Apple should copy these Windows 11 features for macOS

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Apple should re-create these Windows 11 features for macOS

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Equally I wrote our Windows 11 event live blog, I was pretty impressed past a lot of what Microsoft was doing. And while I don't see myself switching any time soon, I would dear it if Apple could larn (even steal) from Windows 11, in some selective and smart ways.

But before I give Microsoft as well much credit, I'll note that Windows eleven, in fact, kind of catches up to macOS Big Sur and the M1-based Macs that were released last year. That was when Apple finally started to bring iOS and iPadOS apps to the Mac, something Microsoft is finally doing with Android apps on Windows. Though, they're simply getting Amazon's Appstore which seems like a half-measure at best. Hopefully sideloading Android Apps on Windows 11 works out.

While my adult life has been lived generally inside Apple tree'due south walled gardens, I've been using a PC in my spare time to live-stream on Twitch. During these last months, I've both gotten to know Windows better, but also get more aware of its issues. Now that Microsoft is fixing some of its flaws, I've institute some recommendations for macOS 13, equally information technology's probably likewise tardily to ask for changes to macOS 12 Monterey.

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• Plus: Windows eleven won't work on your PC without a TPM — how to check

macOS needs to learn from Windows 11's multitasking

Throughout all of Apple's piece of work to meliorate multitasking on the iPad, it still let macOS languish in this category. You lot still get two windows in split-view at the most, and that's not always plenty — especially, I might add together, if you've docked your Mac to an external monitor.

I'm using my MacBook Pro with a 29-inch monitor right now, i I'd never recollect to apply split-view style on, considering of all the wasted space. Instead, I only accept a behemothic stack of many, many windows. It's not platonic, but yet gives me more visibility than a unproblematic pair of applications does.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

And and so I look at Windows eleven, which knows that four is better than two, especially in multitasking. Aye, Apple may pattern its divide-screen options based around the notion of how many apps y'all demand at once, merely I could always use a third or fourth app open. Right at present, I'd like to chop-chop glance at the visitor Slack while I write this article in one window and reference my notes in a 2nd window.

Windows 11 even can remember the groupings of windows you used, via something chosen Snap Groups. This fashion, if you similar a certain screen layout, you can minimize that cluster of windows, and bring it back upwardly, to get back to work that easily.

Windows 11 understands we alive different lives

When I'thousand off the clock I effort and stay that way. Of class, I'm always apt to lapse, because the work-life rest was shredded fifty-fifty further during the by year. But Windows 11 actually wants to assist fix this problem, by letting yous customize different desktops for the different ways you use your PC.

If I could take such a characteristic on my MacBook, I'd be able to edit down my dock for each section of my life. In the Piece of work desktop, I'd take Slack, Chrome, Calendars, Stickies, Pixelmator and Voice Memos, and thinking about this at present, I actually want it. Because I don't desire to utilise any of those apps (perchance Chrome) when I'm off the clock.

(Epitome credit: Microsoft)

Then, I'd switch to indie favorites I tin't use for piece of work, such every bit Bear, Todoist, Drafts, Due and Deliveries. Heck, I'd also throw the Music app in there likewise, considering I've got a weird habit where I don't like to listen to music while I work. Instead, I have a very elongated and crowded dock, filled with apps I don't actually need half the fourth dimension.

You lot're likewise going to be able to make further customizations in Windows 11 desktops, so your wallpaper and themes tin can differ beyond those zones besides. For example when I'chiliad at work, I may exist less comfortable having a desktop background of the breviloquent pro wrestler Orange Cassidy than I would when I'yard at home. This way, you can easily skid from one mode to another.

Windows 11 shows Apple a way to touch the Mac

We get it, Apple doesn't want to brand a touchscreen Mac. You know what? I wouldn't want to endeavor and tap the icons and touch targets of macOS Monterey either. They're super-small, and made for a cursor.

That's why I chuckled, respectfully, at Microsoft when they showed that the Windows 11 interface changes ever and so slightly when you get to tablet way. For example, the space between the icons in the Taskbar expands, then it'southward easier to touch the 1 you want.

(Paradigm credit: Microsoft)

The demo also highlighted that this tablet mode adds visual cues and increases the sizes of the touch targets (buttons and corners of screens, the stuff you're trying to impact), so that everything feels natural.

I'thou certain the braintrust at Apple could detect a manner to proceed a touch-friendly mode of macOS thirteen looking and feeling enough like macOS 12 that nobody got upset. Would that eliminate the demand for the iPad? I doubtfulness it. Some people want a device dedicated to affect, however, while others desire the flexibility for both.

(Epitome credit: Microsoft)

I was never huge on the Get-go menu, just Windows 11 adds 1 matter I actually similar: a department for Recommended documents. macOS does something similar, simply different enough that I desire information technology to change. A listing of recent files is found both in the Finder Favorites listing and hidden in the Apple icon in the Menu Bar under Recent Items.

This is a very straightforward way to show you files you lot may want, and doesn't leverage Apple's intelligence. Siri may be troubled as a vox banana, just its apps and widget recommendations on the iPhone and iPad are spectacular. If Apple tree could discover some way to use that data to suggest the pages or files you're more likely to want at that moment — and do all the processing locally for your own privacy — it would have a winner on its hands.

Windows 11 has a restrained utilise of color

(Prototype credit: Microsoft)

In Safari on macOS Monterey and Apple tree's iOS 15 and iPadOS fifteen, the toolbar of the app now changes to match the website you're using. This is mayhap absurd for some people, but it'due south way besides chaotic for me.

I'll know amend when I become more time with it, but I respect how Windows eleven's overall default hues seem to mix neutral tones and translucency. For now, I just hope I tin can apace find the setting to disable Safari'southward new color-aware adjustments when I use the Bone.

Apple tree, please ignore Teams

(Image credit: Microsoft)

That said, the Windows 11 outcome showed me i thing I don't want Apple tree to re-create. Teams may wait minimal in the above implementation, merely that picayune menu is hiding a world of complications.

I know enough about Teams, and its family and friends integrations, that I have zero interest in ever using information technology. There's just way too much stuff in there, and I prefer Letters and FaceTime on their own. Information technology would exist corking if Apple and Microsoft could make them work together, though. Especially for bringing SharePlay to a wider audience. Permit people continue to use the reminder and calendar apps they want, and not try and allow the type-A family members to button their relatives to utilise and conform to this large web of productivity.

Waiting to run across how Windows 11 actually works

Spending more than time observing Windows xi in betas in the coming year should give everyone plenty fourth dimension to see what actually works and what makes for a skilful presentation and sizzle reel.

I'll probably go on to separate my fourth dimension between PCs and Macs, simply these new features give everyone reason to proceed an eye Windows, even die-hard Mac users similar myself.

• Read more: Windows xi — here's all the features Microsoft just killed

Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past six-plus years. Prior to joining Tom'southward Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's too covered the wild earth of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other manufacture veterans.

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