The PowerToys team is working on a new tool for the app suite. Called "PowerToys Peek", it adds a new option to File Explorer. When you press a hotkey (Shift + Space by default) on the selected image, it opens a frameless window with the image preview. This works independently from your current file associations and doesn't change them.
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In the PowerToys settings the user can customize the hotkey. Check out this video:
Well, at a glance the new addition doesn't look useful for people who have image files associated to a decent image viewer. Besides Microsoft's Photos, there are IrfanView, XnView classic, and the blazing fast Imagine app, (among hundreds of other apps). The latter is so tiny and quick so nothing can beat it.
But there are people who could have image files associated with some heavy image editor like Adobe Photoshop, or the open source GIMP app. If you are a graphic designer, it can be a time-saving setup for your workspace. In this can, having the ability to quickly preview the image is a valuable feature.
However, it is worth noting that File Explorer has a 'Preview pane', which, when enabled, displays a preview thumbnail image right in the File Explorer window. Some may say that the built-in feature is enough to quickly look at the image and pick the needed one.
That's why Microsoft is looking for your feedback regarding this new feature. There is a Reddit thread where it is announced by MSFT-SAM, a Microsoft employee who is working on Peek with other engineers. The current implementation is a prototype they've built in a week. So consider sharing your opinion on Reddit if you are interested in this feature.
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