14 DAY TRIAL // The most recent Windows 11 preview comes with lots of smaller tweaks in addition to the many new features that are part of the build, and one of the most exciting additions concerns the window title bars.
This is because Microsoft has enabled the Mica material effect in window title bars, including the Run dialog, therefore making the experience overall feel more modern and more consistent across Windows 11.
The good news is that Microsoft’s overhaul of Windows is therefore making a step further. It’s not something substantial, there’s no doubt about it, but smaller refinements like this one make Windows 11 feel like a new operating system, especially when mixed with all the other improvements released lately.
New transition animation
For example, Windows 11 build 22557 also comes with a new transition animation for snapped windows.
“We are updating the transition animation that shows going from one snapped window state to another. Snap some windows using the snap assist, move windows from one configuration to another and observe the fluidity of the transition with our new animations,” Microsoft explains.
File Explorer now shows previews of files within folders, while the battery charging indicator uses a lightning bolt instead of a power cable to make it easier to see the lower charging levels in the system tray.
Microsoft has also improved the Alt + Tab experience with a small refinement.
“We have updated the snap group visuals to include the desktop wallpaper to make it easier to differentiate your groups from normal windows. This will appear when using ALT + TAB, Task View, and in the taskbar previews. Additionally, ALT + TAB will now show as windowed for all Insiders running Build 22554 and up,” the company says.
All these goodies are currently available only for insiders but should go live for everybody later this year.