Microsoft is currently testing a new search box, which used to be on the taskbar and is now located in the middle of the Windows 11 desktop interface.
A web search box in the middle of the Windows 11 desktop might not be a feature that users have requested much, but Microsoft is still trying it out with Insiders in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25120, which comes to be published on the Dev Channel.
This is just a test for now and Microsoft is using it to gauge feedback from Dev Channel testers. New features are not guaranteed to materialize for all users. (Microsoft explained how it is testing new Windows 11 features with Insiders in a February blog post.)
The search field is powered by Bing by default
The search field is powered by default by Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. However, initial testing indicates that using the Windows 11 desktop search box automatically opens results in Microsoft Edgeignoring the default browser that users have configured for Windows 11. Again, this is just a test feature, so ignoring user configurations might not be a big deal. problem, unless this behavior spreads in beta and later.
Windows 11 25120 has a new desktop search box (vivetool addconfig 37969115 2). Results are always displayed in Microsoft Edge, bypassing the configured default browser. pic.twitter.com/DVYiyU41wl
Other Windows Watchers wondered whether it will be difficult for users to change the search engine used by the search box. It seems that users cannot change the default search engine.
On a scale of 1 to fuhgettaboutit – how difficult will it be to switch search engines for this widget?
Brad Sams (@bdsams) May 18, 2022
The search box tested on the Windows 11 desktop is actually the Windows 11 Widget Panel Search Widget. research. The panel can be opened from a widget button — a blue square with a white cross — in the taskbar.
Microsoft doesn’t offer answers to these questions in its blog post, but explains that in upcoming preview builds it exposes “lightweight interactive content on the Windows desktop” in the Windows 11 Widgets panel.
“To begin to evaluate this idea and interaction model, the first exploration in this area adds a search box displayed on the desktop that allows you to search the web,” explain Windows Insider maintainers Amanda Langowski and Brandon LeBlanc.
Testers can also remove the search box by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing “Show more options”. Users must enable the “Show Search” option.
Microsoft wants feedback on its new interaction model for new features. Users can tell Microsoft what they think through the Feedback Hub.
Source: “ZDNet.com”