A brighter Windows
Windows 10 is getting a lick of paint – and it’s all in the best possible taste
What is it?
Microsoft’s new ‘design language’ for Windows 10, which will change how the operating system looks and works. Early glimpses show transparent boxes, fluid animations, large white spaces and subtle blurring around words. It’s all very tasteful.
So it won’t have neon signs like Piccadilly Circus?
No, it’s much more attractive, although we can’t guarantee that Microsoft won’t let Coca-cola and Mcdonald’s advertise in the Start menu. Nor should it be confused with the Project Neon construction work that’s taking place in Las Vegas (you’ll come across this should you search for the term online!).
Can I take a look?
Certainly. The main screenshot is the latest leaked image, showing one of the biggest changes – transparent tiles on the Start menu. Currently these tiles are as solid as one of the gold bars Bill Gates uses as a paperweight. You can also watch this video of Microsoft’s Groove Music desktop app ( www.snipca.com/23013), which has been given the ‘Neon’ treatment. The overall effect has been compared to Aero Glass.
What’s that?
The design introduced in Windows Vista that replaced XP’S Luna. It was the biggest design update since Windows 95, changing the look and feel of buttons, checkboxes, menus, progress bars and icons. New ‘Aero’-themed elements were added in Windows 7, including Aero Peek, which previewed a window when you hovered your mouse over its thumbnail image in the taskbar. But Windows 8’s widely unloved Metro design put an end to that, adopting a flatter look with almost no transparency or depth. Microsoft compromised in Windows 10 by adding optional transparency and blurring to some areas, including the Action Centre. Neon takes this further.
But is this change just for the sake of it?
Microsoft has been guilty of this several times in the past, so we don’t blame you for asking. But we think the changes will be subtle enough to improve your experience of Windows without you really noticing. That said, we hope the ‘blurring’ effect doesn’t make it tricky to move and resize windows. And bear in mind that nothing has been finalised. Microsoft will keep tweaking until Neon is ready. Who knows – it may even draw inspiration from the many amateur Neon designs that have been posted online, such as this excellent effort from ‘Lukas’: http://lukeled.deviantart.com.
Is Project Neon part of the Creators Update?
No. It’s likely to come in Redstone 3, the codename for the next major update due this autumn (some reports say its final name will be Mobility Update). Microsoft is expected to reveal more details at its Build conference for software developers, which runs from 10-12 May.
What else is coming in Redstone 3?
Not sure yet, but we expect the My People app to finally make an appearance, after initially being scheduled for the Creators Update. Sitting on your taskbar, the app will give you access to the people you contact most often, making it easier – so Microsoft claims – to keep in touch with them through services like Skype and Outlook.
So it’s definitely not a new version of Windows?
Definitely not. In fact, there will never be another new version of Windows, if Microsoft sticks to its guns. Instead it will be updated regularly with new tools and redesigns, such as Neon. All the early signs are that it will be bright and beautiful.