What to expect from Microsoft and Windows 10 in 2021

With 2021 finally here, Microsoft plans to release some exciting new features and updates for the Windows 10 operating system and other products this year.

Microsoft has already confirmed that Windows 11 will not be released, and the company plans to update Windows 10 with new variants, features, improvements, and fixes.

Additionally, Microsoft will continue to develop new Surface products with Windows 10, Windows on ARM, and Windows 10X.

Windows 10 21H1

The first Windows 10 update of the year is codenamed version 21H1 and could be released later this spring with version number 19043.

Unlike the May 2020 Update (2004 release), Windows 10 version 21H1 is expected to be a minor release with quality improvements, bug fixes, and security enhancements for business customers.

This means that it will be a small update that can be installed quickly, hopefully, with fewer issues than a more comprehensive update with lots of new features.

Windows 10X

After 9:1 p.m., Microsoft plans to launch its highly anticipated modular operating system called “Windows 10X,” initially unveiled for dual-screen products.

While the optimized dual-screen version of Windows 10X is on hold, Microsoft is now trying to get Windows 10X to work on single-screen devices for spring 2021.

Windows 10X has been updated to meet the growing need for affordable, low-end hardware in the education market and is expected to debut on devices in the $ 600 range.

According to Microsoft, Windows 10X comes with a new Start menu experience and an attractive set of colorful icons to provide a straightforward experience with fewer customization options.

Windows 10 21H2 “Sun Valley”

After 21H1 and 10X, Microsoft plans to release the “21H2” update for Windows 10. As usual for Microsoft’s release schedule, Windows 10’s 21H2 is expected to land in the fall of 2021 with a new update for Windows 10. user interface named “Sun Valley”.

This update will be a full update that includes many improvements for the Start menu, taskbar, action center, etc.

For example, Microsoft said it was exploring new design ideas with rounded corners and Fluent Design for menus and app elements, such as the ListView, buttons, sliders, etc.

Likewise, Microsoft is also beta testing a new animation for Windows 10 app windows, including UWP apps and legacy apps.

Cloud PC

As we reported in December, Microsoft is developing a new virtualized Windows PC experience called “Cloud PC,” which will allow business customers to run their personal desktop in the cloud and access it remotely using their computers. devices.

Cloud PC will likely be part of the company’s “Windows as a Service” slogan and will also enable streaming support for Win32 applications on Windows 10X.

Cloud PC will not replace any existing service and will be offered as a paid service for businesses that want to access their Windows PC from anywhere, anytime.

Android streaming support

Reports suggest that Microsoft is creating an Android subsystem for Windows 10 to enable native support for Android apps. Microsoft is also working on a new developer tool that would allow Android apps to be distributed through the Microsoft store in the MSIX package.

Microsoft Surface products

In addition to the new Windows updates, Microsoft is also planning to refresh the Surface line with two new additions: Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 4. While the Surface Pro 8 (2021) is expected to use Intel Tiger Lake processors, Surface Laptop 4 will be offered with the Intel and AMD options.

The Surface Laptop 4 would ship with AMD Ryzen 4000 processors and Intel Tiger Lake-U processors according to leaked benchmarks. Surface Pro 8, on the other hand, is expected to use Intel Tiger Lake processors with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of internal SSD storage.