Microsoft announces new features for Windows 11 in 'a new era of the PC' as Android apps reach the Release Preview Channel

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 will soon receive long-awaited support for Android apps. Writing on the Windows Experience Blog, Panos Panay states that Android app support could arrive as soon as next month, albeit only in public preview versions of Windows 11. For reference, Microsoft brought Android apps to the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program in November.

Confusingly, a separate blog post explains that Android apps are now available on the program's Release Preview Channel, but still only in the US. Unfortunately, Panay has not clarified if next month's preview will arrive in more countries than merely the US. Currently, you must have a US-based Amazon account to use the Amazon Appstore, not just a PC with its region set to the US.

Additionally, Microsoft is added more functionality to the taskbar, having watered-down the taskbar from where it was in Windows 10. For example, the next version of Windows 11 will be able to display a clock on a second monitor's taskbar. Weather will also return to the taskbar, while Microsoft hopes to add a dedicated mute button too. As Microsoft has discussed previously, it will also introduce redesigned versions of Media Player and Notepad. Panay has not mentioned a redesigned Taskbar, though.

Purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 on Amazon