Windows 11's significant upcoming update, separate from the annual one slated for 2023, is being rolled out today amidst speculation about its contents. An individual known as PhantomOfEarth, a prolific leaker on X (formerly Twitter) with a finger on the pulse of all things Windows, has divulged additional details about the September 26 update.
While the Copilot AI is already known to be the star attraction, there is another notable addition that has piqued my interest, as well as that of other users. This new feature involves the option to prevent window combinations on the taskbar.
In essence, this refers to the ability to instruct the operating system, synonymous with Windows 10, not to stack windows from the same application on the taskbar. By selecting this option, if numerous browser windows are open, they will remain as separate icons on the taskbar, rather than being grouped together.
PhantomOfEarth also revealed another valuable trick pertaining to the taskbar: the capacity to terminate tasks for specific apps by simply right-clicking on them. Additionally, users will have the ability to hide the time and date from the taskbar should they desire.
Furthermore, the forthcoming September 26 update will introduce a new volume mixer, which offers enhanced functionality such as volume adjustment on a per-app basis.
Analysis: A victorious divergence
Undoubtedly, the highlight of this update, technically referred to as Moment 4 for Windows 11 22H2, with the 23H2 update slated for later this year in Q4, is Copilot. The integration of this AI assistant into Windows 11 is an immense undertaking that may exceed expectations. While I remain slightly skeptical, I am prepared, and content, to be proven wrong.
For me, the absence of the feature allowing apps to remain separate on the taskbar has been the main reason for my reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11. Although it may appear trivial, my workflow within the Windows environment relies on the ability to avoid combining windows on the taskbar. Consequently, the removal of this option has proven to be highly vexing and disruptive to the manner in which I fundamentally engage with the operating system.
The fact that Microsoft omitted this choice from Windows 11 was truly difficult for me to comprehend. Apparently, technical complexities within the interface meant that its implementation was far from straightforward, or so the software giant informed us.
Consequently, I refrained from upgrading until now. However, with the inclusion of this new feature, I will promptly initiate the upgrade process, albeit with a slight caveat. Specifically, I will first perform the upgrade on my secondary Surface PC before proceeding to my primary desktop setup. Rest assured, the latter update will occur in due course, unless I encounter other aspects of Windows 11 that I dislike when I begin utilizing it more extensively – a prospect I hope will not materialize.
In any case, it is encouraging to observe that Windows 11 has numerous impending updates on the horizon. However, this does raise some questions regarding what will be left for the 23H2 update, which, in comparison, appears relatively minor when juxtaposed with this ostensibly smaller, non-annual upgrade known as "Moment".
To summarize, these circumstances are somewhat perplexing. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly appreciate the opportunity to access these highly significant features earlier. Although the inclusion of the never-combine option may not have transpired as expeditiously as one might have hoped, I am grateful nonetheless.
