- Microsoft could be working on a desktop experience similar to macOS for Windows 12.
- The new desktop design appears with a floating Taskbar and top bar with System Tray elements.
- This is the second time these new macOS-like visuals have appeared online.
Despite the fact that Windows 12 has not yet been formally revealed, information on its new features and modifications has begun to circulate online. Additionally, an upgraded desktop that incorporates some macOS visuals is shown in a recently released video that illustrates the idea of a new handheld mode interface for gaming devices.
The video presentation suggests that Microsoft is developing a desktop experience that would use a floating Taskbar to access the Start menu and apps at the bottom of the screen. It would have the same iconography as Windows 11 but would resemble a Dock for macOS.
Additionally, a new translucent bar with the System Tray icons at the top, a clock at the right next to a profile menu, and a search box in the center might be added to the desktop (the menu bar for macOS has a similar design).
The video’s screenshots indicate that the search box might only show up when it’s relevant. Additionally, the clock in the conventional Taskbar will no longer be visible because the System Tray could be repositioned to the top bar.
It is worth noting that the desktop design seems to be limited to touch-enabled devices and not available for the conventional experience.
As you can see, the Taskbar is shown by a swipe-up gesture in the screenshot, but if we assume that the screenshots are from the same build, the Taskbar is the same as it is in the conventional desktop with the mouse and keyboard.
However, the business inadvertently unintentionally displayed the same floating Taskbar design with the top bar during an Ignite Keynote 2022. The distinction here is that the screenshot was captured from a desktop computer called a Surface Studio. However, it’s unclear if the new desktop design experience is intended for touch-only or touch-and-mouse devices because this device also includes a touch-enabled display.
Although it’s unclear if these design enhancements will be included in Windows 12’s release, screenshots from the hackathon’s leaked video match the images shown at the Ignite Keynote conference, suggesting that Microsoft is considering making the Windows desktop more akin to macOS.