Windows 10’s UI gets tweaked with a bunch of new icons

Dec 17, 2014 14:30 GMT  ·  By

If you’re one of the many users who rushed to download and install the leaked Windows 10 build 9901, you most likely noticed the subtle visual tweaks that the company introduced here and there in order to make its new operating system more visually appealing.

This process actually started when the first Technical Preview build got out, coming with a number of UI enhancements suggesting that Redmond was at least pondering a revamp of the traditional Windows desktop.

In build 9901, Microsoft has implemented not only smaller icons for the taskbar and new Metro app control buttons, but also a bunch of new icons which can be easily spotted in File Explorer when browsing locally stored files.

Redesigned folder icons

As @BAV0 writes, users are now provided with new folder icons that make the operating system a bit more appealing in terms of looks when managing files with the help of the standard File Explorer app.

While some icons were already available before the introduction of build 9901, including those for folders, others are completely new and appear to be part of the refreshed icon collection prepared by Microsoft for the stable version of Windows 10.

Of course, quite a lot of things could change until Windows 10 hits the market in stable form, which, according to Microsoft executives, should happen in late summer or early fall 2015.

New icons requested by users

Unsurprisingly, new icons are among the most requested features for Windows 10, with users writing on the Windows UserVoice that some of them look really old.

“Icons are getting old and keep Windows from feeling totally fresh and modern. Some windows have icons that have been there forever,” the post reads.

At this point, this particular feature has more than 8,700 votes and it’s a known thing that the bigger the number of votes, the bigger the chances to see a requested option go live in the operating system.

According to Microsoft executives, Windows 10 is scheduled to launch next year with many more improvements, but additional details on this release schedule will be provided next month, during a dedicated event in Redmond.

A consumer preview build is also in the works right now, but it’s not yet clear whether this version will be unveiled next month or not. A new build, however, will definitely come out, but it will very likely be part of the same technical preview branch started in early October.

Windows 10 new icons (5 Images)

Windows 10 build 9901
Windows 10 build 9901 Metro app iconsWindows 10 build 9901 File Explorer
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