Microsoft is launching an all-new Windows 10 Start menu, with the Live Tiles in this Windows version having downsized visibility and enhanced transparency. This and more was hinted at by the software behemoth earlier this year and the new design changes will soon be trialed by testers.
The company in a recent blog post explained what is going on as follows: “We are freshening up the Start menu with a more streamlined design that removes the solid color backplates behind the logos in the apps list and applies a uniform, partially transparent background to the tiles.”
What this translates to is that lessening the color brightness of the tiled interface found on the Windows 10 Start menu will make enable greater transparency, convenience, and utility as users can more quickly find their regularly used apps. While the change is pretty much slight, it does add overall coherence to the Start menu, with folks now able to more quickly find whatever they might be looking for, rather than be confused by the abundance of similar-looking tiles.
Alt And Tab
Apart from a clarified and optimized Start menu, Microsoft’s latest design includes significant tweaks to the Alt-Tab. This change is explained by Microsoft who says that: “Beginning with today’s build, all tabs open in Microsoft Edge will start appearing in Alt-Tab, not just the active one in each browser window.”
The new change might however not be to the liking of all users. With that being the case, Microsoft is leaving an option for folks to choose to continue using the classic Alt-Tab functionality, if that is what keeps them calm and content.
Incidentally, this is not the first time that Microsoft is experimenting with Alt-Tab changes on Windows 10. Still, the new alteration might get some flack coming its way, especially if the new Alt-Tab change is switched on by default in the next Windows update and cannot be exchanged for the old version.
Sharp Taskbar Tweaks
Apart from what we have mentioned so far, small changes are to be expected in the new Windows 10 build. The usual taskbar will now enjoy deeper personalization, with Android users having Your Phone pinned way up there, while Xbox Live players get the Xbox app pinned where they can see it.
However, not all users are getting this kind of feature. It will be limited to first-time users consequent upon account creation on a desktop or initial login.
More, notifications will now have an X at the top right, which means you can get rid of them more easily. The Settings app is also being optimized. Links that previously directed users to the Control Panel page will now lead them to the About page, which is in the Settings menu.
This houses the advanced set of controls usually found in that part of the Control Panel. Microsoft also promises that: “there will be more improvements coming that will further bring Settings closer to Control Panel.”