Pen
  • Largest hardware ecosystem on the planet
    • Dell
    • HP
    • Lenovo
    • Samsung
    • Surface
  • Open hardware ecosystem brings you choice
• More than just an operating system, it's the fabric woven into our lives