London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Oct 04, 2026

‘Windows 11’ is coming and it's giving off 'serious Mac vibes'

‘Windows 11’ is coming and it's giving off 'serious Mac vibes'

The new Windows 11 operating systems 'feels a lot like MacOS'

Microsoft is expected to unveil the next generation of Windows later this month and leaks are providing plenty of fodder for speculation.

The event, set for June 24, will be the debut of Windows 11, according to multiple reports.

While the name of the operating system isn’t confirmed, most reports claim it’s a done deal.

"It is going to be called Windows 11, and it brings many of the [user interface] changes that we saw earlier with the now-defunct Windows 10X," writes Daniel Rubino of Windows Central – the latter refers to a version of Windows that was planned but has been suspended.


While the finished operating system likely won’t arrive until later, we may see an early beta version of the new OS at the Microsoft event, according to Rubino.

And in order to make way for the future OS, Microsoft has set 2025 as the end date for updates and support for Windows 10.

Rumored Windows 11 features include:

– A new Windows logo (see image)

– A new look that includes redesigned Windows icons. Also, rounded window corners, jettisoning the sharp edges used across the user interface. A new font is also expected.

– The start menu will be placed at the center of the taskbar instead of the corner location in Windows 10. Taskbar icons will also be centered more.

– The start menu will get rid of live tiles while adding pinned apps and recent files. "And the ability to quickly shut down or restart Windows 11 devices. It’s really a lot more simplified than what exists in Windows 10 today," according to The Verge.

– New wallpapers for Windows background images.

– New setup experience.

– The return of the startup sound.

Linus Tech Tips also talks about additional features, including the kind of game support to expect, an overhaul of the Microsoft Store, and Windows Widgets having a bigger role.

One of the most consistent early takes on Windows 11 is that it feels like macOS.

"I've come to a surprising conclusion: It feels a lot like MacOS," writes Devindra Hardawar at Engadget. "Windows 11, at least in this early version we're looking at, is basically a decluttered version of Windows 10. It has some of the optimizations we were expecting to see in Windows 10X, but now that I'm actually experiencing it, I'm getting some serious Mac vibes," he said.

All the above doesn’t include the changes that will take place under the hood and changes to Windows security. The underpinnings of Windows 11 may see the biggest overhaul.

One big question remains: pricing. For consumers, it’s not clear whether the upgrade would be free for Windows 10 licensees. But if it's any indication, the upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 was free.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Police Release Six Iranian Nationals on Bail After RAF Fairford Security Alert
UK Business Confidence Falls as Energy Costs and Tax Uncertainty Rise
Cornwall Insight Warns UK Energy Bills Could Rise 16% in January
UK Introduces Zero VAT on Household Electricity Bills
UK 30-Year Gilt Yield Hits 6% as Bond Market Pressures Intensify
UK Introduces Stricter Subcontractor Checks and Expanded Trade Union Access
Green Party Proposes Three-Year Emergency Freeze on Private Rent Increases
UK Treasury Committee Seeks Tax Clarification Over Manchester City Investigation
Royal Marines Deploy to Faroe Islands for Northern European Security Exercise
UK Business Confidence Weakens as High Costs Delay Investment
UK GDP Growth Revised Up to 0.5% in Second Quarter
Bank of England Warns of Financial Stability Risks From Autonomous AI
UK Expands Early Prisoner Release Scheme to Ease Overcrowding
UK Records Worst Bluetongue Outbreak on Record Across Livestock Farms
UK Government Faces Shrinking Fiscal Headroom Ahead of October 28 Budget
UK 30-Year Gilt Yield Reaches 6% as Energy Shock Drives Borrowing Costs Higher
Church of England to Apologize for Role in Historical Forced Adoptions
UK Defence Ministry Investigates Historical Use of RAF Bases by Jeffrey Epstein
Scottish Housing Completions Fall to 11-Year Low
Welsh First Minister Calls for Expanded Devolution Settlement
UK Pledges £50 Million to Expand Domestic Military Drone Capabilities
UK Opens First Commercial Geothermal Plant in Cornwall
Green Party Wins Gorton and Denton By-Election as Labour Falls to Third
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Opens Review of UK-EU Relationship
UK Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Adding Pressure on Household Finances
UK Removes VAT From Domestic Electricity Bills to Ease Winter Energy Costs
Counterterrorism Police Arrest Sixth Suspect Over RAF Fairford Incident
UK Councils to Receive Sweeping Planning Powers to Ban New Vape and Betting Shops
Chancellor John Healey Faces Tax and Pension Scrutiny Ahead of Autumn Budget
Metropolitan Police Apologise for Accidental Disclosure in High-Profile Investigation
UK Universities Report Record International Enrolment as Housing Pressure Grows
UK Logistics Firms Monitor Rhine Disruption as Low Water Threatens European Supply Chains
UK Food Industry Warns Inflation Could Approach 7%
UK Introduces Vaping Duty and Mandatory Retail Stamps
Scotland Raises Property Taxes and Expands Child Payment in Annual Budget
Greggs Plans Four Factory Closures With 740 Jobs at Risk
OECD Raises UK 2026 Growth Forecast to 1.1%
UK Inflation Rises to 3.1% as Bank of England Faces Rate Debate
Andy Burnham Criticises Brexit and Says Rejoining EU Single Market Remains an Option
UK Imposes New Sanctions on Russian Military Networks and Propagandists
UK Launches Nationwide Early-Release Prison Scheme
Andy Burnham Says Security Services See Signs of Iranian Involvement in RAF Fairford Incident
Manchester City Found Guilty on Premier League Financial Charges After Independent Investigation
Scottish Court to Rule on Bid to Force No-Confidence Vote Against Aberdeen Council Co-Leader
UK Bans Extra Charges for Seating Children Under 12 Beside Accompanying Adults
UK Introduces Vaping Duty and New Licensing Requirements
Greggs to Close Four UK Factories and Cut 740 Jobs
Hundreds of Prisoners Released Early as England and Wales Prisons Reach 98% Capacity
UK Unveils New Russia Sanctions Targeting War Funding and Shadow Fleet
Burnham Says There Are Strong Indications of Iranian Involvement in RAF Fairford Security Breach
×