Windows 11 widgets could soon rival those on iOS, Android

By Arif Bacchus Published April 14, 2022

Microsoft is making moves to bring a big improvement to one of the highlight experiences in Windows 11, which might bring it closer to what is already available on iOS and Android.

Shared on Twitter by reliable leaker FireCube, a supposed screenshot of code in Windows 11 points to users soon being able to download third-party widgets and updates for those widgets from the Microsoft store. This would be a big change, as all of Windows 11’s current widgets are ones that are only available from Microsoft, like sports, weather, or traffic.

The widgets experience in Windows 11. — Arif Bacchus/ Digital Trends

This has actually been rumored to be on the way for some time, but this tweet shows one of the first times that live code in Windows 11 points to it coming soon. Digital Trends can’t verify the authenticity of the code, but the leaker mentions “widget manifest update shows more evidence of being able to download third-party widgets and updates.” Microsoft also has yet to confirm or announce the feature, but Windows Central had reported that developers were already briefed on how third-party widgets might work.

Recommended Videos

If this holds up to be true, then widgets on Windows 11 could be a lot like what you already can get on iOS and Android. Meaning, that if you have a third-party app installed on your PC from a developer who opts to make a widget available, there could be a new option to add it when you enter Windows 11’s widget experience with Windows Key and W.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

On the iOS and Android mobile operating systems, select installed apps can give you a home-screen widget, so you can peek at the app without having to open it all the time. Examples on iOS include Flipboard, countdown and battery widgets, Pedometer++, and several others. On Android, there’s Google Keep, Battery Widget Reborn, 1Weather, and more.

Microsoft’s annual Build developer conference is coming up from May 24-26, so there is a chance this improvement to widgets might be announced then. Yet, also rumored to be announced for Windows 11’s widgets is a full-screen experience, where widgets take up the entire screen, rather than just one corner. Screenshots for this were recently spotted during a breakout session at Microsoft’s Windows Powers the Future of Hybrid Work event.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…

Computing

Is Windows 11 acting up for you? This might be why

The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

This year's big Windows 11 update, 24H2, started a phased rollout in October and just became available to more PCs yesterday, December 4, as spotted by Windows Latest. To check if your PC is ready for it, just head to the settings page and check for updates -- if an update is not there for download yet, you'll have to wait until later in the rollout process.

Getting new things first isn't always a good thing when it comes to software, however. It can take quite a while for a new Windows build to be announced as "stable," and 24H2 is far from earning that title at the moment.

Computing

Microsoft won’t back down on Windows 11’s biggest hurdle

The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

Microsoft has reaffirmed that it will not lower the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, solidifying the need for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and a compatible CPU. This decision leaves many older PCs ineligible for the upgrade. Microsoft emphasizes that these standards are vital for improved security and performance.

As per a recent blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11,” Microsoft reaffirmed its decision not to relax Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0 is a hardware-based security feature that protects sensitive data and ensures secure boot processes. Microsoft argues that such measures are nonnegotiable as the company continues to address rising cybersecurity threats. The minimum requirements include a list of approved CPUs, starting from AMD Ryzen 2000 and Intel 8th Gen processors, that offer advanced security features and better performance efficiency.

Computing

Windows 11 Recall finally arrives, but with one new problem

Recall screenshot.

The Windows 11 Recall feature has been troublesome since its announcement. Now that the feature is available in a testing capacity, it is still causing users some issues.

Tech reviewers testing the feature have observed that Recall will now fail to save the snapshots that allow the function to work. CNBC noted that it may take “several minutes” for a snapshot to save, which may leave delays in the AI processing. Tom Warren of The Verge, noted on Bluesky that snapshots were not saving at all in his experience.

nproxy.org