Microsoft has recently confirmed that they are now releasing the modular Windows 10X, which was once known as Windows 10 Lite internally to single-screen devices first. This change of plans may be driven by the reevaluation of the market potential of dual-screen devices. Though the leaked documents had always hinted at Microsoft planning to bring Windows 10X to even traditional laptops.
So, here is a look at modular Windows 10X major features and changes that make it a faster and more aesthetically pleasing Windows 10 variant.
Windows 10X New features/UI changes
Windows 10X new launcher experience:
The following screenshot explains the anatomy of Windows 10X. One noteworthy thing is that Microsoft refers to the Windows 10X UI layer as the “launcher” akin to Android launchers.
New Taskbar experience:
Microsoft has equipped Windows 10X with a new Taskbar experience that will be the same across both clamshells and foldable.
For both clamshells and foldables, the taskbar will be the same base model with a series of “levers” which can be pulled to create some alternatives in the model. We want to build these levers to address the deltas between the two experiences, while still building off the same initial model. Levers include:
• Centered vs. Left-aligned Taskbar content • Number of pins • Number of recents • Order of recents (recency vs. reverse recency) • Divider vs. no divider • Task View icon at far right vs. next to Start
New search experience:
Windows 10X search will show your apps, websites and it will recommend things that you may be using frequently or need to do next.
Now some details about how search is getting enhanced in Windows 10X.
Find what you need on the web, or look for apps and files on your device. A single entry point to Search across your device is simple and effortless.
• Zero input suggestions• Active input and search results
• Supports touch, keyboard, and voice input
Win32 apps support:
Microsoft during its Developers Day event yesterday announced that Windows 10X will support most of the Win32 apps. It will do so by making use of Win32 containers. Coming to the Win32 application execution, Microsoft claims that users will notice improved performance on Windows 10X as compared to the desktop,
New screen-share (casting) UI & features:
Windows 10X comes with a new screen-share (casting) UI and an interesting new casting feature that allows the device to remain hidden without disconnecting while sharing its screen to an external display.
Music Control UI:
Windows 10X has a new music control UI as a screenshot posted by those who were able to port it suggest.
New OOBE boot-up experience:
Check the demo of the new Windows 10X OOBE boot-up experience in the video below.
Here's the OOBE of Windows 10X (well, at least the first few pages, it breaks after EULA, which is probably why it was disabled)
It packs some pretty animations pic.twitter.com/SwrGqhVKDx— Albacore (@thebookisclosed) February 11, 2020
Apps and Websites experience, Default apps:
You can drag and drop to re-arrange your apps and websites so your favorites are sitting at the top of the list. To get to all your other apps, simply expand the grid to “Show all.” You can include your favorite websites by first installing it as an app, from the Edge browser.
• Inbox default apps include:
Edge, Mail, Calendar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Mail, Calendar, Teams, Whiteboard, To Do, Photos, Store, File Explorer, Spotify, Netflix, Camera, Solitaire, Calculator, Alarms & Clock, Movies & TV, Office, Sticky Notes, Paint, Learning Hub, Settings, Weather, Snip & Sketch, Voice Recorder, Groove Music, People, Notepad, Feedback Hub, Media Plans, Messaging, and up to 4 OEM apps.
• Create folders and groups by stacking apps together
• Remove apps from the grid to remove them from your device
Apps recommendations:
Microsoft envisions that apps recommendations will help you to “jump back into your flow” thereby expediting what you want to do with Windows 10X.
Jump back into your flow with recently installed apps; frequently used apps, files, and websites.
• Up to 10 high-confidence recommendations are visible at a time• If you can’t find what you’re looking for, tap “Show more” to expand more items inline or,
• “Open the file location” from one of the recommended files to explore related files
Lock-Screen UI:
The leaked lock-screen screenshot gives an idea about how the locking and unlocking UI will look like.
Dynamic Wallpapers:
Recent rumors suggest that Windows 10X may bring dynamic wallpapers that change its appearance throughout the day. For example, it may change and show various contents based on time of the day representing morning, evening, night. It may even change appearance based on the weather changes.
Do things Faster:
Windows 10X aims to be the “Faster” Windows 10 with many basic changes and improvements over the Windows 10 that we know and use now. The recently leaked documents reveal that Windows 10X will introduce the concept of “Launcher”, new enhanced search and dynamic app, and content recommendations to speed up how you work with windows.
Microsoft has described how these three changes will let you do your tasks quickly in Windows 10X.
Launcher helps users start and resume tasks quickly. Search is seamlessly integrated with web results, available apps, and specific files on your device. Next up in the hierarchy of content is your default app grid, which can be customized and re-arranged to meet individual needs and preferences. This relatively static set of apps drives predictable views each time Launcher is opened and further assists in accelerating users with the use of muscle memory over time. And lastly, Recommended content is dynamically updated based on your most frequently and recently used apps, files, and wesbites. Jump back into your personal workflow without having to start from scratch.
