Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) has debuted a significant overhaul of its Windows computer operating system, its first major change in more than a decade.
The latest version of Windows features a design that uses rounded corners and softer visuals on its digital panels and builds in spaces for content creators and some of Microsoft’s apps.
Microsoft said it will focus on making Windows 11 a more open platform. A new start menu appears at the center of the screen and helps connect users to their applications more quickly.
The design will have new “web widgets” areas, where content creators can highlight their products. One of the widgets will be a news feed that highlights stories and content and where users can give paid tips to the people who created them.
At the same time, Microsoft said it will integrate its Teams chat and videoconferencing software directly into the operating system on Windows 11. Teams has seen a huge surge in users during the pandemic, boosting Microsoft in a product category where it’s been trying to catch up with Slack Technologies (NYSE:WORK) and Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM).
Integrating Teams into Windows, which is shipped pre-installed on many PCs, could help further buoy adoption of the product. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft will also put its Xbox Game Pass gaming subscription app into Windows.
Windows, once Microsoft’s flagship offering and the software that helped the company build its dominance in the PC industry, has waned in importance in the past two decades, when smartphones and tablets running other operating systems rose to prominence.
While Windows remains entrenched among corporate users, Apple has increasingly attracted buyers for its Mac PCs and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has gained ground with cheaper Chromebooks, with the latter becoming particularly popular among schools and students.
Windows 11 will also be able to run Android apps and will let users add them to the Start menu. The apps will be available for purchase in the Windows Store using a connection with the Amazon App Store, which sells apps for systems including the Android OS.