This week, we saw leaked images of what was purported to be Windows 9, showing a new toolbar with search and a revamped Notification center on the system tray. Now, thanks to WinFuture, we get a video glimpse of how that Notification center might look in action. Don’t put too much stock in this early look. Even if it is legit (and there’s no guarantee of that), there’s plenty of time for things to change before Windows 9 hits the street. Though this fly-through does look very similar to the last peek we had. Rumor has it Windows 9 will debut on September 30th. Then we’ll know for sure.
Windows 8 debuted with a notification system to allow apps to generate brief alerts, but the operating system lacked a central Notification Center to collect and display them all. Microsoft appears to be planning to provide a Notification Center in Windows 9. WinFuture has published a new video of the feature in action, providing an early look at how the Notification Center will work. The functionality appears to be similar to the Windows Phone 8.1 Notification Center, with the ability to dismiss individual notifications or clear all at once. The Windows 9 Notification Center collects toasts and alerts from traditional Windows applications and system notifications, alongside those generated from Windows 8-style apps. Skype is demonstrated in the video, showing the usual toast and the notifications grouped in the notification center by app and time. The Notification Center in Windows 9 appears to lack any actionable notifications, meaning you can’t reply to Skype messages within the feature itself. That could change by the time Windows 9 ships next year, and the upcoming Windows Technical Preview only provides an early look at the upcoming changes Microsoft is planning. Either way, a Notification Center is a welcome addition for Windows users who may miss the individual notifications otherwise. Microsoft is expected to release its Windows Technical Preview later this month or in early October.
