Looking back at the history of the Windows operating system, we found that Microsoft seems to be continuing the development roadmap of “one generation pulls the hips and one generation is strong”.
For example, the Aero Glass introduced by Windows Vista is too advanced, and Windows 7, which occupies the right place and the right place, is widely praised. In the era of Windows 8.x, Microsoft tried to make a strong transition to the element-rich “start screen” and “dynamic tile”, but in the era of Windows 10, it became simple again.
As the successor to Windows 8.x, Windows 10 opted for a “flat” UI style, dropping support for rounded windows and Aero Glass. However, history is a circle. On Windows 11, we are once again attracted by the bright UI design.
It has been reported recently that the next major update will introduce a new experience similar to the Windows 7 Aero effect, and the transparent title bar on the classic Windows application window will make a comeback.
Microsoft is said to want to refresh foreground apps and popups with a new transparency effect (acrylic or new material). At present, the company has handed over the right to realize the transparent effect of mica (Mica) to developers, and the industry can quickly transform into a new UI experience.
As you can see in the picture above, Microsoft accidentally shared a brand-new “Run” window during its Windows Developer webcast flagship in January. Back in the Windows 7/Vista days, the Aero Glass theme provides a soft and translucent look and feel to the title bars of application windows (including minimizing/maximize/close buttons).
Aero Glass was already impressive in the days of Windows Vista, where hardware performance was relatively limited. Just to save system resources, it failed to successfully discuss the favor of the majority of users. But with the launch of Windows 11 “Sun Valley 2” (Version 22H2), the company seems to have plucked up the courage again.
Some speculate that the tech giant may put a transparent/translucent Acrylic effect on the title bars of all classic applications, while retaining support for Mica materials.
Aero Glass lets users see desktop wallpapers, or other background windows, through foreground programs, but Mica is an opaque UI for application windows, title bars, and even backgrounds.
Finally, we found a new experimental flag in the system, suggesting that Microsoft will bring the Mica effect to more Windows applications.
Additionally, we discovered a new experimental flag (MicaBackdropInApplicationFrameHostTitlebar) in the operating system that brings the mica effect to more Windows applications.