Microsoft Announces Windows 11 With macOS-Inspired Taskbar

On Thursday, Microsoft announced Windows 11, the next version of the operating system which will be a free upgrade for users on Windows 10.

The Start menu and taskbar have been redesigned and now appear in the Center of the screen, with access to apps you use the most and recommended files. It’s been described by some as a ‘copy’ of the dock in macOS Big Sur.

Windows 11 also follows a similar design approach to macOS, with a updated user interface across all apps, using rounded corners and transparency effects in windows. Apps like Paint, File Explorer, and the Office 365 suite get a new UI.

It sees the introduction of widgets, aimed to be fully adaptable and curated towards users’ activity, with weather, news and file summaries at a glance.

In addition, Microsoft is overhauling the Store and integrating the Amazon App Store within it to allow Android apps to run on Windows. Along with the new UI, developers can publish UWP, Win32, PWA and other types of app and will not need to pay Microsoft a commission (unless they use the company’s payment system).

Microsoft CEO also hit out at Apple, saying he would “welcome” the arrival of iMessage on Windows PCs.

Apple unveiled macOS Big Sur, with a redesigned UI, widgets, new icons and other improvements last year. It recently announced macOS Monterey, with Universal Control, FaceTime updates and more.

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Ben Ward

Senior Editor, discussing everything Apple and supporting other writers and members of Apple TLD's team of volunteers.

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