Windows 10 might be getting a minor visual update within the year as MSPoweruser has managed to snag some screenshots of Microsoft’s upcoming UI upgrade for the operating system.
Called Project NEON internally, the UI update builds upon the Microsoft Design Language 2 that first debuted in Windows 8. With this UI update, Microsoft will be bringing back the Aero Glass feature while mixing it up with animations that can be found on the Windows Phone 8 UI.
New to Project NEON is a component called “Acrylic”, a feature that blurs the background, sidebar and navigation of the Windows in order to emphasize the content that instead. These arcrylics will work in tandem with something that Microsoft refers to as the Conscious UI and Connected Animations. For those who are part of the Windows 10 Insider Program, Connected Animations can be previewed in the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build via the Groove Music app.
Project NEON is also designed to accommodate interactions in 3D with the HoloLens by highlighting visual elements as you focus on them with either the mouse cursor or your gaze.
So when can you expect Project NEON to be available? Right now, it appears that Microsoft is prepping to roll out the foundation for Project NEON with the Redstone 3 update for Windows 10, which is the update following the Creators Update. Redstone 3 is currently scheduled to be released this year, so if all goes well, Windows 10 may be getting an UI update before the end of the year.
Source: MSPoweruser
