Windows 11 will bring Microsoft 365 Companions to the taskbar. These will allow access to information and functionalities of services such as file explorer, calendar or contacts directly from the taskbar.
If the taskbar has been modernized with the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, we cannot say that it has benefited from an in-depth overhaul or new features that really shake up the experience. During the Microsoft Ignite 2024 conference, the publisher announced significant changes to this essential interface element of the operating system.
Pavan Davuluri, head of Windows and Surface at Microsoft, explained that Microsoft 365 Companions will include contacts, files and calendar directly in the Windows 11 taskbar. These are not shortcuts, which we already have, but rather floating panels displaying content without having to open a dedicated application.
The Windows 11 taskbar becomes more than a quick access space
The idea is to obtain information and interact with certain services in a more intuitive way, without wasting time. Microsoft hasn’t detailed how this feature will work exactly, but it should build on what already exists with Phone Link (Mobile Connected), which allows you to consult recent messages and calls, notifications or even the battery life of the smartphone without having to go to the Phone Link application.
Microsoft Teams also already benefits from such integration with the taskbar, offering some functionality from there without having to switch windows. This allows you to activate or mute your microphone quickly without interrupting your current activity.
Present at Microsoft Ignite 2024, the publication The Verge specifies that it has not been communicated whether, ultimately, the Microsoft 365 Companions experience will be accessible to third-party developers in order to improve the integration of all applications into the taskbar. Some software already offers some possibilities, such as pausing playback or skipping to the previous or next song on Spotify, but adding new functions, and for more applications, can only have advantages for the ‘user.
Source : The Verge
