CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed that Microsoft is working on the next generation of Windows, which features a new design language internally codenamed "Sun Valley" and is reportedly launching later this year.
During the Build 2021 developer conference, CEO Nadella explained that "Windows is implicit" and "it's never been more important." Nadella also highlighted the achievements of Windows and how developers are creating new experiences for 1.3 billion people to work, learn, connect and play.
"Windows brings together all developer and collaboration tools in one place. It lets you choose the hardware you want, works with Linux and Windows as one, and has a modern terminal. And soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators," Nadella said during Build 2021 conference.
Microsoft employees, including Nadella, have been self-hosting the preview build of the next generation of Windows that will be released to testers in June.
"We will create more opportunity for every Windows developer today and welcome every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to build and distribute and monetize applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon."
Sun Valley is a sweeping revamp of the visual interface.
Internal documents and job listing describe the Windows 10 feature upgrade as a "reinvigorating" and "sweeping" revamp of the visual interface.
This update is also known as 'version 21H2,' and it will improve the File Explorer, Start Menu, Action Center, Taskbar, and other important elements of the OS.
Design improvements
With the Sun Valley update, Microsoft is planning to improve the legacy apps and settings and the modern features from Windows 8-era.
For example, Microsoft could update the existing File Explorer with additional improvements like dark mode support for the pop-up menus (properties tab). The company will not replace File Explorer with a modern version. Instead, the goal is to improve the existing Explorer with significant improvements.
On Github, Microsoft also confirmed that it's exploring new design ideas for app buttons, elements, ListView, buttons, sliders, etc.
Likewise, Microsoft is also introducing Segoe UI Variable to include an optical axis so that font outlines can scale seamlessly from small to larger display sizes. The feature is called "Segoe UI Variable," and Microsoft says it is a refreshed take on the classic Segoe.
It offers improved legibility at small sizes and much improved outlines at display sizes. Segoe UI Variable solves legibility issues on different form factors and resolutions by enabling support for a new feature that dynamically offer great legibility at very small sizes, and style at large sizes.
New animations, gestures
For the Sun Valley refresh, Microsoft is using WinUI, a new user interface layer that contains modern controls and styles.WinUI is not a replacement for Fluent Design, and it is supposed to improve the overall experience by enabling support for the same UI elements everywhere (legacy and modern).
Windows 10 Sun Valley update is built on top of the Fluent Design, which means Fluent Design is not going away.
Microsoft also plans to enable Windows 7-like rounded corners, transparent backgrounds, support for enhanced animations, motions, lighting, and more.
Cloud PC, Android apps streaming, and more
In addition to the Sun Valley update, Microsoft will also announce Cloud PC and streaming support for Android apps.
Microsoft is developing a new virtualized Windows PC experience called 'Cloud PC' that will allow business customers to run their personal desktop in the cloud and access it remotely using their devices.
Cloud PC is part of the company's "Windows as a Service" tagline, and it won't replace any existing services. Instead, it will be offered as a paid service for enterprise customers who want to access their Windows PC from anywhere at any time.
As mentioned, reports have suggested that Microsoft is creating an Android subsystem for Windows 10 based on the Windows Subsystem for Linux to enable native support for Android apps. Microsoft will launch a new developer tool to allow the distribution of Android apps via the Microsoft Store in the MSIX package.
Release date
Windows 10 Sun Valley update is likely to hit the RTM (release to manufacture) status in June 2021, but the update won't be released to the public until October.
Reports have suggested that Microsoft will be holding a new event, "What's next for Windows," in June to announce the "new Windows" or the next generation of Windows.
Comments
SamP12345 - 2 years ago
Will Cloud PC be coming to Office 365 Users at any point (or as a standalone upgrade) or only to business customers?
DrkKnight - 2 years ago
They can tout all they want , half of what they are claiming will never be included.
Sets, probably one of the more useful things they have included never made it and no one really knows why and when you don't know why it usually boils down to money, MS didn't want to step on the toes of others like Qtab, stardock and the rest. I have yet to find a tab program that goes fluently with Windows , so I just don't.
TsVk! - 2 years ago
Most people don't want sweeping and reinvigorating changes. Sigh.
I know I would trade all this crap for stability and reliability, like the old days.
Pancho777 - 2 years ago
I also wish they would just focus on quality instead of all this window dressing (see what I did there?). Here’s a fun fact that I just found out. The claimed space of the windows.old folder in the drive cleanup tool is totally wrong since it doesn’t even take into account hard links. Even though MS themselves has a tool in the sysinternals tools that does this properly.
Big_Beetle_Bert - 2 years ago
You are both correct, unfortunately MS and most of the large SW vendors think improvements means more SW and more features when it seems most users/admins want stability and perfomance improvements.
I would prefer hey focus on making the OS lighter, faster and overall more stable reduscing latency, overheads and mem/cpu usage and less power overall, imagine a world where update/patch notes say "reduced the size of X or X now uses 20% less resources or X is now 10% faster"
But we know it will just get more bloated with SW they install from their latest acquisition.
Hammerfest - 2 years ago
"enhanced animations"
the very first thing I turned off when setting up my personal computer or an image for work...
When I click on something, I want INSTANT return, not fancy animations
TanyaC - 2 years ago
I've watched Windows 10 releases since 2015. Despite it's rough start 1809 has (at least on the 10 PCs I run), become stable. I have not seen one thing in any release since that is worth the upgrade. Every new release is a "meh" release. All we get is monthly buggy updates, more bloat and worse performance. My PCs all run less than 60 processes at start up (I've seen some running more than 300). All this effort on looks rather than stability and performance is just a waste of everyone's time.
Wolverine 7 - 2 years ago
Its not a waste of microsofts time,...cos sadly,..people will buy it,..and they,ll make more money,..to develope more bloat,..to make more money,...to develope more bloat,..it used to be a computer,..now its a technological zoo,..