14 DAY TRIAL // CShell, also known as Composable Shell, is one of the most exciting projects that Microsoft is working on at this point, as it’s also expected to be the core of a major Windows Phone overhaul that could in the end help save the platform.
Screenshots coming from Italian website Aggiornamenti Lumia reveal some of the improvements coming to Windows 10 Mobile thanks to CShell, which is essentially a new shell shared across all Windows 10 devices and supposed to bring the same look and features everywhere.
Changes coming via CShell
First and foremost, Windows phone would get an overhauled Start that comes in line with the Start menu on Windows 10 PCs. There will be context menus integrating PC-like features, so users will be allowed to turn Live Tiles off, rate and review apps, share an app, or even uninstall an app straight from Start. There will also be a new large tile for apps that support it, such as the Windows Store.
The landscape mode will finally be enabled, with the operating system, including the Start, automatically adjusting when you rotate the phone.
The Action Center itself will be redesigned and it will look super-similar to the one on PCs, with quick actions at the bottom and notifications at the top.
And last but not least, the keyboard will also receive a number of tweaks, including improved swipe support, but also refined emoticon UI.
At this point, it’s not exactly clear when Microsoft plans to bring the new interface to users, but there’s a good chance it won’t happen this year, as the feature2 update due in the fall seems to be a rather subtle release.
Previous information on Microsoft’s mobile overhaul pointed to a 2018 launch, but more information should be provided in the coming months when the company ships the first preview builds to users participating in the Windows Insider program.
