Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 allows enterprises to control some of these new features, which also include Notepad, iPhone and Android news.
Microsoft said last year that in addition to the big update to Windows each fall, it wants to deliver “continuous innovation” and bring new features to Windows as part of regular monthly updates. The Windows 11 update for March 2023 includes long-awaited features, as well as obvious integrations and small improvements.
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Do more from Windows 11’s taskbar
New screen sharing and accessibility features in Windows 11
Link more phones to work with Windows 11
Enterprise control for some new Windows 11 features
When will these Windows 11 features be available? Do more from Windows 11’s taskbarAI-powered Bing in Windows 11
The next update to Windows 11 22H2 puts a search box back on the taskbar. It also offers the new Bing search and chat that uses AI to answer your questions and summarize search results right into Windows 11 (Figure A).
Figure A
There are currently over a million users with access to the new AI-powered Bing, according to Michael Schecter, vice president of growth for Bing, with more being approved every day. Microsoft is promising that “hundreds of millions of Windows 11 users can get access” soon, suggesting that Microsoft will be expanding the number of users quite significantly to go with the Windows 11 integration. For now, only the users who already have access to the new Bing will see this working in Windows 11.
“Initially, this will be far short of the entire Windows user base, but we aspire to that level of availability over time,” Microsoft told TechRepublic.More new options in Windows 11 taskbar
With the March update, the Windows 11 taskbar gets even more new options, including disappearing on devices with a detachable keyboard as soon as you turn them into a tablet and letting users rearrange the order of icons in the notification area (Figure B).
Figure B
If you have a device with an NPU to accelerate AI-powered features, you can use Studio Effects in Windows 11 to have your webcam zoom in to show your face, blur the background and edit live video so it looks like you’re looking straight at people (Figure C). There aren’t any new effects, but now those options will be in the same quick settings panel that already lumps together your sound, network and power settings.
Figure C
If you do change those settings, they will apply to calls you make from the desktop Chat button, which still only brings up the personal version of Teams.
This now opens a window where you can preview your video before starting a call or meeting, or it can copy a link to a new chat that you can share in a message. There’s also a list of recent conversations, and you can search for people you’ve been talking to (Figure D).
Figure DNew screen sharing and accessibility features in Windows 11Windows Quick Assist app
When you’re basically providing tech support to coworkers and friends, the Windows Quick Assist app might be a better choice.
There’s a new version in the Microsoft Store that now lets you switch between sharing your screen and giving someone access to your screen without needing to stop and start the session. The Windows app also gets a virtual laser pointer like the one in PowerPoint so instead of clicking the buttons for them, you can just show people where they need to click to do something without giving you control of their PC (Figure E).
