Windows 11 Beta Channel Update: A Fresh Take on User Experience
Windows 11 has recently unveiled a new preview build, 22635 (KB5041876), in the Beta channel, showcasing several noteworthy enhancements to its interface. Notably, the update arrives devoid of any new advertisements or promotional content, a welcome change for users. The most intriguing modification, as highlighted by the reliable leaker PhantomOfEarth on X, involves a revamped category view for the Start > All apps section. This update introduces tooltips that display app names upon hovering, along with a restructured categorization of applications.
In addition to the changes in the app categorization, build 22635 also brings improvements to the lock screen. Users can now see media controls at the bottom of the screen while audio content is playing, complemented by a visually appealing blur effect. Furthermore, Microsoft has refined a previously tested feature concerning notification suggestions. This allows Windows 11 to recommend disabling notification toasts from apps that have gone unacknowledged for a period. Notably, users will have the option to turn off these suggestions without affecting the notifications themselves.
As is customary with such updates, a series of fixes accompany the new features, addressing issues such as crashes in File Explorer and the Start menu.
Analysis: More Choice is Always Good
The progress on the new category view in the All apps panel is a positive development. This fresh layout offers a welcome departure from the traditional alphabetical list of apps in the Start menu, which can often lead to excessive scrolling for users with extensive software collections. For those who prefer a more streamlined approach, the option to maintain the list view will remain available.
Microsoft plans to provide users with a choice among the default list, the new category view, and an additional grid view currently in preview. While the latter two options are still under testing and may not be finalized, the potential for organized categories could enhance the user experience significantly. It’s worth noting that the categories introduced here seem to align with those found in the Microsoft Store, raising questions about whether this will lead to any promotional efforts regarding the store within the new interface.
Given the current trajectory, it is anticipated that this functionality will soon be available in a preview build. However, it may be too late for inclusion in the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 release.
