Ever since Windows 11 debuted in 2021, I have been utilizing an app that has made the Begin Menu, helpful. And to ensure that the look of Home windows to evolve, it solely is sensible for Microsoft and Stardock to group up, which seems like a simple win for each events.
For these unaware, Start11 can supercharge the Begin Menu to vary its look, customise the format, and even permits you to change the TaskBar itself to mirror a look from Windows Vista and above.
It just about removes many of the irritations that customers on Windows 11 have needed to bear since its launch and subsequent updates, and as Windows 12 is allegedly on account of arrive in 2024, it makes us marvel what the Taskbar may appear like on this subsequent main launch.
With Stardock giving customers the flexibility to vary the look of Windows 11 in lots of elegant and simpler methods, maybe it’s one thing Microsoft ought to think about shopping for for its arsenal.
Docking into Stardock
Customizing Home windows from high to backside is nothing new. For years, you could possibly obtain free apps that would change the start-up display screen, the Begin Menu, and many extra.
However formally, there wasn’t a lot you could possibly change. Again within the days of Windows XP, it may allow you to change between a number of themes the place it might change the colours, however that’s so far as it went.
Fortuitously, Home windows 11 went additional with how you could change up the look of your desktop. It lastly offers you extra element in choosing sure colours for the home windows and Taskbar in Settings > Personalization, alongside having the ability to select a darkish mode throughout the operating system.
However Start11 does one thing completely different than the remainder – it offers the assured impression that it’s been part of Home windows for years. You solely must go to its Settings display screen, and it seems similar to Microsoft Edge’s and Windows Media Player’s settings.
It gives you highly effective methods to vary the look of Home windows in an approachable and easy-to-use means. Somebody who isn’t skilled in utilizing Home windows’ settings may simply change the Taskbar’s look with Start11 – it’s that straightforward. So having Stardock being purchased by Microsoft could be a simple promote to many, and it wouldn’t require a lot work to combine it into Windows 12.
Asking for assist is just not a foul factor
Microsoft isn’t a stranger to acquisitions, with its Xbox division shopping for up firms continually over the previous few years, with its Activision-Blizzard deal being approved all over the world by competitors authorities.
And whereas there’s been nothing to point out for it up to now in the way in which of many playable, launched video games, it places the corporate in place for its next-gen console not less than. It offers Microsoft an arsenal of first-party, unique video games that you simply received’t be capable to play on different programs corresponding to Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch – one thing it’s lacked for a few years.
The identical methodology ought to apply to Home windows 12 and past. We’ve by no means heard of a interval the place Microsoft purchased an organization to assist enhance its working system. We’ve heard comparable acquisitions from Apple although, most notably its purchase of Beats Music for $3 billion again in 2014 the place it helped to remodel its Music app into Apple Music.
However these are aggressive occasions – greater than they’ve arguably ever been for the reason that Nineties. Accessing apps and speaking together with your family and friends is simpler than ever now, whereas AI looks to be a tool for simplifying how you can manage your day-to-day tasks with a number of easy clicks.
Microsoft has one thing nice going with Home windows now, arguably ever for the reason that launch of Windows 10, because it went again to fundamentals by bringing again the Taskbar, Begin Menu, and Desktop, and stopped trying to please everyone at once.
Windows 11 has solely constructed upon this basis, by refreshing the appear and feel of the working system, whereas additionally updating its core apps and bringing again outdated ones, corresponding to Home windows Media Participant.
For this reason Windows 12 ought to construct on this additional, by wanting to buy up some gifted builders like Stardock to construct upon elements of Home windows and bringing these options to the most recent working system with out ranging from scratch.
Stardock is a superb candidate for this – and even when it is a situation that by no means turns into actuality, it’s not less than an instance of what Microsoft ought to be contemplating, to additional push its narrative of getting Home windows be a service to its customers – and not less than, Start11 is a superb instance of that mantra.
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