Microsoft brings tabs to Windows 11's File Explorer

Microsoft is ready to introduce some new features to Windows 11 that can help with hybrid work. One of the most significant changes is the redesign of File Explorer. The app now gets tabs and offers you a way to "see all files in one centralized place." It will get features like file pinning and tabs, so your frequently visited folders are easily accessible. The video demo above shows that you can right-click on a file and select "Add to Favorites" to pin it. To keep multiple taps open, you just need to click on a plus sign on the top left to start a new tab, similar to how browser tabs work.

Microsoft is working on redesigning Task Manager on Windows 11

One more legacy part of Windows 11 is getting a new look. Engineering student Gustave Monce spotted a new look for the Task Manager in Windows 11 hidden in the recent builds. And it matches with Microsoft's new Fluent Design language. It's possible to enable it in the latest preview builds, but it hasn't been officially launched, and Monce noted that everything is "broken." It is in its early phases, but it already has a dark mode and an interface matching the Windows 11 design changes.

You can see rounded corners, pastel shades, and a more straightforward interface. The tabs in the existing Task Manager are replaced with a sidebar that lets you switch between the different sections. As The Verge noted, the Task Manager has been around since it debuted in Windows NT 4.0, but it hasn't been updated in almost a decade. Its last redesign was when Windows 8 was launched.

Internet Explorer won't be available on Windows 11

We already know that Microsoft finally plans to kill off Internet Explorer for consumers in 2022. But it looks like we won't even get a glimpse of it in Windows 11. The company has confirmed with The Verge that Internet Explorer won't be available on Windows 11. Instead, Microsoft Edge will be the default browser for the new operating system. If you use shortcuts like iexplore, you will be redirected to Microsoft Edge instead. 

This marks the first new version of Windows to not get Internet Explorer in over 20 years. IE will only be available moving forward on the Long-Term Servicing Channel of Windows 10 after its removal on June 15, 2022, from the consumer version of the OS.

Microsoft Windows 11 brings Android apps, new interface, Snap Layouts, and more

Microsoft has just previewed the next iteration of Windows, which is aptly called Windows 11. The company worked to simplify the user interface, improve performance and multitasking, and bring Android apps natively for the first time.

You'll be greeted first by one of the most significant changes, the Start menu and updated Star button are now at the center of the taskbar, which might remind you of macOS but also the now-cancelled Windows 10X. There are no longer Live Tiles. Instead, you get a launcher similar to Chrome OS or Android. You see apps, recent documents, and a search option. There are more rounded corners here, too, which we've seen on operating systems like Android and iOS. There's also more straightforward access to Microsoft 365 productivity apps, which will make it easier to continue working on files you've accessed on other devices.

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