The upcoming Windows 10 Sun Valley update has been in discussion for a while now. According to insiders, this will be one of the largest updates to the system, through which Microsoft hopes to “refresh the desktop PCs” and bring its OS back into the spotlight. Here’s what is currently known about this update.
UI redesign
One of Sun Valley’s goals is to refresh the Windows 10 user interface. This will be achieved by introducing rounded corners on buttons, application icons, and shell elements, including Start.
At the same time, the “Start” itself will be separated from the taskbar, making it visually more independent. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? If you are getting ready to install a new Windows OS, do not forget to transfer Outlook archive files to a new computer. Remember backing up your files is essential in case of new Windows installation or upgrading to its newer version.
Furthermore, in Windows 10 Sun Valley update, Standard File Explorer, file menus, dialog boxes, and some other visually outdated interface elements will become more consistent with modern Windows style.
Also, Microsoft can significantly simplify the taskbar by moving most of it to the Action Center, like in Windows 10X. The Action Center itself will also be redesigned with a focus on visual separation of all elements and the notification area.
The updated design will receive most of the built-in components, including Settings, File Explorer, and other system tools. All this will be complemented by new optimized animation to make the OS smoother.
New system functions
In addition to UI updates, Microsoft also plans to add new visual solutions that will improve user productivity. One of them will be a separate icon with the weather, news, and useful information on the taskbar.
The developers also plan to add a new chart of laptop battery usage in system settings to indicate which applications consumed the most energy in a specific period of time. It will also provide tools to optimize energy consumption.
Another new feature will allow you to separate Microsoft Edge tabs from application icons in the attachment mode. This should make it easier to organize and find the right content in opened apps.
Besides, the system will learn to memorize the location of attached windows when connecting an external screen, so after the reconnection, everything will automatically take its usual places.
- A new dashboard feature in the taskbar area lets you keep track of everything that happens to your Microsoft account. It will display all upcoming calendar events, recent documents in Office, emails, to-do lists, and other important data.
- A new voice input interface, a dedicated context menu for a digital stylus, and a new “gesture layer” for tablets that will simplify window management, and system navigation will be introduced.
In Conclusion
Microsoft hopes to release the Sun Valley update in October 2021. Until this time, the developers will test the system with a limited group of users. The anonymous sources noted that Microsoft would finally allow users to remove most of the built-in applications. Now, only a few of them can be deleted.
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