Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 Start menu with floating widgets

Microsoft has softly started testing an intriguing alteration to nan Windows 11 Start paper that could present a floating sheet afloat of “companion” widgets. Windows watcher Albacore discovered nan caller Start paper characteristic successful nan latest trial versions of Windows 11 that Microsoft has released publicly.

While Microsoft has not yet announced this feature, nan “Start paper Companions” look to beryllium a measurement to let developers to widen nan Windows 11 Start paper pinch widget-like functionality that lives wrong a floating land that tin beryllium docked adjacent to nan Start menu. It looks for illustration developers will beryllium capable to build apps that supply widget-like accusation done adaptive cards — a platform-agnostic measurement of displaying UI blocks of information.

These companions will beryllium configurable successful nan main Windows 11 Settings section, pinch nan expertise to instal aggregate companions and toggles to alteration aliases disable them. Albacore mentions that these companions look to beryllium very web-centric, overmuch for illustration nan widgets wrong Windows 11.

If Microsoft decides to proceed pinch this Start paper feature, it could beryllium nan reply to nan nonaccomplishment of nan Live Tiles that were removed successful Windows 10X and Windows 11. Live Tiles, nan animated and flipping icons from nan Windows Phone days, offered widget-like accusation connected nan Start paper but weren’t wide supported by app developers. Microsoft first introduced them successful Windows 8, backmost erstwhile nan institution was trying to span nan spread pinch its Windows Phone OS. Live Tiles were designed to beryllium “glance and go,” truthful you could quickly look astatine a telephone aliases Start paper and spot nan accusation you needed.