• New Taskbar

The taskbar's buttons are center-aligned by default, and it is permanently pinned to the bottom edge of the screen; they cannot be moved to the top, left, or right edges of the screen as in previous versions of Windows without manual changes to the registry. The notifications sidebar is now accessed by clicking the date and time, with other Quick Actions toggles, as well as volume, brightness, and media playback controls, moved to a new settings pop-up displayed by clicking on the system tray. 

• The Best Start Menu Ever

The Start menu has been significantly redesigned, replacing the "live tiles" used by Windows 8 and 10 with a grid of "pinned" applications, and a list of recent applications and documents. File Explorer was updated to replace its ribbon toolbar with a more traditional toolbar, while its context menus have been redesigned to move some tasks (such as copy and paste) to a toolbar along the top of the menu and hide other operations under an overflow menu.

• Carrying on Windows 10’s Task View

Task View, a feature introduced in Windows 10, features a refreshed design and supports giving separate wallpapers to each virtual desktop. The window snapping functionality has been enhanced with two additional features; hovering over a window's maximize button displays pre-determined "Snap Layouts" for tiling multiple windows onto a display, and the tiled arrangement of windows can be minimized and restored from the taskbar as a "snap group". When a display is disconnected in a multi-monitor configuration, the windows that were previously on that display will be minimized rather than automatically moved to the main display. If the same display is reconnected, the windows are restored to their prior location

• On Safety and Security

For IT, Windows 11 is built on the consistent, compatible, and familiar Windows 10 foundation you know.  It is also secure by design, with new built-in security technologies that will add protection from the chip to the cloud while enabling productivity and new experiences. Windows 11 provides a Zero Trust-ready operating system to protect data and access across devices. We have worked closely with our OEM and silicon partners to raise security baselines to meet the needs of the evolving threat landscape and the new hybrid work world. As part of the minimum system requirements, Windows 11 only runs on devices with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security coprocessor. According to Microsoft, the TPM 2.0 coprocessor is a "critical building block" for protection against firmware and hardware attacks.

• Largest Hardware Ecosystem

Since day one of developing Windows 11, the developers of Windows 11 have been working closely with their hardware and silicon partners for seamless integration across software and hardware. That co-engineering begins with innovation in silicon. From AMD and the depth of the incredible graphics brought by the Ryzen processors to the incredible performance of Intel’s 11th gen and Evo Processors, to Qualcomm’s AI prowess, 5G, and Arm support, the innovation of our silicon partners brings together the best of Windows 11 with the largest hardware ecosystem in the world.

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Presence-sensing Privacy Setting

'Presence sensing' will allow a user to configure whether applications can use APIs to determine if a user is active or inactive in Windows. This change is being tested in the Windows 11 Beta preview build 22624.1610 and will be released as the ‘KB5025299’ update. As per the API documentation for the HumanPresenceSensor class, this setting represents a sensor that detects whether a user is present, absent, or not interacting with their device. Wondering what are its benefits? Here, you go:

• Stringent App Permissions

This feature can significantly impact a Windows 11 user's privacy, responsiveness, and performance. With these settings, you can now block or allow certain apps from accessing their presence sensors. This means you can have more control over your privacy and prevent apps from collecting and using your data without your consent. 

• Automatic Device Locking System

Presence detection can also have other practical uses. Microsoft explains that devices can be locked automatically when unattended to protect sensitive files and other information. User intent can also be inferred to reduce the response time required from detection to authentication or interaction.

• Battery Life 

 Best of all, battery life can be preserved by reducing unnecessary screen idle time when a user is not actively using Windows.

To maximize privacy, Microsoft does not collect images or metadata; all processing is done locally on the device's hardware. 

How to Enable this Setting?

Users can find these settings under Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensing, provided their device supports it. In addition to the new privacy setting, Microsoft is also introducing a new toggle under Settings > Windows Update for "getting the latest updates as soon as they are available." 

This toggle is designed for the Beta Channel, allowing Insiders to switch seamlessly to the enablement package. Insiders in the Beta Channel who are on Build 22621 and toggle this on will be updated to Build 22624 via the enablement package. Those already on Build 22624 who toggle this on will see a "Windows configuration update" offered via Windows Update. This configuration update ensures that the new toggle is correctly connected to Microsoft's backend services and introduces nothing new for Insiders. It is worth noting that Microsoft's latest Windows 11 beta update is aimed at testers and may not be suitable for general consumers. However, the changes and improvements made in this update give us an insight into what we can expect from the final version of Windows 11.