Windows 11 Preview – Windows Insider Program Canary Channel
Microsoft is offering a new build of Windows 11, Build 26020, through the CANARY channel of the Windows Insider Program. It introduces new features and changes.
Like all other previews released on the Canary channel, Microsoft offers limited documentation. Only the most important new features and known issues are discussed.
The operating system improves its language support with new languages for voice access. The list includes French (France), French (Canada), German, Spanish (Spain) and Spanish (Mexico).
New languages in the Voice Access bar settings.
All voice access features are available on multiple screens, including number and grid overlay. These were previously only available on the main screen.
Use mouse grid controls to move your mouse to a specific point on a specific screen.
Regarding the grid overlay function, Microsoft explains
It is designed to allow you to not only interact with the screen you are currently using, but also to quickly switch to another screen. You can also drag and drop files, apps, and documents from one screen to another. After you bring up the grid overlay, you can use it to quickly switch focus to another display.
The giant is also introducing voice shortcuts or personalized commands. This option is currently only available when language access uses English.
New Voice Shortcuts tab for creating custom commands in Voice Access. Create a new custom command for use in Voice Access.
Previews for natural voices launching in September 2023 follow.
If you click on a natural voice for the narrator in the settings, a preview will automatically play.
As a reminder, these new natural voices include Chinese, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), Japanese, English (UK), French, Portuguese, English (India), German, and Korean. Microsoft adds
Natural Narrator voices use modern on-device text-to-speech and are supported without an internet connection once downloaded. Please note that an internet connection is required to listen to the previews. To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC as follows:
- Open Narrator Settings by pressing WIN + CTRL + N.
- Under Narrator Voice, select the Add button next to Add Natural Voices.
- Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately. The preview will automatically play as you navigate through the list.
- If you like the preview, click “Download and Install.” Depending on your internet download speed, the new voice will be downloaded and ready to use in just a few minutes.
- Once the new voice is downloaded, in Narrator Settings, select your preferred voice from the Narrator Voice > Select Voice drop-down menu.
Starting with Windows 11 Build 26020, native content becomes worse
As of this build 26020, the WordPad and Contacts applications are no longer part of the native content of the operating system. After reinstalling the operating system they are no longer there. On his side WordPad will be deleted soon.
The Alias User Action Recorder app Steps recorder is abandoned. Maintenance has been discontinued while removal is planned in a future version of Windows 11. Now Steps Recorder (PSR.exe) will display a notification to guide users to other options. Redmond recommends Screenshot, Xbox Game Bar or Clipchamp.
For connected PCs without a battery (e.g. desktop PCs), a new power saving icon appears in the taskbar when power saving mode is activated.
Pause and resume print jobs in the printer print queue in Settings.
At this address it is now possible to pause and resume print jobs in the print queue
Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners.
In the Share window, Share With only shows applications that are associated with the account the user is signed in to Windows with: Microsoft Account (MSA) or Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory). Sharing with WhatsApp is available and more services are planned for the future.
Give your device a more descriptive name to identify sharing to and from Nearby Share.
Finally, the proximity sharing feature comes with an option that allows you to quickly name the device to identify sharing from and.
It's important to emphasize that Windows 11 Build 26020 is not recommended for a production PC. The operating system is only offered in a test environment. There is no guarantee of stability and performance.