Unveiling the Future: Microsoft's Start Menu Companions in Windows 11

It seems that no technology changes arrived faster or longer to stay than those introduced by Microsoft. The Windows operating system, which virtually took over the world’s desktops, has been through several destabilising rebirths. The MS giant is on a roll once again, experimenting with a new feature for the Start menu in Windows 11 that will soon completely transform the way a user interacts with the menu. According to the research of Windows watcher Albacore, this feature will take the shape of a floating panel with a plethora of ‘companion’ widgets that will enhance the functionality of the menu and the Windows 11 Start experience. What does this mean for the end users and the developer community? Let’s find out.

The Dawn of Start Menu Companions

What’s New with Windows 11?

Some recent preview versions of Windows 11, available to the public via Microsoft Insider builds, hold tantalising hints at what might become a critical change in the way we use our PCs. A new feature called ‘Start menu Companions’ forms part of a big experiment – even though the feature has never been officially announced in any Microsoft communication. Clearly, it’s intended for developers to extend the Start menu with widget-like functionality, moving some of that functionality to a floating panel that can dock alongside the Start menu itself.

A Bridge Between Worlds

Arguably its most exciting part is the promise to finally add another layer to desktop apps: the kind of widget-like, news-rich experience that can integrate perfectly with the rest of the operating system, something that Windows fell short in offering, especially when compared with Android. Today, developers can create apps using adaptive cards, a platform-agnostic interface for displaying ‘pods’ of UI information. Then, the cards can be displayed right through the Start menu, offering the user timely, news-like bits of information, bringing them directly to the system shell, and letting developers finally weave their apps deeper into the system, offering a whole new level of integration.

Why It Matters

The possibilities are tremendous for Start menu Companions: for end users because information could become available within the Start menu with the click of an icon, without having to open an individual app or a web page. And for developers, because it creates an entirely new domain for app development that could be more fluid, informative and interactive.

The Technical Tapestry Behind the Scenes

Adaptive Cards: The Building Blocks

Adaptive cards are the engine that powers Start menu Companions. They’re a self-contained encapsulation of data, bits of information with their own identity and rules, yet flexible and adaptable to the desktop or operating system presenting it. Adaptive cards facilitate a unified scalar experience for applications and widgets interplaying in a myriad of screens and devices. In such a diverse ecosystem as Windows, fragmentation is to be expected, and its appearance matters.

Floating Islands of Information

A further advantage of this feature is that it establishes the concept of a ‘floating island’ – meaning that the companion widgets would be semi-independent things that, while docked next to the Start menu for ease of use, had a separate presence of their own on the desktop that added to that aspect of its style, making it more modular-looking and modifiable.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Windows with Microsoft

So far, few details about exactly what Start menu Companions will do have been revealed during Microsoft’s period of testing and development ahead of the full release of Windows 11. One of the most important questions is whether and how Start menu Companions will be integrated into the broader Windows 11 ecosystem. What’s certain is that Microsoft is attempting to remake and reinvent the experience of using the Windows desktop. Its willingness to create a more mobile, embodied and animated environment is mirrored by users who also want their operating systems to evolve in exciting new directions.

About Microsoft

With Microsoft, technology is always at your fingertips. From software and online services to devices, Microsoft creates solutions that help people and businesses realise their fullest potential. Whenever we gleefully type that winning email, paint a masterpiece or map a new world, we never forget the company whose visions have the power to shapes us.

Selling Microsoft with Gizmogo: FAQs

Can I Sell My Windows 11-Equipped PC to Gizmogo?

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How Do I Ensure My Device is Ready for Sale?

Back up your data, do a factory reset and wipe any personal details before you sell your device. It’s good for your privacy and makes it easier for someone else to start using the phone.

What Factors Affect the Price Offered for My Device?

The model and condition of your device determine the price. As with all trade-ins, current supply and demand also play a role in determining the price. Make your phone is in good condition if you want to get a good price.

Is Selling Through Gizmogo Safe?

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How Long Does the Selling Process Take?

Gizmogo likes its business on the up-and-up, so within a couple of days of receiving your device and assigning it a grade, your payment will be sent.

In conclusion, Start menu Companions and Microsoft’s other forward-thinking ways of Windows 11 look like we’ll live in a more lively, interactive and user-friendly computing world tomorrow than ever before. Which ultramodern gadgets to upgrade to first? Or which old Microsoft-driven gadgets to enjoy by reselling them? Sites like Gizmogo let users buy or sell Microsoft tech.