Articles about Windows 11 dev build

Notepad is one of the longest standing Windows apps, having been around for decades. Over the years, there have been slow, gradual improvements and now Microsoft has delivered a much-needed update to the beloved text editor.

Bringing the app more in line with word processors like Microsoft Word, this latest update sees the arrival of automatic file saves and more.

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Signing up for the Windows Insider program is a great way to gain access to the latest features of Windows 11 as soon as possible. One of the most recent changes made by Microsoft is a completely new look for File Explorer which has been made available in Windows 11 Build 23475.

But even if you are part of Dev channel and have this build of Windows 11 installed, you may be disappointed to find that you're stuck with the old version of File Explorer. There is, pleasingly, a way to force Windows to give you the new look.

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Microsoft has unveiled a new backup app for Windows 11 designed to make it easier to move to a new computer, as well as speed up the process of resetting an existing PC.

Called simply Windows Backup, the app goes far beyond merely creating a backup of files. The new utility also backs up and restores system settings as well as maintaining pinned apps in the Start menu and taskbar.

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Adaptive screen brightness is a familiar function of smartphones, with both iOS and Android boosting brightness in lighter conditions to improve screen visibility, and dimming it when it is darker so you're not blinded during nocturnal social media sessions. Now Microsoft is bringing a similar -- but better -- feature to Windows 11.

Microsoft's take on the feature is called Content Adaptive Brightness Control (CABC). There is a clue in the name about how it works, and it is about more than just ambient lighting conditions. [UPDATE: Microsoft has had something of a change of heart, as detailed here.]

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The official launch of Windows 11 is just two months away, but Microsoft is not done with tweaking and testing the operating system yet. Windows Insiders have already been treated to a number of increasingly interesting preview builds, and these have proved to be surprisingly stable.

But this is about to change. As development of Windows 11 ramps up ahead of the October launch, Microsoft has issued a warning that future builds are likely to be less stable -- at least for people who are part of the Dev channel.

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