Microsoft’s Build conference focused heavily on the future of Windows and computing. There, the technology giant presented new tools and hardware to help developers make native Windows applications and AI Agents. Microsoft is also working to improve Windows 11 and its own applications as part of k2 windows. But there was one part of Windows 11 that was completely ignored during the build: the widget panel.
If you click on the weather icon in the bottom left corner of your screen, the Widgets panel will open. You may have accidentally invoked it by pressing WIN+W or by placing your mouse in the corner of your desktop.
Unfortunately, the mild surprise of discovering that Windows 11 has a widget panel is probably the biggest joy this feature will bring you. The selection of available widgets makes the Windows Phone App Store look like the Google Play Store.
There are 56 widgets available in the Microsoft Store and only a few of them are useful. Shout out to the creators of MagicPods, who released a widget for your app that makes AirPods feel at home in Windows 11. Calendar Flyout and a handful of utilities are also nifty additions. But let’s be serious, the state of the Widgets panel is embarrassing.
Microsoft is forming a team of app developers to address the Windows 11 app situation. The company held sessions at Build focused on two different types of native applications. Microsoft even announced the Surface RTX Spark Development Box to help developers make AI agents. But the tech giant is basically silent on the widget panel.
The Remaining Microsoft Apps Gap
Microsoft has done an enormous amount of work to fix the Microsoft store. That store is in a much better place than it was a few years ago and now includes a massive library of must-have apps.
The continued push to create native apps and Arm-optimized apps keeps a stream of apps arriving or being improved in Windows 11.
But the widget panel seems to be a forgotten part of Windows 11. Microsoft has made some improvements to the panel itself, such as separating the MSN feed, but they are almost meaningless if the panel lacks useful widgets.
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