Windows 11 widget change could give you flashbacks to Windows Vista – but don’t panic
While Windows 11 is all about making improvements based on WinUI, the latest update also brings back something that was once familiar to many people. The widgets that were a feature in both Windows Vista and 7 are back, although they can no longer be pinned to the desktop, and only appear in a widgets board instead of appearing as individual apps on your PC.
The widgets board flies out when you click the icon in the taskbar, use the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + W), or swipe in from the left edge on touch screen devices. It contains your widgets, plus a news feed powered by Microsoft Start. The news feed encompasses a variety of topics, including weather, traffic, stocks, sports, entertainment, and tasks from your Microsoft To Do app.
To change the language used in the widgets, open the Microsoft app or service that generates the content. For example, the weather widget gets its information from the Weather app, so updating that will automatically update the widget. You can also tailor your interests by clicking the profile picture in the top left corner, then selecting Manage interests at the bottom of the page.
If you’d rather not see the news feed, or you find the selections aren’t relevant to you, the widgets can be disabled in the Settings menu. You can disable the widgets entirely, or you can choose to just hide the panel. The widgets will still remain on the computer, however, and they can be enabled at any time if you want them back.
Another way to disable the widgets is to modify a registry value. According to Windows Latest, this is a fairly simple step, but it’s not advisable for anyone who doesn’t know what they are doing. First, make sure the ‘Microsoft’ folder is selected in the right-side panel of the Registry Editor. Then, create a new DWORD key called AllowNewsAndInterests by right-clicking an empty area and selecting ‘New’ followed by ‘DWORD (32-bit) Value’. Double-click the new value and set it to 0 and then close the Registry Editor.
If you decide to enable the widgets again in the future, it’s recommended that you backup the Registry before modifying it. This will ensure that you can revert the changes if necessary. If you do decide to disable them again, you’ll need to repeat the steps outlined above. Alternatively, you can also change the ‘TaskbarDa’ value in the same way.
Android 14 rumors and everything we know so far
The Android operating system has a long history of bringing new features and updates to mobile devices. It is arguably the most popular mobile OS and is also considered as one of the best for security.
Android is an open-source software that runs on a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and Chromebooks. It is developed by Google and has a lot of different features that can be customized to suit the needs of users.
Every year, Google releases a new version of the Android operating system with new features and improvements. The latest version, Android 13, was released a few weeks ago and has been available on some Android phones.
It’s always interesting to see what Google brings in its latest operating system. For example, in the last year, we’ve seen Google introduce a new system icon that looks like a rocket.
Another notable feature of Android 14 is that it will include a number of accessibility improvements. These include the ability to scale text up to 200%. This was previously limited to 130% in Android 13.
Aside from this, the new operating system will also feature a predictive back gesture which is said to be a great way to navigate between apps and screens. It will allow users to see what their next step is in the app they are in, without having to exit the current app.
Moreover, it’s also expected that this new version will include a more powerful internal broadcast system which will help improve battery life. This will also make the operating system faster and more stable as it won’t have to rely on cellular data for background tasks.
Other features that are expected to come with Android 14 includes a new sharing menu that will look consistent across all Android devices. This will make it easier for users to share files with other people and apps.
There is also evidence that the new Android operating system will support app cloning, which will enable users to re-install applications from their personal library. This is similar to the feature that’s been available in iOS for a while now.
In addition, there’s a possibility that the system will be able to detect when a phone is out of date and update its security certificates, which will help owners of old phones stay connected and use basic online services.
The Android system has a long history of introducing new accessibility features to help users with disabilities and other challenges. It has made great progress over the years, but there’s still room for improvement.
Aside from accessibility, Android 14 is said to bring a number of other exciting features and improvements to the operating system. These include a new system icon, a predictive back gesture and updatable root certificates that are used to establish trust between the user’s device and websites or apps.
The company will be releasing the first developer preview of Android 14 in February, followed by another developer preview in March. The final public beta should be released in April or May, with a full release expected later in the year.