Windows 11’s second big update has been accidentally confirmed for 2023
Copper is coming
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Microsoftis already preparing the second major update toWindows 11for the end of 2023, which is being called ‘Sun Valley 3’, or ‘Copper’ internally, with a bigger focus on touch improvements for tablet devices.
According toWindows Latest, 23H2 looks to build onSun Valley 2with improvements toWindows 11’s existing apps, while potentially adding a ‘tablet mode’ similar to theone found in Windows 10.
Sun Valley 2 looks to be getting ready for release later in 2022, with bug fixes currently being pushed through the Insider Builds, which allows users to try out the major update before it’s available for everyone.
However, with the switch to an annual feature release, much likeApple’s efforts, it would be good for Microsoft to announcewhencertain features are arriving,rather than just showcasing them.
Analysis: Let’s hear when, not what Microsoft
Back in April,Microsoft held an eventannouncing the arrival of tabs to File Explorer. At last, you’d be able to manage folders and files within one window with a bunch of tabs, instead of a load of windows that would clutter up your screen.
However, there wasn’t any indication from the company during that event as to when it would arrive for all Windows 11 users. At the time of writing, we’ve only just seen itcome to the Dev Channelin the recent Windows Insider builds, suggesting it could still be a while until normal users to get the feature.
While there’s a good chance we’ll see this in Sun Valley 2, it’s still not certain. We don’t know what’s coming with the major update, or when it will officially arrive, even though we may have already seen thetentative date leak.
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So, let’s see a roadmap Microsoft. Let’s hear what the plans are for the annual releases of Windows 11, and when certain features will arrive. Seeing tabs in File Explorer is great, but it’s hard to remain excited if there’s no indication of when the feature will arrive.
The hope for Sun Valley 3 is to at least hear about what the plans are for it, and when it will arrive. This way, business users and developers will be able to prepare their organizations and apps to take advantage of the new features.
Applehas already laid out its updates formacOS,iOS,iPadOS, andmore, with a ‘fall’ release. And even though that’s a vague release date, it at least gives all of its users an idea as to when these updates will arrive.
I want to see something similar from Microsoft. This way, users will look forward to trying out their favorite new features, especially when they’ve bought a newlaptoportablet, rather than being confused as to when they’ll ever land on their devices.
Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he’s written a book, ‘The Making of Tomb Raider’. His second book, ‘50 Years of Boss Fights’, came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ‘Springboard’. He’s usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that’s about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.
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