14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released Windows 10 build 16199 a few hours ago, and in addition to a bunch of improvements to the operating system, the company has also presented one of the new features that are likely to go live with the Fall Creators Updates in September.
Called Control Center, the new feature can easily be spotted by the settings cog icon in the System Tray, which appears alongside the Action Center that’s already implemented in Windows 10.
With the Control Center, Microsoft is trying to offer users a single hub for the most important settings in Windows 10, many of which are already available in the Action Center, like tablet mode, location, quiet hours, battery saver, night light, mobile hotspot, and airplane mode.
Additionally, there’s also a display brightness slider, as well as shortcuts to all settings, network, connect, project, and VPN.
A new icon in the system tray
At first glance, Microsoft is trying to pull the quick actions out of the Action Center and move them into the new Control Center, with the Action Center to be in charge of notifications instead. Why Microsoft is doing this separation is not yet clear, though it could create a bit more confusion for users who are getting one more icon in the System Tray.
The screenshot was posted by Microsoft in the original announcement for build 16199, but was pulled shortly after that, so it was either an accident or an intentional tease to show users that the company is working on something more for the Fall Creators Update.
Of course, this is just an early version of the Control Center and there’s a good chance it’ll evolve substantially before it becomes available to users, though there’s no guarantee that it’ll ever make it to stable builds of Windows 10.
Microsoft is experimenting with all kinds of features and designs, and not all of them get the green light for the production ring, The Fall Creators Update is projected to launch in September, but insiders should get the new Control Center in the upcoming preview builds.