After weeks of hype, Microsoft launches Windows new version

San Francisco: Tech giant Microsoft has officially announced the next version of its desktop operating system (OS) -Windows 11 after weeks of leaks and hype. The new OS will be a free upgrade for Windows 10 users and will start rolling out "this holiday".

The company has introduced Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops in the new version to provide an even more powerful way to multitask and stay on top.

Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Windows + Devices, said in a statement that the company has simplified the design and user experience to empower productivity and inspire creativity.

"Windows 11 is modern, fresh, clean and beautiful," Panay said

"From the new Start button and taskbar to each sound, font and icon, everything was done intentionally to put you in control and bring a sense of calm and ease," Panay added.

These are new features designed to help users organise their windows and optimise their screen real estate. Users can also create separate Desktops for each part of life and customise them according to their likes -- imagine having a Desktop for work, gaming or school.

According to the company, Windows 11 is made for gamers as it unlocks the full potential of the system's hardware, putting some of the latest gaming technology to work.

With a high-performance NVMe SSD and the proper drivers, Windows 11 can soon load new games faster than ever thanks to a breakthrough technology called DirectStorage, which we also pioneered as part of the Xbox Velocity Architecture featured in the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series A, the company said.

The company introduced Chat from Microsoft Teams integrated into the taskbar. With this, users can instantly connect through text, chat, voice or video with all of their personal contacts, anywhere, no matter the platform or device they're on, across Windows, Android or iOS.

Windows 11 also gives you a more natural way to connect with friends and family through Teams, allowing users to instantly mute and unmute, or start presenting directly from the taskbar, it added.

The new Microsoft Store is rebuilt for speed and with an all-new design that is beautiful and simple to use, said the statement.

"Not only will we bring you more apps than ever before, but we're also making all content -- apps, games, shows, movies -- easier to search for and discover with curated stories and collections," the company said.

Earlier the tech giant had revealed that it will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. The company quietly announced the news in a support page update, as spotted by Thurrott.

The company, which had earlier announced the launching of Windows 11 on June 24 had also cancelled Windows 10X recently, which was initially going to be for dual-screen devices. It had also said it would bring some features planned for that OS into the standard version of Windows.