Microsoft accidentally revealed next-gen Windows UI prototype with floating taskbar

Microsoft accidentally revealed a UI design prototype for the next version of Windows at Ignite 2022, which is internally known as "Next Valley". It sports a floating taskbar, something that company earlier denied to be a thing. But in one of the screenshots the taskbar appears with rounder corners floating on the desktop.

Besides, system tray items appear in the screenshot at the top of the desktop. Also at the top are search and weather widgets.

The conceptual Windows UI was shown in the context of Surface Studio, so Microsoft might be considering it as an option for touch screen devices. The company already modifies the user interface in similar scenarios. For example, Windows 11 on Surface Studio 2+ can change the size of taskbar icons when you change the display position.

Note that back in August, some Windows 11 Insiders seen the floating taskbar with rounded corners on their devices. At the time, the company's officials said it was a bug.

With the company's new schedule, "Next Valley" should land in the stable branch somewhere in 2024. According to Windows Central, Microsoft is currently actively prototyping the UI for the upcoming OS. So the "leaked" design may be just one of the ideas the Redmond firm is working on. The next image is a manually recreated UI prototype of better quality by Zac Bowden:

There are other UI variants exist in the company, with more drastic changes and even more restyled controls and app. There's a version where the system icons/items are placed at the top in a translucent bar instead of just floating on the desktop. Other updates include a new lock/login screen, notification center, and more.

via Windows Central

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