Microsoft to make Cortana search more like macOS Spotlight in Redstone 4

[javajolt]

The Italian website Aggiornamenti Lumia has discovered that Microsoft is testing a new look for Cortana in Windows 10 in Windows Insider build 17040. As of now, the new look is still secret on the surface, but once activated via the registry editor, Cortana turns out looking very familiar with Apple’s macOS Spotlight feature.

After launching the registry editor and following the steps below, one can try out the new Cortana in build 17040 by pressing both the Windows Key and S on the keyboard, or running a search via the Start Menu or Cortana box in the taskbar.

Keep in mind that editing the registry is particularly risky, and can damage your computer if a mistake is made, so please, try at your own risk.

• Open Search and type “regedit” to open Registry Editor.

• Once opened, head to ▼

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\Flighting

• Now Right-Click on Flighting and select New > Key and name it “Override”.

• Select the “Override” folder and go to Edit > New > DWORD and rename it “ImmersiveSearch”.



• Now Double-Click on “ImmersiveSearch” and set the “Value Data” to 1.



• Open the new experience with Windows Key + S


The new Cortana UI

Anyway, Cortana is now fully immersive, popping out of the usual search box and into its own Spotlight-esque floating search bar on the screen. For the most part, the experience is the same as before, asides from a new looking UI with tabs along the top for different searches. Just as before, you can run searches for files, settings, apps, and even search the web via Bing directly from the Cortana floating search box. There’s also a more noticeable filter drop-down menu to help you filter your searches.


Filtering results in the new Cortana UI

Since the new Cortana has to be activated except via the registry editor, it’s still likely in internal testing at Microsoft in the moment. You can expect it to be released to a more wider audience once Redstone 4 is released this Spring, and probably available for testing by Windows Insiders soon. Still, this is a welcome new change, helping make Cortana much more noticeable, navigatable, prevalent, and productive in the Windows 10 operating system.

source