It took several months after launch, but Microsoft is finally making Android apps available to most Windows 11 users. As promised in January, the company is flipping its first major Windows 11 update with a “preview” of the Amazon Appstore for US users. The preliminary release offers nearly 1,000 apps, including Amazon’s own Audible and Kindle apps, as well as third-party titles like Lords Mobile and Khan Academy Kids. The selection doesn’t compare to the Google Play Store, but it should create some harmony between your PC and phone.
The update offers OS improvements in addition to Android support. The Windows 11 taskbar now allows Teams users to quickly mute calls or share any window. The date and time are now also displayed on a second monitor, while the weather widget’s taskbar component shows live information. Microsoft has also revamped Media Player with a focus on a “complete” music library, while Notepad offers a revamped interface with a dark mode, simpler menus, and features like multilevel undo.
These updates probably won’t convince you to install Windows 11 if you haven’t done so before. They help Microsoft deliver on the promises it made when it released the software last year, and can provide an incentive to accelerate before the free upgrade period ends.
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