In this article, we will talk about another Preview Build for Windows 11 26H1, with the Build 28020.1743 or KB5081339 in the Canary Channel.
In the latest Build for the Canary Channel, you may notice the New Windows 11 26H1 Version, which is a New Version that Microsoft is using to test the New Platform for the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Devices and Nvidia N1X Processors.
26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2 and only includes platform changes to support specific silicon. There is no action required from customers.
25H2 remains the primary place for new features. Windows 11 continues to have an annual feature update cadence, with releases in the second half of the calendar year.
As a reminder, in the Windows Insider Program, new experiences will continue to land first in the Dev and Beta Channels, with Canary primarily focused on platform changes.
New Features in this Build
New Shared Audio Features
- Shared audio (preview) was first announced last fall, and allows 2 people to share audio between their two capable Bluetooth LE Audio headphones, speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids. With this update Windows now provides individual sliders for each listener which adjusts their volume without affecting the other. You can continue to adjust volume for both listeners at the same time through the main volume controls available through Quick Settings or on-device and keyboard controls.
- You’ll also see a new taskbar indicator while you’re sharing, giving a quick reminder that audio is still being shared. Clicking the indicator is a fast path to open sharing settings to change volume or stop sharing.
- The LE Audio accessory ecosystem also continues to grow. In addition to the accessories announced before, we’re excited to share that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, Sony WF‑1000XM6, and Xbox Wireless Headset all have support for shared audio!
New Context Menu
When right clicking on a .exe, .bat, or .cmd file, the context menu’s “Open” verb will now match the icon associated with the file’s default app.
New Feedback Hub App
Introducing the new Feedback Hub, bringing a refreshed, modernized experience available as an app update today for Insiders in Dev and Canary.
What’s new in Feedback Hub
- Simpler feedback submission flow: Feedback is now submitted using a single unified template, with the added ability to search categories. The feedback form itself has been modernized enabling for faster iteration and future improvements.
- Simpler navigation: My Feedback now lives directly in the navigation pane, and Community feedback (formerly All feedback) makes it easier to discover and engage with feedback from others. The Announcements page has been removed to focus more on giving and exploring feedback. You can still find announcements on the Windows Insider Blog.
- New compliment feedback type: Call out what’s working well.
- Private or public feedback: Choose whether your feedback is visible to the Insider community.
- New focused feedback experience: a new smaller Feedback Hub surface, making it easier to provide quick, in-the-moment feedback. You can expand to the full Feedback Hub experience by pressing the button in the upper right corner.
- Improved screenshot capture and review tooling: making it easier to capture and include visuals when sharing feedback.
Fixes in this Build
Storage
- Improved reliability of removing Windows Update files / windows.old files via Settings > System > Storage.
Input
- Pen settings: we have made refinements to the Pen settings page including small changes to the options for the pen tail button. A new option, “Same as Copilot key”, enables the pen tail button to launch the same app as the Copilot key.
File Explorer
- You can now use voice typing (Windows key plus H) when renaming files in File Explorer.
- Improved reliability of unblocking files downloaded from the internet in order to preview them in File Explorer.
For more information about this Build, you can check this article from the Microsoft Blog.
For a more in-depth presentation of the New Build, you can watch the video below from the youtube channel.
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