Windows 11 24H2: What’s new and exciting for Australians in 2024?

Windows 11 24H2 has come up with advanced updates, top-level features, performance amplifications, upgraded design with enhanced security, and much more. The next major Windows operating system upgrade, Windows 11 2024 upgrade (or version 24H2), is currently available on new Copilot+ PCs and will likely be rolled out to other Windows 11 devices later this year.

AI is the main significant feature of the Windows 11 24H2, which launches Copilot+ PCs with Paint's Cocreator, new Windows Studio effects, Recall, and other new capabilities (although those will be available later). Newer PCs based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series chipset come with pre-installed upgrades. It also includes important updates for Arm machines.

The latest features of Windows 11 version 24H2 are listed below:

Window Recall (AI): Windows Recall, or (Recall), is the feature of AI in the latest Windows 11 24H2 which works in background and helps you to go back in time to find or recall anything that you have done in the past on your computer. This feature is similar to the timeline feature of Windows 10, but recall uses AI and can work in offline mode.

This feature captures snapshots of all activity in the background. The functionality scans any content text or image, and uses multiple on-device AI models to make it searchable using natural language.

The option will be available for the users to switch the functionality on and switch it off. The user can then choose to either click on the System Tray icon, or click on the icon that is in the line of other applications, in order to launch the Recall application located in the Taskbar.

On the result page, you have the option to examine all of the results, sort by programs, and even open the results in File Explorer.

Additionally, the results will be categorised into "text matches," "visual matches," and so forth. Once the snapshot is located, you can interact with it to share the screenshots, run the application, copy content, or remove.

The Recall functionality is available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs since it requires the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processor with NPU and additional specifications of 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Moreover, the feature needs at least 25 GB of additional space as well.

Microsoft Copilot AI: Under Windows 11 24H2, Copilot behaves like any other regular software, allowing you to move it around and adjust its size. You can also pin and unpin it from the taskbar. Consequently, the System Tray's Copilot icon will become inaccessible.

Actually, the application is the web version of Copilot that is set up on Windows 11 as a web app. It still functions as previously, but it can't modify the system configuration. Rather than that, Microsoft intends to incorporate Copilot recommendations anywhere the chatbot can provide support, such as in toast notifications and the Settings app.

Windows Studio effect (AI): AI utilises the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in enhancing either audio and video resolution or quality. Six major effects are - automatic breathing, background defocus, eye contact, voice focus, dramatic lighting, creative filter and eye contact delay.

Live Captions (AI): Live translations are being added to Windows 11's Live Captions feature, which is intended to assist all users, including those with hearing impairments, in understanding audio through automatic transcriptions.

Intelligence with Super Resolution (AI): One of Windows 11 24H2's most anticipated features are Auto Super Resolution (Auto RS). The function, which is targeted at PC gamers, ups the ante on games by using AI to boost frame rates and image quality.

The function is anticipated to function similarly to the AI-powered upscale gaming features offered by Nvidia's DLSS, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), and Intel's Xe Super Sampling (XeSS).

Start Menu

A sidebar on the Start menu lets you access your Android phone easily. The new experience may be accessed by connecting your phone with the Windows Link app on your mobile device and the Phone Link app on Windows 11. The “Show mobile device in Start” option will then show up in the “Start” settings page.

Taskbar

There are also some enhancements to the Taskbar. To provide you rapid access to all the shortcuts, the quick Settings flyout, for instance, has a redesigned interface that gets away with the ability to alter the accessible items for a scrollable page.

Finally, you may now display a shortened version of the date and time thanks to this feature update. For example, you may display an abbreviation like "9:10 1/1" in place of "9:10 AM 1/1/2024."

File Explorer

Version 24H2 introduces some enhancements to File Explorer. To produce TAR, 7z, and Zip files, for instance, the file manager now has a new compression wizard that offers options for selecting formats like "gzip" and "bzip2" for individual files or producing archives with various tar formats and compression types.

The latest version of File Explorer can also read and edit the metadata of ".png" images, including adding keywords, editing descriptions, and assigning star ratings.

Moreover, the company also includes the labelling of the main functional buttons in the context menu of File Explorer, namely in buttons for cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete.

Enhanced battery life with good Performance

Windows 11 24H2 comes up with all new better performance and long battery life, especially for laptops. These improvements are faster app load timing, less resource usage for background apps, and optimised power management, especially for laptops.

Increased security and privacy

In recent years, as incidences of cyber threats have increased, Microsoft has also made improvements to the security architecture of Windows 11. The 24H2 update brings enhanced protection against phishing attacks and smarter application permissions, ensuring that the data and privacy of the users in Australia are assured.

Notifications regarding the incidents of a hack attempt via phishing across emails and browsers
Ability to restrict unauthorised access to sensitive data by particular applications.
Security improvement with regards to automatic application updates for enhanced usability.

Windows 11 24H2 brings along significant enhancements that help in boosting productivity and enhance the user experience. Regardless of your status in Australia as a professional, a gamer, or an average user, these new additions are designed to make the Windows atmosphere simpler, safer, and more efficient. Don’t forget to check out the last update of the version and see how it will improve your digital work.