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Windows 11 Widgets: A new way to customize your at-a-glance info

From news to maps to your to-do list, see your interests at a glance and personalized with AI.

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Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
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Joshua Goldman
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Widgets in Windows 11.

 Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET

At Microsoft's launch of Windows 11, the next generation of its operating system, on Thursday, the software giant detailed a new way you'll be able to find content: Widgets. The feature is an AI-powered personalized feed that slides out to show you info such as news, weather, a glimpse at your calendar and to-do list and your recent photos. 

Widgets is an evolution of the Interests feature currently available in Windows 10. Introduced at the end of April, Interests launches from the taskbar and gives you similar personalized at-a-glance info. Widgets appears to expand on this with more personalized information and a much nicer appearance. 

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Watch this: Microsoft demos new Windows 11

Microsoft also demonstrated how the Widgets panel slides over your desktop but can also be viewed full-screen so you can see everything at once. You'll also be able to rearrange and resize your widgets. According to Microsoft, the information will adapt to you and what's important to you so they match your interests. The information can even be localized and you'll be able to support local content creators and authors by giving them a tip.

The introduction of Widgets, as well as other upcoming Windows 11 features such as Android apps running on PCs, are part of Microsoft's greater push to make your PC experience to look and feel the same as your phone or tablet experience. 

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