14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft announced last month that it’s bringing a visual overhaul called Fluent Design to Windows 10, and the most recent build released to users participating in the Windows Insider program brings a new improvement that’s part of this effort.
Called Reveal Highlight, the new visual effect shows up when hovering menu options in Windows 10 universal apps, and a GIF published by Microsoft shows that in combination with acrylic, the final look is substantially improved.
“The new Reveal Highlight behavior is an interaction visualization that helps guide users. Reveal is now enabled by default on ListView and other XAML collection controls in experiences that target the Fall Creators Update,” Microsoft explained.
What’s important to know is that Windows 10 build 16226 only enables Reveal by default and the company says that this GIF is from the UWP Style Guide to showcase a mix of Acrylic and Reveal.
More improvements coming in next builds
Fluent Design, which has previously been referred to as Project Neon, is a major set of visual refinements coming to Windows 10 with the Fall Creators Update and also includes other effects and animations that will become available for insiders in the coming builds.
Acrylic material is also an essential part of this visual refresh, and Microsoft has already updated the majority of its Windows 10 apps with this effect in the sidebar or in other parts of the UI.
The Fall Creators Update is projected to be finalized in September, so Microsoft still has some 2 months to advance with work on Fluent Design. What’s important to know, however, is that Fluent Design might not be complete by the time the Fall Creators Update ships, so even though some visual refinements would indeed make it to the operating system, the rollout could continue with the next OS update planned for early 2018.
Mobile devices are also getting Fluent Design, though at this point improvements are being released to smartphones at a much slower pace.