Microsoft is yet to formally announce all of its Windows 10 redesign plans and it’s believed that the company would introduce the first big update of the year in the fall of 2021. Work on the Sun Valley update has already started at Microsoft, but the company has remained completely tight-lipped on this new update.
Windows 10 version 21H2 ‘Sun Valley’ update is full of Microsoft’s slick Fluent Design, WinUI and rounded corners. This update will also refresh the Start Menu and taskbar with “a more streamlined design” by applying “rounded corners”.
Rounded corner is also coming to other parts of the operating system. Of course, third-party applications will still have sharp corners, but this could change with WinUI 3 release.
As we reported earlier this month, Microsoft is considering a new floating Start Menu for Windows 10. The revamped Start Menu will appear “visually separated” from the taskbar and live tiles or static tiles will also have rounded corners.
Apparently, Windows 10 jump list (taskbar right-click menu) is getting a ‘floating’ design too. As you can see in the above mockup created by us, Windows 10’s jump list will now float above the taskbar, leaving a visible gap with rounded corners.
In addition to the Start menu and taskbar, the borders of popup boxes and context menus within the settings app will be rounded for a more modern look. The other textboxes like – password, AutoSuggest and alerts – will get also rounded corners to improve overall UI consistency.
So far, it appears that the main design focus of the Windows 10 Sun Valley update will be ’rounded corners’, or at least that appears to be the goal at this point.
However, Microsoft is also believed to be working on other features, such as a new battery monitor, Aero Shake toggle, dedicated web camera settings, and more.
According to reports, Windows 10’s big interface revamp is expected to be realized in June and start rolling out to consumers in October or November. Before version 21H2, Microsoft is planning to release version 21H1 update, which is going to be a minor affair with security improvements.
Citation: Special thanks to Zac Bowden, Albacore and Mary Jo Foley.