4 New Windows 11 Features Mac Owners May (or May Not) Be Jealous Of
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Windows has always been hit or miss when it comes to software updates. However, Windows 11 seems to be packed with everything a Windows user could ask for. Heck, it even features things that we Mac users might enjoy.
Sure, macOS Monterey is a significant update and it's packed with cool new features that'll keep us busy for quite a while. But in a world where companies copy or "borrow" features from each other all the time, it's always great to look at the competition to see what else we could get in the future.
You can now own Windows 11 Pro for under $50 - forever.
From better ways to multitask to a customizable Start Menu, continue reading to browse four new Windows 11 features we want on our Macs.
Android Apps for Everyone
Perhaps the biggest new thing Windows 11 brings to the table is that people can now install Android apps on their computers. Sound familiar? Of course, Apple added a similar feature, too, just last year. But there's one tiny problem: You need to buy an M1 Mac for it to work.
Even though not every Windows computer will be able to install Windows 11, if you have a fairly new computer, you'll be able to access all the Android apps Amazon and Microsoft have to offer. There may not be many at first, but hey, at least they can run smartphone apps while some of us with Intel-based Macs can't just yet.
Snap Groups
Multitasking features have been around for who knows how long, but Microsoft just took it one step further with a new feature called Snap Groups. Just like with your Mac, you can hover your mouse on the maximize button on any window, and you'll see a bunch of options on how to rearrange your windows for multitasking. Yes, you can do that in your Mac too, but you can only have two apps side by side. With Windows 11, you can have up to four windows grouped together with just one click. That might be too much for some people, but some power users will be glad to be able to have all their work apps visible without having to switch back and forth.
Customizable Start Menu
Even though macOS has the Dock that lets you highlight a handful of your favorite or most-used apps, the Launchpad isn't the most effective option when it comes to searching for other apps. Sure, you can rearrange your apps so you can have the ones you need on the first page. But Windows' Start Menu is smaller, sleeker, and now with Windows 11, you can pin your favorite apps.
Start Menu Recommendations
Another cool new feature added to Windows 11 is that you can get recommendations for what you might want to use right in the Start Menu. The Start Menu has a new section that shows you your most recently opened files or your recently installed apps. This way, you can quickly pick up where you left off before. That's something macOS doesn't have just yet. But you know, never say never.
