The update adds a Task Manager search feature, energy-saving recommendations, and suggested actions when highlighting text.
Microsoft releases updates to the Insiders channel for people to try out as it shapes Windows 11 to become the operating system of the future. Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25247 has just arrived in the testing channel, and it’s looking promising.
There’s a lot in store for Windows 11’s 25247 Build
Microsoft has released the latest Windows 11 build on the Insider channel, as reported by Neowin. It also revealed all of the information on Windows Blogs.
The Task Manager gets even more tweaks first. People are still figuring out how to use Windows 11’s revamped Task Manager, but Microsoft is determined to strike while the iron is hot.
You can now search the processes running on your PC using any of their variables in this new build. The name, the publisher’s name, even the PID; simply press CTRL + F and type it in; Task Manager will do the rest.
If you’re concerned about how much power your PC consumes, Windows 11’s 25247 build includes Energy Recommendations. This enables Windows 11 to analyze your PC habits and recommend things you can turn off or change to save more power.
Windows 11 will also include suggested actions when highlighting text, but Edge detractors take note:
…Windows will pop up an inline light dismissible UI that suggests searching this text in Microsoft Edge. Upon user selection of the search action, a new Edge tab is launched to search the copied text.
There are also numerous minor but welcome changes, such as allowing the system clock to display seconds, adding website recommendations to the Start menu, and improving the taskbar search bar.
If you want to try out this build, keep in mind that it is an Insider build. This update cannot be downloaded on a standard Windows 11 PC; you must either sign up for Windows Insider or learn how to download a Windows Insider ISO without signing up.
Microsoft’s Ongoing Promotion of Microsoft Edge
On the surface, this update appears to be quite good. It adds some nice features not found in Windows 10 and provides a nice incentive for people to upgrade to the newer operating system.
However, Microsoft’s promotion of the new suggested actions as an Edge-based feature is a little concerning. Even the screenshot on Microsoft’s website has Edge’s logo next to the option, implying that you won’t be able to use a different browser for the job.
Windows 11 users who despise Edge are probably already aware of how difficult it is to avoid the browser. Choosing your preferred browser in the settings does not prevent Edge from appearing when performing specific actions in Windows 11. As a result, users have had to learn how to force Windows 11 to use the default browser in order to permanently remove Edge.
Unfortunately, because Microsoft is using Edge for the new suggested action, dissenters may have to resort to even more hacks and tricks to get it to work with their preferred browser instead. Let’s hope Microsoft allows us to change the browser without forcing users to dig into the guts of Windows 11.
Windows 11 Will Have a Feast of Features
Microsoft still has a lot of work to do if it wants people to switch to Windows 11, but these updates appear to be promising. However, if Microsoft continues to promote Edge as the de facto browser for Windows 11, it will most likely be a major source of contention for users.
