Leaked Windows 10 Project Neon Images Show Microsoft Design Updates

Windows 10 is slated to undergo several updates this year and thanks to some updates from MSPoweruser, we know what the refreshed version of the flagship operating system will potentially look like.

As MSPoweruser reports, Project NEON will be an updated design and user interface standard for Windows that is intended to extend across all Microsoft products. These goals include Windows desktop PCs, mobile devices and — notably — the HoloLens virtual reality smartglasses.

The update is part of Window 10’s Redstone 3 release, which is slated to be released in the fall. The design and animation updates aren’t expected to be a major overhaul for Windows 10, but are intended to complement the operating system’s existing design and refresh it.

As MSPoweruser notes from the following screenshot, the background of the sidebar is slightly blurred and the application’s layout features a heavy emphasis on cleanliness and typographic detail. Throughout all of Windows’ native apps, the design language remains consistent with a dedicated sidebar offset with main pages with ample white space. Animations like banners that automatically shrink depending on scroll position are also a major part of the update.

Project NEON’s emphasis on HoloLens integration dovetails with Microsoft's stated plans for virtual reality integration on Windows 10. Windows 10’s Creator Update — which is targeted as part of April’s Windows 10 Redstone 2 release —will include integrated virtual reality support by default. System requirements for this compatibility look to be minimal, as computers will only need at least 4GB of RAM, a DirectX 12-compatible video card, a USB 3.0 port and a four-core processor.