[tomek@vz]

Windows 11 received a fair share of flak from users for its controversial Start menu redesign, which many consider a big step back from what Windows 10 had. For years after the initial Windows 11 release, Microsoft finally has a much-improved variant, which is now available for everyone to download and try.
The redesigned Start menu addresses several drawbacks of the original version. For example, it is no longer split into two pages. You can now have the list of all apps right when you open the menu. Next, you can finally turn off the Recommended section and have more space for your pins and all apps. Also, the list of all apps has three views: grid, list, and categories.

> Windows 11 finally has a new and much-improved Start menu, here is how to enable it

The latest Windows 11 preview builds show that Microsoft is working on a new way to let users update Microsoft Store apps that could be less annoying than updating through the Microsoft Store. The build shows that Microsoft is baking an update mechanism that lets you check for an install update for apps via the Windows Update service, separate from the Microsoft Store.
This update method is designed to ensure that apps are up to date even when the Microsoft Store is inaccessible, for example, due to admin policies or if the Store app is uninstalled.

> Microsoft working on adding Microsoft Store app updates to Windows Update