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 😊


Windows 11 on Surface tablet
  • 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

← Back to Notes