Windows Insiders in the Dev channel finally spotted an oasis at the end of the long, feature-less desert they’ve been suffering through for months. Finally, we have a peek at some new features that should be heading to Windows 10 version 21H2 in the second half of 2021, courtesy of build 21337.
Here’s a rundown.
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Virtual desktop improvements. Microsoft is introducing new customization features to virtual desktops, including the ability to reorder them in Task View and customize the backgrounds of each.
Auto HDR for PC. Auto HDR will no longer be available only on Xbox Series X|S. When this new feature is enabled on an HDR-capable gaming PC, you will automatically get HDR visuals on an over 1000 DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 games.
File Explorer layout improvements. And you thought Microsoft was going to replace File Explorer with a UWP-based app. It appears not: Instead, the existing File Explorer is getting a new compact mode designed for better consistency with modern (XAML) experiences.
Notepad is now updated in the Store. Notepad will still be included with Windows 10, but it will now be updated in the Store and will get a new icon.
Windows Terminal and Power Automate are now in-box apps. Microsoft is now adding these power-user tools to Windows 10.
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#618675">In reply to hafenbrack:</a></em></blockquote><p>Go into the Microsoft Store and download the "Files" app published by "Yair A" to get an idea what a future UWP/Modern UI version might be like. It's a little bare-bones, but does feature tabbed-browsing, plus you can give feedback to the project on GitHub</p>
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#618689">In reply to philly30:</a></em></blockquote><p>It is a work-in-progress… if you have feedback, and have a GitHub account, feel-free to offer them some! :)</p>
dftf
<p><em>"File Explorer layout improvements" </em>– I think the long-term app still is to replace File Explorer with a UWP-based app. Download "Files" from the Microsoft Store right-now (the one Published By "Yair A") to get an idea of what it might look like.</p><p><br></p><p><em>"Notepad is now updated in the Store" </em>– I thought it was ages ago, just as an optional download. I can see one right-now in there called "Windows Notepad" published by Microsoft. I'm guessing this means the classic Notepad is being replaced with the UWP one, rather than it being optional? (If so, it's odd the Snipping Tool is not being removed, given "Snip & Sketch" has been a modern UWP version installed by-default for quite some time now…)</p>
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#618662">In reply to blue77star:</a></em></blockquote><p>As I didn't comment on the HDR part, I'm a bit puzzled why you've replied to my comment with this?</p><p><br></p><p>Why not post it as your own comment? Would seem more-logical…</p>
dftf
<blockquote><em><a href="#618697">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>Can't anyone at the Thurrott team actually address the issue? I've never know any other site where comments randomly appear out-of-thread, or where people have to do that.</p>