Windows 11 beta build leaks -- no sweeping overhaul so far

Next week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will show off the next-generation Windows operating system. Over the past couple of weeks, there have been various rumors about a new version number. Half a decade ago, when Microsoft introduced Windows 10, the software giant marketed it as the "final version of Windows." It seems the company has changed its mind as there's now overwhelming evidence that Windows 11 will be revealed on June 24th.

Beta version of Windows 11 leaks to the web

Screenshots and a Build 21996.1 beta of Windows 11 were posted on Chinese social media. We don't know how recent this build is, and how close to final it is, but overall, it doesn't seem like Windows 11 is a massive overhaul of the Windows user interface.

Microsoft recycled some elements from the dumped Windows 10X and took some inspiration from Apple's macOS. Windows 11 looks like a new skin for Windows 10, with some new icons, a new logo, a redesigned Start menu, rounded corners, and a task bar that's centered by default.

XDA Developers installed the leaked build via a virtual machine and offers a bunch of screenshots over here.

You also may have spotted a new Windows logo, which is a blue Microsoft logo. It’s replacing the trapezoidal logo that we had before and flattening it out into a square. This is likely a big part of the Redmond firm’s move to make things more Microsoft-branded instead of Windows-branded. We’ve seen various references to Microsoft Server in Windows Server.

Windows 11 still contains legacy UI

Tom Warren from The Verge confirms there's been no sweeping overhaul to unify the Windows 11 user interface. Via a screenshot he posted on Twitter, he illustrates Windows 11 still contains all the old Windows 9x, Windows XP, Windows 7/8, and Windows 10 elements.

don't worry, all the old Windows stuff is still there in Windows 11 ????https://t.co/VDS08QPsl5 pic.twitter.com/RMi8KLgBV0

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 15, 2021