A look at Microsoft’s new operating system

Windows 10X was announced in 2019 and will finally launch later this year on a new line of 2-in-1 / laptops from Microsoft partners. Unlike Windows 10, Windows 10X is said to be simple, sleek, faster, and more secure.

For those unfamiliar with it, Windows 10X was originally designed for dual-screen devices, such as the Surface Neo, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, and Intel prototypes. In 2020, Microsoft said plans had changed and the operating system would debut on single-screen devices in 2021.

Reports have suggested that Windows 10X will now launch in Spring 2021, and we’ve finally managed to get our first glimpse, thanks to the leaked version.

The Start menu

Unlike Windows 10 or Windows 8, Windows 10X does not come with traditional dynamic tiles. In the leaked version, Windows 10X uses ChromeOS as static icons for Microsoft Store apps and progressive web apps powered by Microsoft Edge.

By default, the Start menu will include shortcuts to popular apps and services like Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Edge, and Settings. The Start menu will only show apps and websites, and you won’t be able to group apps to create a folder. You can right-click any icon to go to the app’s settings and pin it to the taskbar.

In addition to the Start menu, there is also a new centered taskbar with three different sizes: small, medium, and large. The small size is for desktops with mouse support and the medium or large size seems to be very user-friendly.

Action center

The Action Center is also getting a facelift in Windows 10X. As you can see in the screenshot below, Windows 10X comes with a floating action center, which also includes the system tray from the taskbar.

Unlike Windows 10, the Action Center in Windows 10X places more emphasis on quick actions, which means the notifications area won’t be visible all the time and the Action Center won’t cover your full. screen.

The new Action Center also comes with new controls for volume, power options, and battery percentage.

Settings and updates

In Windows 10X, Microsoft has removed Control Panel completely and the same Windows 10 Settings app is offered. Using the Settings app, you can customize the Action Center, change the desktop wallpaper, turn on the transparency effect for the taskbar, and more.

Windows settings also let you manage Windows Updates, which are now separate from operating system components such as drivers and applications. Windows 10X is able to apply updates in less than 90 seconds by saving the update package to a different partition. Once done, the update data is moved to another partition and it is overwritten upon reboot.

Windows Search

Windows Search is now part of the Start menu and will appear at the top.

Like Windows Search in Windows 10, Windows 10X will also let you search for files in local storage and in the cloud.