Microsoft continues to work on 3D "cubes" interface

Around 2 years ago we wrote about Microsoft applying for a patent for a 3D user interface based on cubes rather than tiles.

At the time we wondered if these will show up in the (long delayed) next major version of the OS, but in the end all we saw was a minor 3D effect when live tiles animated in Windows 10 on the desktop.


It seems however Microsoft has not given up on the idea, and have extended that patent in May 2015.
The premise remains the same – pages of live tiles as wallpaper on a 3D cube which can be rotated, and folders representing sub-cubes which can also be rotated.


Microsoft lists a number of advantages to the user interface, primarily related to organization and aesthetics, but I suspect in the end it is just a gimmick, but then sometimes that is needed to attract new users.

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