The development of Windows 11 22H2 is coming to an end. The future Windows 11 update scheduled for the end of the year is now being tested in the Beta loop of the Windows Insider program and development teams can now turn to the Dev channel to send experimental features to interested parties.
This is the case of build 25120 released on May 18, 2022 by Microsoft.
A more interactive desktop for research
The Dev channel should allow Microsoft and its teams to test new ideas without guarantees that they will one day be integrated into a commercial version of Windows. This build gives an example of it with a change to make the Windows desktop more interactive.
Some may remember Active Desktop at the time of Windows 98, this time it is to integrate a search bar in the office. In the following versions, Microsoft would like to add widgets like what Windows Vista or Windows 7 could offer. Obviously, an option allows you to remove this search bar if the idea is displeasing.
Based on early user feedback, a flaw of this search bar is to override default browser settings. Results are always displayed on Microsoft Edge. We bet that this is a bug or an oversight rather than a new way for the firm to push the use of its browser.
This build is essentially limited to this novelty. It also brings some fixes as well as known problems, especially with anti-cheat systems in video games. Remember that users in the Dev channel can expect blocking issues at any time and should not use these builds on a production machine.
Microsoft will in the future push more and more functions planned or studied for the long term on this channel. Here is a taste.
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