For anybody that is participating in the Windows 11 Insider programme, specifically the Beta and Release Preview channels, you may want to check for updates because a substantial one was released on Thursday.
The update is Windows 11 Build 22000.526 (KB5010414) and one of the highlights for us is that, if you have a second monitor, or a third or fourth, connected to your PC, the time and date will now be displayed. While it is a small feature, it’s one that we missed and we’re glad its back.
Keeping our focus on the taskbar, there is now a weather and news widget on it. When you hover over this widget a window will appear on the left of the display and will disappear when you move your pointer. You can lock the widget in place by clicking the icon on the taskbar. While this feature proved divisive in Windows 10 when it first appeared, we quite like having this information at our fingertips.
Microsoft has also added a few features that make using Teams a bit more user-friendly. Insiders can now share open application windows in a Team call. There is now also a microphone icon that will appear during Teams calls that users can toggle to mute and unmute their microphones.
There are many more changes in this update, so many we can’t list them all here. Head to Microsoft’s blog for a full list of changes in KB5010414.
Earlier this month Microsoft detailed a new approach to its Windows Insider programme. With a view to evolving the approach, Microsoft has clearly defined what users can expect from each of its release channels.
The Dev Channel is Microsoft’s testing ground and features and experiences shipped to this channel may never make it to final release. The Beta Channel will preview features and experiences that are closer to those that will ship to all users. However, the Dev and Beta Channels run in parallel as regards development and as such features may ship to the Beta channel before the Dev channel.
The Release Preview Channel will continue receiving updates that contain features and experiences coming to general users soon.
“We will soon be giving Insiders a window in which they will be able to switch from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel. Stay tuned for details in the coming weeks,” Microsoft said.
