Check out the all-new Clock app in Windows 11, now with added features

[midian182]

In brief: We know that Windows 11 brings some fresh changes to a number of the OS’ stock apps, and Microsoft has just delved deeper into what we can expect to see in the updated version of the humble Clock app.

We’ve already seen revamped Windows 11 versions of Paint and Photos, and Microsoft recently confirmed the classic Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch apps are being replaced with a single, theme-aware app that combines their functionality. The Calculator, Mail, and Calendar apps are all getting new looks, too.

Rolling out on Windows 11 to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, the new Clock app comes with more than just a stylish visual overhaul. Microsoft has introduced a new feature called Focus Sessions, which, as the name suggests, helps users focus on specific tasks.

Focus Sessions, teased by Microsoft’s Panos Panay a few weeks ago, lets users set a time limit for how long they want to work on a task. It then creates a Focus Timer that not only acts as a countdown but also advises when to take breaks.

Another first look from the team...#FocusSessions on #Windows11 coming soon. This has been a game-changer for me, especially with @Spotify integration #Productivity #Creativity #WindowsInsiders pic.twitter.com/HfJh4niDiS

— Panos Panay (@panos_panay) August 5, 2021

Microsoft writes that research has shown that listening to audio reduces the chances of being distracted; Focus Sessions integrates with Spotify accounts so you can work away to the perfect tunes. It also connects with Microsoft To Do, letting you check off your tasks without switching apps. You can even set daily goals for how many hours you want to allocate to tasks.

“With hybrid working and learning becoming the norm, focusing on digital health has never been more important, and the new Focus Sessions feature is designed to help,” writes Microsoft.

Microsoft finished by promising more updates to the stock Windows 11 apps.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/90879-clock-app-gets-redesign-new-features-windows-11.html

 

[mgilbert]

How I miss the clean, uncluttered, straightforward simplicity of Windows 7...

 

[mgwerner]

Oh, joy, a new clock.

 

[RudyBob]

A clock with added features How novel. LOL

 

[Farkinell]

About time.

 

[eforce]

I like what M$ is doing, they are forcing me to consider Linux.

 

[kimo1]

How I miss the clean, uncluttered, straightforward simplicity of Windows 7...

I miss the clean and straightforward UI of WinXP. Now that was eXPerience.

 

[Nobina]

So they added more bloat, exactly what I don't want, awesome!

I'm more drawn towards those Windows debloat tools every time I see news like this.

 

[trparky]

To all of you complaining... then don't F'ing use it! Just because you won't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't use it. You know what all of you are? Ivory tower elitists that think that the whole world revolves around you and that your opinion is the only one that matters. Well, guess what buttercup, the world doesn't revolve around you so suck it up.

I've been wanting to post this little rant for a while now. I feel great.

 

[yRaz]

To all of you complaining... then don't F'ing use it! Just because you won't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't use it. You know what all of you are? Ivory tower elitists that think that the whole world revolves around you and that your opinion is the only one that matters. Well, guess what buttercup, the world doesn't revolve around you so suck it up.

I've been wanting to post this little rant for a while now. I feel great.

I hope you enjoy being the only person using this feature

 

[trparky]

I hope you enjoy being the only person using this feature

I won't be using it but that's not the point here. Others may so don't say it's completely useless.

 

[yRaz]

I won't be using it but that's not the point here. Others may so don't say it's completely useless.

I suppose you're right, you can still buy a rolodex

 

[trparky]

I suppose you're right, you can still buy a rolodex

That's right. We all have smartphones and other such gadgets in our lives, yet some people buy good old-fashioned watches. I may think that an old-fashioned watch is useless, but others may not. Not everyone will share the same opinion and when you start thinking that your opinion is the only opinion that matters, you start to become like the ivory tower elitists that many of us hate.

 

[TheBigT42]

To all of you complaining... then don't F'ing use it! Just because you won't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't use it. You know what all of you are? Ivory tower elitists that think that the whole world revolves around you and that your opinion is the only one that matters. Well, guess what buttercup, the world doesn't revolve around you so suck it up.

I've been wanting to post this little rant for a while now. I feel great.

What you are totally missing is the real reason why people are complaining. 80% of Microsoft new operation systems and software packages is just moving **** around in the user interface for no reason other than to say it is new.

One of the best things about OSX is Apple doesn't move **** around...I haven't used a MAC in many years and versions. But if I do all the settings and base OS management are in the same damn place.

 

[theruck]

There must be really nothing else to talk about if they play the clock card while o365 gets a 10% price boost

 

[Uncle Al]

Think I'll stick with my old Timex ..... no disappointments there .....

 

[winjer]

Nice, more bloatware....

 

[BadThad]

More worthless bloatware garbage from MS! The focus should be on making the OS more robust, not adding eye-candy and worthless features. There are SO MANY things they could improve, for example, why do we have to use a fn debugging tool to see why we got a bluescreen? Add fault tolerance to the OS to make these crashes less severe and let us simply see a detailed log in event viewer or open it in notepad. SIMPLE...but MS chooses to spend time on updating the clock! KNUCKLEHEADS

 

[BadThad]

To all of you complaining... then don't F'ing use it! Just because you won't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't use it. You know what all of you are? Ivory tower elitists that think that the whole world revolves around you and that your opinion is the only one that matters. Well, guess what buttercup, the world doesn't revolve around you so suck it up.

I've been wanting to post this little rant for a while now. I feel great.

Out to make friends I see.

 

[Farkinell]

Out to make friends I see.

Lost me at 'Ivory tower elitists"
Since the world-wide ban on the ivory trade, my ivory tower is in dire need of upkeep and frankly I'm sick of plugging holes in my roof with these useless Faberge eggs. Someone send help.

 

[brucek]

To all of you complaining... then don't F'ing use it! Just because you won't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't use it. You know what all of you are? Ivory tower elitists that think that the whole world revolves around you and that your opinion is the only one that matters. Well, guess what buttercup, the world doesn't revolve around you so suck it up.

I've been wanting to post this little rant for a while now. I feel great.

There's something like 800,000 apps on the Microsoft store. By your logic, assuming that each one of them has someone who likes it, some Microsoft pre-install all 800,000 apps every Windows installation?

No one here is complaining about a user who chose to seek out this functionality and install it. The complaint is that Microsoft is taking what should be optional, opt-in niche functionality and force-including it on even the most minimal install of the O/S. And let's be honest, the internal justification for this feature is probably mostly about whatever Spotify is paying them for the "integration" and very little about any perceived benefit to users. Multiply this across an increasing number of functions throughout the O/S, and the trend is pretty easy to spot... at least from the "Ivory Tower" lol.

 

[trparky]

The biggest problem that I see among tech enthusiasts is that while you, as a tech enthusiast, may not want these kinds of features, apps, or what have you, that's just your opinion. The average user who is very much not like us might find those features to be useful.

The complaint is that Microsoft is taking what should be optional, opt-in niche functionality and force-including it on even the most minimal install of the O/S.

Tech enthusiast kind of thinking here. Remember, Windows is a mass-market OS and it must be able to run for a majority of users without the user even having to use one brain cell to use it. It must be dead simple easy to use. Period. Done.

This is what tech enthusiasts don't seem to understand. The average user doesn't give a rat's @ss about choice. They just want it to work.

 

[brucek]

Sorry, not buying it. I've worked IT help desk including supporting users who were not any kind of tech enthusiast. Never had a single user ask for help on how to read the previous clock versions. Or request any of the functionality described in this article. The existing version is what "just works". This new more complicated would seem more likely to generate support tickets going just by surface area of the feature alone.

I return you to my original question - by your logic, should all 800,000 apps on the app store be pre-installed? If not, what makes this particular functionality more valuable and/or universally applicable then any of the others? My real world answer is that likely the only relevant factor was that Spotify wanted to pay for it.

 

[trparky]

My real world answer is that likely the only relevant factor was that Spotify wanted to pay for it.

And what's wrong with that? I mean Microsoft is a business, they need to make money somehow. If that means I have to see an ad, so be it. I see ads in apps on my smartphone all the time. Is it hurting me? Is it a world-shattering kind of thing? Nope. I skim past it and get on with my life.

 

[brucek]

And what's wrong with that? I mean Microsoft is a business, they need to make money somehow. If that means I have to see an ad, so be it. I see ads in apps on my smartphone all the time. Is it hurting me? Is it a world-shattering kind of thing? Nope. I skim past it and get on with my life.

You sound like you could justify anything. What's wrong with it to me is that I have an expectation that the core workspace that people use hours a day for work and study should remain free of extraneous content especially ads and commerce opportunities. That goes double or triple for minors. And yes, Microsoft does need revenue, but as they have been among the most profitable companies on earth for several decades running, without corrupting individual workspace, I don't see any need to cheer that change on now.