Windows 11 23H2: discover the 3 new features that will transform your PC experience

Are you eligible for the Windows 11 betas? Good news, you should be able to start testing the main new features of the brand new 23H3 update of the OS. We take stock of what they bring to the experience.

Expected soon, the 23H3 update of Windows 11 will bring with them many interesting new features. The main ones are luckily already accessible to users of the “Beta Channel”… and there are three of them. The first is a particularly useful AI assistant, the second is nothing more than a major overhaul of File Explorer, while the third is an in-depth energy report, accessible from the settings.

11:33 p.m., a busy update

Let’s start by adding a good dose of artificial intelligence in Windows 11 with the deployment of the highly anticipated Windows Copilot, an AI-based assistant that brings together Bing Chat and other plugins. Accessible from a sidebar housed in the taskbar, this new tool is designed to support users in many activities, answering their questions in the manner of ChatGPT, and even helping them plan their trips, all without leave their office, points out BleepingComputer.

In the current state of things, the Microsoft assistant nevertheless suffers from performance problems and leads in some cases to misunderstandings in the interpretation of the user’s intentions. Clearly, Microsoft still has work to do, but the concept is there… and it could change a lot of things on Windows.

The firm has anyway deployed, too, a nicely revamped version of File Explorer. Designed with WinUI and powered by the Windows App SDK, this new version of the interface will be part of Windows 11 23H3 to make navigation easier and more intuitive.

We discover in particular that a carousel now presents the files recommended for users of Azure Active Directory (AAD). At the same time, the “Quick Access” folder and the “Recents” section have been aesthetically improved.

Windows 11 continues to transform…

To make it easier to manage your files in the cloud, we also note that the OneDrive synchronization status (and quotas) are now integrated directly into the address bar. Remember that OneDrive had already had its interface redesigned a short time ago. Microsoft has finally redesigned the details pane on Windows 11 to make it more efficient.

Last, but not least, Microsoft has significantly improved the “Battery and Power” section of the settings, to include more information on energy management. This enhanced report now provides real-time data on your device’s power consumption, by time periods ranging from the last 24 hours to the past week.

This revamped tab also lets you monitor battery usage for each app. Several commands are also available to display the total consumption (so as to have an overview), or only the applications and processes in use, or in the background. Perfect for differentiating between active consumption and passive consumption on your PC.

Source : BleepingComputer