Apple has always sold itself as the anti-Microsoft. Now Windows 11 is the anti-Apple.
What does the launch of Windows 11 mean for the competition?
When When Microsoft announced Windows 10 over five years ago, it famously said it would be the "last version of Windows ever."
But with Microsoft's unveiling of Windows 11 consisting of new changes that take direct aim at Apple Inc's lucrative App Store business model, experts are now guessing if this new update would indeed help Microsoft regain its declining market share to Google's Chrome and Apple's MacOS; given its limited presence in the mobile-based OS and application space.
In 2019, Windows market share stood at 85.4% that dropped to 80.5% in 2020. Chrome OS market share went up from 6.4% to 10.8% in that same span. Windows still have a sizeable lead over Chrome OS and macOS, but a drop of almost 5% in a year needed answering.
Windows 11, which will hit the market by the end of this year, would include a new Windows Store that would let software developers use their in-app payment systems and pay no commissions to Microsoft. It will also allow users to both find and run Android mobile applications on their laptops and PCs, thanks to technical assistance from both Amazon.com and Intel Corp.
The moves stand in contrast to Apple's "walled garden" approach, in which Apple only lets users download software from the App Store and imposes controls on software developers, including a requirement to use Apple's in-app payment systems and pay commissions of up to 30%.
The changes amount to a clash of visions between Microsoft, whose market capitalization recently topped $2 trillion, and Apple, which positions itself as "Anti-Microsoft". It also challenges Alphabet Inc's Google Play Store, which also charges high developers commissions.
This war among tech giants will continue but for now, Here's a look at five features that you should be excited about on the new Windows 11 OS :
Android apps on Windows
Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Windows for the first time. Starting later this year, people will notice Android apps in the Microsoft Store The company has also announced that it will add Adobe Creative Cloud, Disney+, TikTok, Zoom, and some of its native apps to Microsoft Store on Windows 11.
Improved changes for gamers
The new Windows 11 OS will bring several significant changes for PC gamers. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is said to offer immersive graphics at high frame rates. There is also support for Auto HDR, which Microsoft says will offer a wide, more vivid range of colors for a better visual experience. DirectStorage is also available, which offers faster load times as the game's assets will be loaded directly to the graphics card, instead of through the CPU.
Better multitasking experience
Windows 11 also brings new Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Desktops to offer a better way to multitask. "These are new features designed to help you organize your windows and optimize your screen real estate so you can see what you need just the way you want in a layout that's visually clean," Microsoft said in a blog post. Users will also be able to create separate Desktops and customize them to their liking. For example, you can have a Desktop for work, gaming, or school.
Widgets
Windows 11 offers updated widgets that can slide over your desktop to show you news, weather, calendar, to-do list, and your recent photos. You will also be able to view the widgets on full-screen in case you want to see everything at once. Users can add or remove widgets anytime they want.
Redesigned UI
Windows 11 comes with a refreshing look. After upgrading to the new Windows OS, users will notice the Start menu at the center and rounded corners on menus. Windows 11's biggest change is its new streamlined look, reminiscent of smartphones and tablets. Microsoft also added capabilities to help people with the new ways we've all learned to work in the pandemic.
And if that isn't enough, Microsoft's building its Teams software into Windows in a way similar to how Apple's used FaceTime with its devices. But it's clear Microsoft wants to carve out its own identity with the way it's opening up Windows.
"We're building for the next decade and beyond," Nadella said in his Windows 11 unveiling speech. "This is the first version of a new era of Windows."
And maybe most important to him, it won't be Apple.
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