14 DAY TRIAL // In addition to all the changes that we’ve already seen in the Windows 10 Technical Preview and to the new dark theme shown in leaked pictures, it appears that Microsoft is also getting ready to introduce a redesigned taskbar in its operating system that would give the desktop a completely new look.
The new taskbar was already there in the leaked screenshots we published yesterday, but a new photo allegedly showing a newer version of Windows 10 reveals a little bit more about these changes that Microsoft is planning for the desktop.
The taskbar will indeed get through a major overhaul in Windows 10, and while these changes are expected to be introduced in the final version of the operating system, it’s still not clear whether they could be part of the January Technical Preview build that should come out later this month or not.
New look with fresh icons
The new taskbar, which is shown in this screenshot alongside Spartan browser, boasts the exact same flat look as in Windows 10 Technical Preview, but as compared to the current version, it features brand new icons that provide a more minimalist and cleaner look.
These new icons, which appear to be available only for Microsoft’s software, are also smaller, which obviously creates more space on the taskbar and allows users to work with more apps at the same time. Smaller icons are already part of Windows 10 build 9901, which got leaked in December.
At the same time, Cortana’s search box no longer shows the small lens icon but only the microphone, which again creates more space on the taskbar and keeps things simpler and cleaner.
Spartan also part of this build
Since there’s no watermark in the leaked screenshot, it’s really hard to say whether this is a technical preview build or an experimental version that Microsoft is testing internally.
And still, the January Technical Preview that’s expected to be introduced after the January 21 event in Redmond is also expected to bring really significant changes to those enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, so it wouldn’t be so surprising to see all these visual tweaks part of the upcoming release as well.
In the meantime, Microsoft recommends users who want to get the new testing bits as soon as they are released to switch to build 9879, as leaked builds do not come with built-in update functionality.