On Windows 10's fifth anniversary, we look to the past

Windows 10 2022 Desktop Source: Windows Central

Windows 10 is officially five years old today. Five long years of the latest version of Windows, without a successor to laissez passer on the baton. Of course, this isn't really true. These days, there's a new version of Windows every six months, but they all fall nether the same "Windows 10" banner thank you to Microsoft's push to transform Windows into a platform that'southward constantly updated.

Windows every bit a Service has been in effect since Windows 10's debut on this solar day five years ago. We've had a total of nine versions of Windows ten since then, with the tenth version expected later this yr. It'southward easy to forget how far Windows ten has come up since it launched, with the 9 feature updates introducing many features and changes that make the product much meliorate.

Looking back

I look at Windows 10 today and think it really hasn't changed much since 2022, merely actually going back and using the 2022 version of Windows x proves me incorrect entirely. Almost every part of the OS has been touched with improvements and changes since 2022. The Windows Shell, including the Offset menu, Taskbar, and Activity Center have all been updated with changes and UI enhancements.

Let'south have a closer look at the Start card, which is almost entirely different today compared to its 2022 version. The Starting time menu in 2022 was a basic launcher that made some weird blueprint choices. The apps list was hidden behind a button, showcasing your most used apps in the left-hand list instead. The live tiles were very basic, with weirdly formatted context menus.

Windows 10 2022vs2020 Start Source: Windows Central

Going back to the 2022 Start menu after using the 2022 Commencement menu makes the original one feel unfinished, and that's probably because it was. Today's Start menu puts your apps list front end and eye, has a much cleaner alive tile interface with way more than customization options, a hamburger menu for quick access to different areas of your PC, and cleaner looking context menus.

It doesn't end there, either. The out of box setup feel has likewise been redesigned since the original 2022 version, every bit have most of the in-box apps. Even the File Explorer has been updated with a new search interface and nighttime mode back up. Windows ten in 2022 feels unfinished compared to today'south version of Windows x, and that'southward probably because it was.

Simply that'south the nature of software development these days. Nothing is ever truly finished. Windows 10 will never be washed, and even 5 years in, Microsoft is all the same finding things to update and improve. Absolutely, changes to the forefront of Windows 10 take slowed in the last couple of years, but that seems to be picking upwardly again at present that Panos Panay is in charge.

Looking forwards

Windows 10 2022 Desktop Source: Windows Cardinal

Information technology'south nearly fourth dimension Microsoft started focusing on the Windows 10 UI once again. Although things take come a long mode since 2022, information technology'due south off-white to say that Windows 10 hasn't had a major UI refresh all the same. I think that's going to change with the next few releases of Windows x. Afterwards this year, Microsoft volition release Windows 10 20H2 with an improved live tile interface and notification UI.

This is just the start, I'm told. Microsoft will keep to bring the Windows x UI forward with more changes and enhancements, including things like rounded corners, new sounds, updated animations, improved in-box apps, and more than, with Windows x releases adjacent year. Microsoft is reinvesting in Windows 10 big time, and it starts at the interface and user experience.

I think we should be thinking about the side by side versions of Windows 10 every bit something that looks to the futurity, instead of something that builds on the by. And so, on Windows 10'southward fifth anniversary, nosotros can celebrate knowing that there's much more to come for Windows in this space. Microsoft has some large plans for Windows 10 in 2022 and across, and I'm excited for information technology.

There'south too Windows 10X, and Microsoft's Windows Core OS efforts in general. I personally class whatever Windows Core Os products as separate from Windows 10, but in the grand scheme of things, they all fall under the Windows umbrella. Windows 10X is the time to come of Windows, but that's the far futurity. We're not there nevertheless and won't exist for a while.

That's why Windows 10X is launching on a subset of low-price PCs next year, instead of PCs from every price bracket. Microsoft'south Windows 10X platform will play a much bigger part further down the line. Only before that happens, Microsoft will continue to cater to the existing version of Windows 10, every bit that's where all i billion Windows 10 users are today.

What are your thoughts nearly Windows 10 v years on? Where do you lot recall Windows will be in 5 years from now? Permit us know in the comments.

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