Microsoft has released the first beta of Windows 11, available to those enrolled in its Windows Insider Program. Until today, getting access to Windows 11 meant installing the Dev preview, which Microsoft says is for “highly technical users” as it has “rough edges.” According to Microsoft, the beta release is less volatile, with builds being validated by Microsoft (though it’s still probably something you’ll want to install on a test machine or second partition).
Of course, to install the beta you’ll need a compatible computer. Figuring out if your hardware will work with the next version of Windows has been notoriously tricky to pin down, but Microsoft’s article about preparing for Insider builds directs people to its system requirements page. The company has said that it will be paying close attention to how well 7th Gen Intel and AMD Zen 1 CPUs work during the testing period, so it’s possible those systems could be allowed to run the beta but not the final release.
The beta release is also good news for those of us who installed the Dev preview to get our hands on Windows 11 as soon as possible, but don’t actually need to be on the bleeding (read: buggy) edge. If you, like me, are in this situation, you can switch to the Beta channel by going to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program, then clicking on Choose your Insider Settings.
Usually switching from Dev to Beta requires a complete OS re-install, but according to the Windows Insider Twitter account, it’ll be possible to do in place for a “short period of time.” It’s probably best to hop on that as soon as you can if you don’t need to stay on the Dev channel. I’ve tested it out myself, and switching to the Beta channel only required a quick reboot — a small price to pay for what will hopefully be smoother sailing until the actual release.
For those who are still running Windows 10, but are adventurous enough to join the beta, you can register for Microsoft’s beta program here. Of course, while Microsoft says that the Beta Channel releases are more stable than Dev Channel ones, they are still betas. There will likely be bugs, crashes, and missing features — Microsoft even has a whole list of current issues in its blog post, which also says that the Teams Chat feature that’s available for some in the Dev channel isn’t currently available for beta users yet.
In other news – Shona Ferguson fighting for his life in ICU
Actor, filmmaker, and actor Shona Ferguson is fighting for his life after undergoing a heart operation at a private hospital in Joburg.
The 47-year old actor who is also husband to actress Connie Ferguson was admitted more than a week ago to Milpark private hospital where he is currently in intensive care unit (ICU). Learn more
Source: theverge
