14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 build 16215, a preview of the Fall Creators Update, comes with a long list of improvements, including new Start menu and Action Center whose looks have been customized with the already-announced Fluent Design System.
Microsoft announced Fluent Design in May at the Build developer conference, and now the company is making some parts of it available not only in apps but also in various features across the operating system, including the Start menu and the Action Center.
For example, in build 16215, if you have transparency enabled on Start, the Start menu features the new acrylic design, as well as a bunch of other improvements and fixes.
New Action Center with acrylic
Additionally, the Start menu’s horizontal and vertical resize options should work correctly after installing this new build, with Microsoft saying that users are now allowed to resize it diagonally as well.
There’s also smoother transition into tablet mode, as well as so-called resize grips, which make it easier to click the edge of the frame to start resizing.
As far as the new Action Center is concerned, it also features Fluent Design’s acrylic effect, and Microsoft explains that more improvements in this regard are already planned. Toast notifications have received the same visual effect.
Fluent Design is expected to be ready when Microsoft finalizes the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, which according to Redmond’s own estimates, should happen in September. By that time, the company is likely to roll out more visual overhauls to Windows 10 features and apps, including new animations and tweaks that improve the look and the overall experience with the operating system.
Internally codenamed Project NEON, Fluent Design is also coming to the web, though in this case it could take longer for Microsoft to complete the visual makeover given the number of services that it has to update. Without a doubt, however, Fluent Design is one of the most dramatic visual refinements released by Microsoft so far, and more changes are expected to be included in the coming builds.
