With 2021 finally here, Microsoft is planning to release some interesting new features and updates this year for the Windows 10 operating system and other products.
Microsoft has already confirmed that Windows 11 would not be released and the company plans to update Windows 10 with new variants, features, improvements and fixes.
In addition, 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 can be released later this spring with build number 19043.
Unlike the May 2020 update (version 2004), Windows 10 version 21H1 is expected to be a minor version with quality improvements, bug fixes and security improvements for business customers.
This means that it will be a small update that can be installed quickly, hopefully with fewer problems than a more extensive update with many new features.
Windows 10X
After 21S1, 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 make Windows 10X work on single-screen devices for Spring 2021.
Windows 10X has been updated to meet the growing needs for affordable low-cost hardware in the education market and is rumored to be released on $ 600 devices.
According to Microsoft, Windows 10X comes with a new Start Menu experience and an attractive set of colorful icons to offer a simple experience with less customization options.
Windows 10 21H2 ‘Sun Valley’
After 21H1 and 10X, Microsoft plans to release the ’21H2′ update for Windows 10. As typical for Microsoft’s release schedule, Windows 10 21H2 is expected to arrive in the fall of 2021 with a new user interface update with codenamed “Sun Valley”.
This update will be a complete update that includes several improvements to the Start Menu, Taskbar, Action Center and more.
For example, Microsoft said it is exploring new design ideas with rounded corners and Fluent Design for menus and application elements, such as ListView, buttons, sliders, etc.
Likewise, Microsoft is also testing the beta version of a new Windows 10 app window animation, including UWP apps and legacy apps.
PC cloud
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 devices.
The Cloud PC will likely be part of the company’s “Windows as a Service” slogan and will also support streaming Win32 applications on Windows 10X.
The cloud PC will not replace any existing services and will be offered as a paid service for corporate customers who want to access their Windows PC from anywhere at any time.
Android streaming support
Reports have suggested that Microsoft is creating an Android subsystem for Windows 10 to enable native support for Android applications. Microsoft is also working on a new developer tool that will allow Android applications to be distributed through the Microsoft store in the MSIX package.
Microsoft Surface products
In addition to new Windows updates, Microsoft is also planning to update the Surface line with two new additions – Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop 4. While Surface Pro 8 (2021) should use Intel Tiger Lake CPUs, Surface Laptop 4 will be offered with Intel and AMD options.
The Surface Laptop 4 would come with AMD Ryzen 4000 processors and Intel Tiger Lake-U CPUs according to leaked benchmarks. Surface Pro 8, on the other hand, must use Intel Tiger Lake CPUs with up to 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of internal SSD storage.