Windows 11 Introduces “Shared Audio” Feature for Multi-Device Music Playback and New Taskbar Animations

Exciting Updates in Windows 11 Taskbar

Microsoft is rolling out significant enhancements to the Windows 11 taskbar, introducing a lively animation effect and a new audio-sharing feature. These changes aim to improve user experience and functionality on the platform.

New Animation Effects for Taskbar Icons

The latest Windows 11 update brings an engaging animation effect when users hover over the open applications on the taskbar. This feature mirrors some of the animations present in Windows 10 and is designed to enhance visual interactivity.

As noted by Phantom on X, a hidden modification in build 26120.4733 introduces these alterations. This improvement, initially intended to accompany the revamped thumbnail previews, is now coming to fruition.

Smooth Thumbnail Previews

For users on Windows 11 24H2, hovering over application icons will trigger a “fly up” animation that displays a thumbnail of the app. This thumbnail will reflect the actual size of the app window, adapting dynamically whether the app is maximized or minimized. The new functionality creates a size-adjusting animation that enhances transitions between thumbnails of varying dimensions. This small but impactful quality-of-life upgrade enriches the overall user experience.

Testing conducted by Windows Latest successfully enabled the new thumbnail preview animation in the latest Beta build, showcasing a more refined preview animation for various app layouts.

taskbar thumbnails — Image Source: WindowsLatest.com

It’s important to note that testing was performed in a virtual environment lacking GPU passthrough, resulting in a somewhat choppy preview experience.

Enhanced Audio Connectivity Options

In addition to the visual updates, the new build also addresses the previous limitations in audio pairing, a much-needed improvement for audio enthusiasts. With the introduction of a “shared audio” feature within the Quick Settings menu, users can now connect and control multiple audio devices simultaneously.

As highlighted by Phantom on X, this functionality allows users to stream music through two or more devices easily. Users simply select the devices they wish to pair, enabling the playback of audio across multiple output channels.

connect multiple bluetooth devices windows 11

Compatible with Bluetooth version 4.0 or newer, this update promises seamless connectivity, ensuring that pairing contemporary devices is hassle-free. As illustrated in the accompanying screenshot, users can select from multiple devices to play audio concurrently, enhancing the multimedia experience.

Looking Ahead

These two incremental yet impactful enhancements are currently being tested in preview builds of Windows 11. Microsoft is expected to release an official announcement regarding these features in the near future, signaling a commitment to continuous improvement and user-centric design.

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