Windows 11

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

It's here, go play: https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpo...&postcount=788 I can confirm that installing it that way allows it to update as normal through the Microsoft Store app afterwards, my home machine did this morning.

I'll wait until the official rollout, which hopefully allows for the full Google app framework to get sideloaded in

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I'll wait until the official rollout, which hopefully allows for the full Google app framework to get sideloaded in

Given the tight partnership between Microsoft and Amazon to use the Amazon AppStore on WSA (and the contrastingly cold relationship that persists between Redmond and Mountain View), I wouldn't hold my breath for an 'official' method to do so.

You can use Magisk to load Play Services, among other options. I just installed Aurora and called it a day.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Given the tight partnership between Microsoft and Amazon to use the Amazon AppStore on WSA (and the contrastingly cold relationship that persists between Redmond and Mountain View), I wouldn't hold my breath for an 'official' method to do so.

You can use Magisk to load Play Services, among other options. I just installed Aurora and called it a day.

Well Microsoft is now releasing phone/tablet devices running Android, and the whole point of integrating Android apps into Windows is that Microsoft is finally giving up trying to force their own app ecosystem. I don't see why Google would prevent their services from running on Windows, it's adding millions more devices under their umbrella for free. At best I think we see them officially support Windows in a year or two, but at worst we'll get a better method of putting the Google framework on Windows than the ugly hacks involved right now

[TorqueDog]

I admire your optimism.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

The big question you should ask yourself before upgrading to Windows 11 is why? Under the hood it's virtually the same OS as Windows 10, it was actually supposed to be a big Windows 10 update before Microsoft decided to spin it out as 11. There are no benchmarks available that show any performance increases, and several that show a significant decrease to 10 under certain circumstances. So really the only thing 11 has going for it at this point is a different visual theme, is that enough of a reason?

Personally I'm waiting at least until Android app functionality is rolled out. That's the point where it offers something significantly new compared to 10, and hopefully by then the performance issues are figured out and Microsoft gets their heads out of their asses in regards to the taskbar oversimplification

I consider it basically just a UI update, and I'm happy enough with that.

[TorqueDog]

I just reinstalled the Windows Subsystem for Android using MagiskOnWSA. Easy as hell, Play Services work now and any apps I wanted to install with Play Services dependencies now work properly.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I just reinstalled the Windows Subsystem for Android using MagiskOnWSA. Easy as hell, Play Services work now and any apps I wanted to install with Play Services dependencies now work properly.

Any apps you can recommend trying? I can't think of anything I need that doesn't have a Windows app other than Apple Music.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Any apps you can recommend trying? I can't think of anything I need that doesn't have a Windows app other than Apple Music.

I've installed 17Track which is a parcel tracking application that syncs with my phone, UpToDate Lexicomp mobile (anyone in healthcare will know what this is), and I have tested a few other applications like JBV1 (works) and Highway Radar (doesn't run properly even after getting Google Play Services installed on the subsystem). But otherwise, I haven't had a lot of applications I've wanted/needed to install as of yet. A big part of that simply boils down to the fact that I am an iPhone user day-to-day, and my Android phone is strictly for work.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I've installed 17Track which is a parcel tracking application that syncs with my phone, UpToDate Lexicomp mobile (anyone in healthcare will know what this is), and I have tested a few other applications like JBV1 (works) and Highway Radar (doesn't run properly even after getting Google Play Services installed on the subsystem). But otherwise, I haven't had a lot of applications I've wanted/needed to install as of yet. A big part of that simply boils down to the fact that I am an iPhone user day-to-day, and my Android phone is strictly for work.

I used iPhone too with Android for screwing around with. I'll have to do some searching to find some apps that add functionality.

I find Samsung Dex more useful although it's far from perfect too.

[TorqueDog]

I have Samsung DeX on the S10e I run for work and while it has been 'neat' to play with and even useful in terms of testing new product functionality, I am most definitely not the target user.

[photon]

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022...indows-11-pro/

But tucked away toward the bottom of the changelog is one unwelcome addition: like the Home edition of Windows 11, the Pro version will now require an Internet connection and a Microsoft account during setup. In the current version of Windows 11, you could still create a local user account during setup by not connecting your PC to the Internet—something that also worked in the Home version of Windows 10 but was removed in 11. That workaround will no longer be available in either edition going forward, barring a change in Microsoft's plans.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by photon

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022...indows-11-pro/

I really despise that. How is a small business, where it doesn't make sense to buy into volume licensing, mange that? Setup dummy accounts for every user? Have a default one for all installs? It's annoying enough trying to manage office licenses. And WHY is this something we need? Is it piracy protection? just to force you onto their other software? User tracking?

[TorqueDog]

I’m not in Windows, but the Microsoft account is used to light up all sorts of various integration, like being able to sync your settings, themes, favourites, saved passwords, and so on across multiple devices, provide contextual information about things like upcoming calendar events, and more. I get why they want to get as many people using MSAs in Windows as possible, I just don’t really think the heavy handed approach buys much goodwill from users.

[Fuzz]

But if you don't use any Microsoft products for that, it's all just a major unnecessarily annoyance.

[TorqueDog]

No argument here.

[DownInFlames]

I have a couple of icons on my taskbar that have a verticle line beside them. Those icons can't be moved. I looked this issue up and it appears to be a glitch. If I unpin the icons and repin them the line should go away.

The worst part is now I want the ability to put lines like this on the taskbar as a divider to keep apps like media and games separate. For once it's a bug, not a feature.

[TorqueDog]

You should suggest that in the 'Feedback Hub' app. That's a damn good idea, I'd upvote that.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You should suggest that in the 'Feedback Hub' app. That's a damn good idea, I'd upvote that.

I might make some dummy icons that don't do anything like this:

https://www.addictivetips.com/window...r%20this%20way.

[DownInFlames]

This is really clever.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1566706082487074817

[Hemi-Cuda]

Finally upgraded to Windows 11. Thought it was fine once I disabled all of the stupid new stuff (center menu, chat button, right-click noob menu, etc), but then I was annoyed at how my taskbar labels were gone and there was no way to bring them back. Ended up downloading Start11 to do so, then after playing around ended up changing the Start Menu back to the Windows 10 style since it offers more functionality

So yea, Windows 11 is fine once you install a tool to make it behave exactly like Windows 10