Microsoft is planning on making big changes to the look and feel of Windows 10 next year, according to a new report. It seems like the potential revamp will include some major design differences and will refresh the desktop experience that Microsoft users have become familiar with, since the introduction of the user interface.
First introduced in 2015, Windows 10 delivered several new features to Microsoft users, such as the introduction of tiles to represent applications like Skype and Outlook, rather than having to search for apps in a list. It also saw the introduction of Microsoft Edge, the replacement to the default Internet Explorer browser. Windows 10 has seen several updates over the years, including an update released in October 2020. Updates for Windows 10 are installed automatically, with the user only able to choose between being asked to schedule an update, or allowing the update to occur in the background while the computer isn’t in use. Changes from the most recent update include a new Collections feature for Microsoft Edge.
The reported update is apparently codenamed “Sun Valley” and might be released to the public in the fall of 2021. As reported by Windows Central, it looks like this update will include further changes to the Start menu, along with the Action Center, where app notifications and quick actions are found. Even the file management system, File Explorer, is expected to see some changes. According to the report, as well as the design transformations, users will also gain the option to switch between updated and previous features, see refreshed animations, and other new features. While it isn’t clear what these other features are yet, from information already available in the Windows Insider Dev Channel, tablet users might want to expect a refreshed touch keyboard and emoji picker.
What The Update Could Mean For Users
Based on the information, the update will focus on improving aesthetic design while also offering users a more efficient experience. Changing something as basic as File Explorer may come as a surprise, but if the updates provides smoother and easier navigation, it will allow users to make the most of the Windows 10 experience in a new and exciting way. It will be interesting to see what design changes may come from this update. For example, the tiles introduced in the initial launch of Windows 10 were a big change from the familiar list format, so it is possible that Microsoft has other big changes coming with the 2021 update. Making the user interface faster and easier to use is certainly important, but spicing things up a little can’t hurt, either.
What might be most important for users is the potential to choose between working with the update or staying with current feature versions. Microsoft previously hasn’t been so generous, even in terms of the default browser. For example, with the recent update of Microsoft Edge, users are unable to uninstall the browser or use an older version. While updates can definitely be useful, sometimes users just prefer the way things were and if Microsoft really intends to offer users a choice, it might indicate the company is listening to customers and taking concerns into consideration.
Source: Windows Central