Hello everyone and welcome back to the Cognixia podcast. Every week, we get together to talk about the latest happenings, bust some myths, discuss new concepts, and a lot more from the world of digital emerging technologies. From cloud computing to DevOps, containers to ChatGPT, and Project management to IT service management, we cover a little bit of everything week after week, to inspire our listeners to learn something new, sharpen their skills, and move ahead in their careers.
Microsoft has started rolling out the latest update to Windows 11 – the version 24H2. This new update is going to open the doors of Microsoft’s new AI features in select PCs. The File Explorer is also getting an upgrade with a chic new look. It introduces the sudo command for elevating privileges in a regular console session. Simply put, the new update is feature-packed. In today’s episode, we unpack this update and dig into what’s new in the 24H2 update for Windows 11. feature-packed
Starting off with the basics, the new update enables Windows 11 to support Wi-Fi 7. Users can also use QR codes to share Wi-Fi networks. So, that’s a good upgrade on the previous version. Wi-Fi 7, as we all already know, is the next generation of Wi-Fi, also known as IEEE 802.11be. It offers a seamless wireless experience with consistently low latency, even in congested environments, as well as other interesting features like larger channel bandwidths, multi-link operation, preamble puncturing, and target wake time.
The 24H2 update makes the quick settings page scrollable, so it is now easier to customize the list and tweak the settings how you want. It also offers support for advanced assistive hearing aids like some Bluetooth Low Energy Audio Devices. The Bluetooth and Devices settings have been expanded. These settings will now display battery life and connection status indicators as well as offer audio settings for connected devices.
The Energy Saving Mode is also now customizable and can be turned on and off with a toggle. Content adaptive brightness is also added to the mix, which would help save energy consumption.
Once you install the new Windows 11 update, you can easily switch between your business account and personal account in Microsoft Teams without closing or exiting the application.
Another significant upgrade is voice clarity. The new Windows 11 enables the suppression of background noise and distortion during calls. Previously, only Microsoft Surface had these features which have now been expanded to other devices. You can also choose to display widgets on the lock screen as well as personalize the lock screen as you choose.
With the new update, the new features of Microsoft Copilot + PCs like Live Captions, Windows Studio Effects for video calls, photo editing, etc. will also be available for users.
Coming to the Sudo Commands that we had mentioned earlier. This is something that would be quite useful for developers as they can take advantage of the general availability of the sudo commands in the command-line interface. Sudo would enable elevated commands even within a regular console session. If you are an IT professional or are a cybersecurity professional, then the 24H2 update has some very exciting updates for you. With the new update, Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) now has an automatic account management feature as well as some great policy improvements. Also, and we need a drum roll for this, Rust is now supported by Windows kernel. Plus, you get a pop-up that alerts you to nearby Wi-Fi. The privacy settings have been upgraded and will now allow users to choose which apps should have access to the Wi-Fi networks in their physical location. What this helps achieve is that you can prevent apps from determining your device’s physical location without your consent. SHA-3, a NIST-standardized hash function algorithm useful for different security efforts is also now supported by Windows 11 after 24H2. You can encrypt data down to the folder level. You can safeguard against malicious code by using the Deploy App Control for Business which is now available in the new Windows 11. You can even keep your print jobs confidential by deploying the Windows Protected Print mode.
So, now comes the most important question. How do you get your hands on this new Windows update?
If you are using the Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 for Business, then you can easily access the 24H2 version through the Windows Server Update services, including the Configuration Manager. You can also get the update through the Windows Update for Business as well as Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
If you use Windows 11 on a Personal Device instead of the Business version, then don’t worry, you are also eligible for the updates if you are using the 22H2 and the 23H2 versions. But it might take some time for the update to reflect in your Update Center. Do go into the Update Settings menu and check if you have opted in for the “Get the latest updates as soon as they are available” option. If you have, you are definitely first in line and probably already have access to the 24H2 version. Rollouts for personal devices happen gradually, so if you don’t already have access, you’ll get it soon, rest assured about that. Keep checking in the Update Center, it will be there soon.
As is the need of the hour, the new Windows 11 update offers some great security features as well as improved UX, which makes it a good annual update for both Business and Personal devices. It also brings new AI features to users, which we are sure the users are going to love.
A suggestion for all our listeners, always keep your Windows updated to get the latest security patches and upgrades. Cyber threats are evolving faster than anyone can keep up, and being agile and vigilant is the only way forward.
With that, we come to the end of this week’s episode of the Cognixia podcast. Hope you enjoyed listening to us today. We also hope you like the new Windows 11 update!
We will be back again next week with another interesting and exciting new episode. Until then, enjoy the festivities, check out our festive offers, and happy learning!
