Bath, a picturesque city in the UK, is renowned for its stunning Georgian architecture. However, for those of us residing in its charming yet creaky listed buildings, the aesthetic appeal often comes at the cost of reliable internet connectivity. Fortunately, the latest Windows 11 preview build introduces a feature that may alleviate some of these connectivity woes.
New Internet Speed Check Feature
Rolling out to both the Dev and Beta channels, preview build 26220.6760 now includes an internet speed check directly accessible from the Windows system tray in the taskbar. Currently available only to Windows Insiders running Windows 11, version 24H2, this feature does not signal the end of my long-standing relationship with Ookla’s Speedtest.net. In fact, as reported by Windows Latest, Microsoft has partnered with Ookla since 2023 to integrate Bing’s speed test widget, and this new taskbar feature serves as a convenient shortcut to that tool.
In addition to this, Microsoft is set to automatically install its AI assistant, Copilot, alongside Microsoft 365 starting in October. At present, users will not have the option to opt out of this feature, leaving those who prefer alternatives, such as LibreOffice, with limited choices.
File Explorer Enhancements
For Insiders utilizing Copilot-enabled PCs, there will also be updates to the File Explorer Search Box following a significant update in January. This earlier update introduced a dual indexing method—semantic and traditional—allowing users to search for files by describing their content rather than recalling specific file names. The latest preview build refines the wording in the File Explorer Search Box to better highlight this capability, although I still find comfort in my own personal filing system, which, admittedly, only makes sense to me.
While this preview build includes several fixes and features, it does not represent a groundbreaking update. One might attribute this to the recent launch of the Windows 11 25H2 update, which, while noteworthy, does not drastically alter the user experience. We seem to be in a phase where operating systems evolve yet retain their core essence, as evidenced by Windows 11 finally surpassing its predecessor in popularity this past July—four years post-launch. With official support for Windows 10 concluding this October, the transition to Windows 11 feels increasingly timely.
