Microsoft starts rolling out Windows 11 2024 update, version 24H2 | Real Time Headlines

Microsoft on Thursday said it is starting to roll out widespread updates to its Windows 11 operating system for PCs.

Today, Windows accounts for only 9% of Microsoft’s $245 billion in fiscal 2024 revenue (acquisitions of publicly traded companies Activision Blizzard and Nuance Communications). But revenue from Windows is lucrative, and its widespread use on computers has helped Microsoft attract customers to its Azure cloud. As a result, product enhancements are still being rolled out before support for the popular Windows 10 ends in October 2025.

Since its launch in 2021, Windows 11’s popularity is still growing rapidly. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told analysts on the company’s earnings call in July that the number of active devices was growing 50% year over year.

The Windows 11 2024 update, also known as version 24H2, is designed to enhance basic PC functionality, such as downloading files over Wi-Fi, compressing files, and managing energy usage.

Here are some other new features for PCs running the 24H2 version of Windows 11:

More energy consumption control. Even if your computer doesn’t have a battery, you can choose to reduce the amount of power your computer uses when it’s plugged in.

Pressurized hearing aids. If you have hearing aids that support Bluetooth LE audio, you’ll be able to connect them to your computer and stream audio directly and adjust volume and balance.

Faster Internet. There are new routers that are compliant with the Wi-Fi 7 standard, and these devices can send data at a higher throughput than Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Your PC should now be able to take full advantage of these routers in your home or office so you can download files faster and run more devices at high speeds.

Easier Wi-Fi sharing. In the Settings app, you’ll be able to pull up a QR code that displays messages for logging into your Wi-Fi network so you can quickly connect to other devices.

rich background. If your device or monitor supports high dynamic range or HDR signals, you can select an image with a .JXR file extension and set it as your desktop background. The result will be a higher contrast between the light and dark parts of the image.

Control moving files. If you connect your phone to your computer via Bluetooth, you’ll be able to open a control in the Settings app that will display files on your phone in folders within the File Explorer app. It is a wireless alternative to connecting your phone to your computer via USB cable.

Smaller clock. You can make your time occupying less system tray space. To do this, open the Settings app and select Time & Language. Under “Show time and date in system tray” you will find a new option “Show abbreviated time and date”.

Compression selection. If you want to bundle files in 7-Zip or .tar format, there is no need to download the program from the Internet. Select a set of files in File Explorer, right-click, hover over “Zip to…” and choose from the ZIP, 7z or TAR options. Or you can select “Additional Options” and it will bring up a box where you can increase or decrease the compression level and choose a compression method.

Schools and companies wanting to distribute the 24H2 version to their devices can consult Microsoft blog post.

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