- The previous search took a few seconds on questions like how tall an actor is, then showed a simple Bing search result. The new search shows answers and file previews directly inside the search box. The reporter tried it at an event and said it was much faster and the screen looked simpler.
- It was introduced that tasks such as turning Bluetooth and dark mode on and off, minimizing windows, and opening two apps side by side can be run directly from the search box. For users of the Phone Link app for connecting a phone, a feature was also shown that sends a text message to the phone by typing the message content into the search box.
- The claim that performance and memory use improved greatly is Microsoft's claim. The company only said these are early test results, and the article does not say what devices or conditions were used for measurement.
- It is currently being tested with Windows Insiders. The reporter expects it to appear in Windows 11 within a few months, and said work is underway to bring it to the Start menu with a target of next year.
Being able to change settings like Bluetooth or dark mode just by typing the name into the search box may feel quite different to someone who used to go through several menu steps. Sending text messages requires Phone Link to be connected first, so the benefit may be smaller for a PC that is not linked to a phone. The performance and memory improvements are initial test results Microsoft has disclosed, so it seems wise to wait a bit longer to see how much they show up on real PCs.