<s>
The	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
is	O
the	O
graphical	B-Application
user	I-Application
interface	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
operating	I-Application
system	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Shell	I-Application
Experience	O
Host	O
interface	O
drives	O
visuals	O
like	O
the	O
Start	O
Menu	O
,	O
Action	O
Center	O
,	O
Taskbar	O
,	O
and	O
Task	O
View/Timeline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
also	O
implements	O
a	O
shell	O
namespace	O
that	O
enables	O
computer	O
programs	O
running	O
on	O
Windows	O
to	O
access	O
the	O
computer	O
's	O
resources	O
via	O
the	O
hierarchy	O
of	O
shell	O
objects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Desktop	O
"	O
is	O
the	O
top	O
object	O
of	O
the	O
hierarchy	O
;	O
below	O
it	O
there	O
are	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
stored	O
on	O
the	O
disk	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
whose	O
contents	O
are	O
either	O
virtual	O
or	O
dynamically	O
created	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Recycle	B-Application
Bin	I-Application
,	O
Libraries	O
,	O
Control	O
Panel	O
,	O
This	B-General_Concept
PC	I-General_Concept
and	O
Network	B-Protocol
are	O
examples	O
of	O
such	O
shell	O
objects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
,	O
as	O
it	O
is	O
known	O
today	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
evolution	O
of	O
what	O
began	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
intimately	O
identified	O
with	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
a	O
Windows	O
component	O
that	O
can	O
browse	O
the	O
whole	O
shell	O
namespace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Files	O
and	O
folders	O
:	O
Users	O
and	O
software	O
may	O
store	O
computer	B-Operating_System
files	I-Operating_System
and	O
folders	O
on	O
Windows	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Users	O
may	O
store	O
personal	O
documents	B-Application
on	O
the	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
:	O
Apart	O
from	O
ordinary	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
,	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
(	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
shell	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
"	O
)	O
may	O
appear	O
on	O
the	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
ordinary	O
folders	O
,	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
do	O
not	O
point	O
to	O
an	O
absolute	O
location	O
on	O
a	O
hard	B-Device
disk	I-Device
drive	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Documents	B-Application
)	O
,	O
a	O
virtual	O
folder	O
whose	O
contents	O
is	O
an	O
aggregate	O
of	O
several	O
folders	O
on	O
disk	O
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
Recycle	B-Application
Bin	I-Application
or	O
Libraries	O
)	O
or	O
a	O
folder	O
window	O
whose	O
content	O
is	O
not	O
files	O
,	O
but	O
rather	O
user	O
interface	O
elements	O
rendered	O
as	O
icons	O
for	O
convenience	O
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
Network	B-Protocol
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
(	O
and	O
the	O
corresponding	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
Server	O
)	O
allowed	O
Windows	O
Desktop	O
Gadgets	O
to	O
appear	O
on	O
the	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
,	O
its	O
size	O
can	O
be	O
changed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Removed	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
(	O
but	O
can	O
be	O
added	O
using	O
third-party	O
software	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
charm	O
(	O
see	O
below	O
)	O
,	O
only	O
to	O
be	O
reinstated	O
in	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quick	O
Links	O
menu	O
:	O
Added	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
Windows	O
Server	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grants	O
access	O
to	O
several	O
frequently	O
used	O
features	O
of	O
Windows	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
accessing	O
the	O
desktop	O
,	O
Settings	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Command	I-Device
Processor	I-Device
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Power	I-Application
Shell	I-Application
,	O
and	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Until	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
the	O
operating	O
system	O
displayed	O
active	O
windows	O
as	O
depressed	O
buttons	O
in	O
this	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
the	O
icon	O
for	O
each	O
open	O
window	O
is	O
framed	O
by	O
a	O
translucent	O
box	O
,	O
and	O
multiple	O
open	O
windows	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
program	O
can	O
be	O
accessed	O
by	O
clicking	O
the	O
program	O
's	O
icon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
from	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
the	O
open	O
windows	O
icons	O
can	O
be	O
configured	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
program	O
icon	O
only	O
,	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
combining	O
taskbar	O
buttons	O
"	O
,	O
or	O
give	O
the	O
program	O
name	O
alongside	O
the	O
program	O
icon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortcuts	O
:	O
An	O
update	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4	I-Device
added	O
a	O
Quick	O
Launch	O
Bar	O
that	O
can	O
hold	O
file	O
,	O
program	O
,	O
and	O
action	O
shortcuts	O
,	O
including	O
by	O
default	O
the	O
"	O
show	O
desktop	O
"	O
command	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
merged	O
this	O
area	O
into	O
the	O
list	O
of	O
open	O
windows	O
by	O
adding	O
"	O
pinning	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
jump	O
list	O
"	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
default	O
,	O
Windows	O
volume	O
control	O
,	O
network	B-Protocol
status	O
,	O
Action	O
Center	O
,	O
date	O
and	O
time	O
are	O
displayed	O
in	O
this	O
area	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
moved	O
from	O
the	O
left	O
of	O
the	O
Taskbar	O
as	O
a	O
Quick	O
Launch	O
shortcut	O
to	O
the	O
rightmost	O
side	O
as	O
its	O
own	O
dedicated	O
hover	O
button	O
in	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Not	O
initially	O
visible	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
feature	O
also	O
available	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
8.1	B-Device
,	O
10	O
,	O
and	O
11	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Task	O
View	O
:	O
A	O
function	O
in	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
and	O
11	O
allowing	O
the	O
user	O
to	O
view	O
and	O
manage	O
open	O
windows	O
and	O
virtual	O
desktops	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cortana	B-Application
and	O
Search	O
:	O
User	O
can	O
utilize	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Cortana	B-Application
Virtual	O
Assistant	O
,	O
which	O
enables	O
internet	O
searches	O
,	O
searches	O
for	O
apps	O
and	O
features	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
,	O
and	O
searches	O
for	O
files	O
and	O
documents	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Cortana	B-Application
can	O
be	O
accessed	O
by	O
clicking	O
the	O
search	O
bar	O
,	O
pressing	O
the	O
microphone	O
button	O
,	O
saying	O
"	O
Hey	O
Cortana	B-Application
"	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
pressing	O
Windows	O
Key+C	O
on	O
the	O
keyboard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Action	O
Center	O
:	O
Introduced	O
in	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
the	O
Action	O
Center	O
gave	O
notifications	O
and	O
tips	O
on	O
boosting	O
computer	O
performance	O
and	O
security	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
Action	O
Center	O
serves	O
as	O
a	O
place	O
for	O
all	O
notifications	O
to	O
reside	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
location	O
of	O
frequently	O
used	O
settings	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
screen	O
brightness	O
,	O
wireless	O
connectivity	O
,	O
VPNs	B-Application
,	O
Bluetooth	B-Protocol
,	O
projector	O
connections	O
,	O
and	O
wireless	O
display	O
connections	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Replacing	O
the	O
Charms	O
from	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
Action	O
Center	O
can	O
be	O
accessed	O
by	O
pressing	O
the	O
speech	O
bubble	O
icon	O
on	O
the	O
taskbar	O
,	O
pressing	O
Windows	O
Key+A	O
on	O
the	O
keyboard	O
,	O
or	O
,	O
if	O
using	O
a	O
touchscreen	O
,	O
swiping	O
from	O
the	O
right	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
Key	I-Device
+	O
A	O
now	O
opens	O
Quick	O
Settings	O
,	O
while	O
Windows	B-Device
Key	I-Device
+	O
N	O
opens	O
the	O
notification	O
center	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Widgets	O
:	O
Windows	O
11	O
introduced	O
a	O
"	O
Widgets	O
"	O
feature	O
which	O
replaces	O
the	O
functionality	O
of	O
live	O
tiles	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
10	O
Start	O
Menus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Widgets	O
are	O
not	O
a	O
replacement	O
for	O
Desktop	O
Gadgets	O
found	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quick	O
Settings	O
:	O
A	O
taskbar	O
menu	O
introduced	O
in	O
Windows	O
11	O
that	O
unifies	O
the	O
functionality	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
's	O
Action	O
Center	O
and	O
system	O
tray	O
icons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Network	B-Protocol
settings	O
,	O
battery	O
,	O
and	O
sound	O
settings	O
can	O
be	O
accessed	O
by	O
clicking	O
on	O
the	O
Quick	O
Settings	O
menu	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
accessibility	O
options	O
,	O
Bluetooth	B-Protocol
toggle	O
,	O
screen	O
brightness	O
,	O
Focus	O
Assist	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Media	O
playback	O
controls	O
are	O
now	O
housed	O
in	O
the	O
Quick	O
Settings	O
menu	O
instead	O
of	O
a	O
hovering	O
menu	O
like	O
in	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Task	O
switcher	O
is	O
a	O
feature	O
present	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
and	O
all	O
subsequent	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
the	O
key	O
is	O
pressed	O
,	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
active	O
windows	O
is	O
displayed	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
user	O
to	O
cycle	O
through	O
the	O
list	O
by	O
tapping	O
the	O
key	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
,	O
Windows	O
Desktop	O
is	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
list	O
and	O
can	O
be	O
activated	O
this	O
way	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
introduced	O
Aero	O
Flip	O
(	O
renamed	O
Windows	O
Flip	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
introduced	O
Metro-style	O
apps	O
,	O
which	O
did	O
not	O
appear	O
when	O
was	O
pressed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
extended	O
to	O
manage	O
the	O
Metro-style	O
apps	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
and	O
11	O
have	O
a	O
unified	O
task	O
switcher	O
called	O
Task	O
View	O
,	O
which	O
manages	O
not	O
only	O
application	O
windows	O
but	O
virtual	O
desktops	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
introduced	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
removed	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
added	O
a	O
bar	O
containing	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
five	O
shortcuts	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
charms	O
"	O
,	O
invoked	O
by	O
moving	O
the	O
mouse	O
cursor	O
into	O
the	O
top	O
or	O
bottom	O
right-hand	O
corners	O
of	O
the	O
screen	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
swiping	O
from	O
the	O
right	O
edge	O
of	O
a	O
compatible	O
touchpad	O
or	O
touch	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
feature	O
was	O
retained	O
in	O
8.1	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
removed	O
the	O
charms	O
and	O
moved	O
the	O
commands	O
associated	O
with	O
them	O
into	O
the	O
system	O
menu	O
of	O
each	O
application	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
all	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
feature	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
Start	O
menu	O
,	O
usually	O
by	O
this	O
very	O
same	O
name	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
10	O
utilize	O
tiles	O
in	O
the	O
start	O
menu	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
user	O
to	O
display	O
icons	O
of	O
different	O
sizes	O
,	O
and	O
arrange	O
icons	O
as	O
the	O
user	O
chooses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Invoking	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
:	O
Until	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
was	O
a	O
mean	O
of	O
invoking	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
such	O
as	O
Computer	O
,	O
Network	B-Protocol
,	O
Control	O
Panel	O
,	O
etc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
Windows	O
Server	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
only	O
special	B-General_Concept
folder	I-General_Concept
that	O
can	O
be	O
invoked	O
from	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	O
is	O
the	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
restored	O
this	O
functionality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Searching	O
:	O
Starting	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
,	O
searching	O
for	O
installed	O
software	O
,	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
became	O
a	O
function	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
ended	O
this	O
tradition	O
by	O
moving	O
the	O
search	O
into	O
taskbar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Managing	O
power	O
states	O
:	O
Logging	O
off	O
and	O
shutdown	B-Device
has	O
always	O
been	O
a	O
function	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
the	O
shutdown	B-Device
function	O
was	O
moved	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	O
,	O
only	O
to	O
be	O
brought	O
back	O
in	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
Update	O
(	O
in	O
April	O
2014	O
)	O
with	O
a	O
sufficiently	O
high	O
screen	O
resolution	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AutoPlay	O
is	O
a	O
feature	O
introduced	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
that	O
examines	O
newly	O
inserted	O
removable	O
media	O
for	O
content	O
and	O
displays	O
a	O
dialog	O
containing	O
options	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
type	O
and	O
content	O
of	O
that	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
is	O
a	O
Windows	O
component	O
that	O
can	O
browse	O
the	O
shell	O
namespace	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
other	O
words	O
,	O
it	O
can	O
browse	O
disks	O
,	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
as	O
a	O
file	B-Application
manager	I-Application
would	O
,	O
but	O
can	O
also	O
access	O
Control	O
Panel	O
,	O
dial-up	O
network	B-Protocol
objects	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
elements	O
introduced	O
above	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
the	O
explorer.exe	B-Protocol
executable	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
responsible	O
for	O
launching	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
is	O
also	O
responsible	O
for	O
launching	O
the	O
taskbar	O
,	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
and	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
task	O
switcher	O
,	O
the	O
charms	O
,	O
or	O
AutoPlay	O
operate	O
even	O
when	O
all	O
instances	O
of	O
the	O
explorer.exe	B-Protocol
process	O
are	O
closed	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
computer	O
programs	O
can	O
still	O
access	O
the	O
shell	O
namespace	O
without	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
called	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
its	O
name	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
beginning	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
although	O
the	O
program	O
name	O
remains	O
explorer.exe	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
1.0	I-Application
,	O
shipped	O
in	O
November	O
1985	O
,	O
introduced	O
MS-DOS	O
Executive	O
,	O
a	O
simple	O
file	B-Application
manager	I-Application
that	O
differentiated	O
between	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
by	O
bold	O
type	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
lacked	O
support	O
for	O
icons	O
,	O
although	O
this	O
made	O
the	O
program	O
somewhat	O
faster	O
than	O
the	O
file	B-Application
manager	I-Application
that	O
came	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
file	O
date	O
column	O
was	O
not	O
Y2K	B-Error_Name
compliant	I-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
2.0	I-Application
made	O
no	O
significant	O
change	O
to	O
MS-DOS	O
Executive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
3.0	I-Application
,	O
introduced	O
in	O
May	O
1990	O
,	O
shipped	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
shell	O
called	O
Program	O
Manager	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Based	O
on	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
work	O
with	O
OS/2	B-Application
Desktop	O
Manager	O
,	O
Program	O
Manager	O
sorted	O
program	O
shortcuts	O
into	O
groups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Program	O
Manager	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
3.1	I-Application
introduced	O
wrappable	O
icon	O
titles	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
Startup	O
group	O
,	O
which	O
Program	O
Manager	O
would	O
check	O
on	O
launch	O
and	O
start	O
any	O
programs	O
contained	O
within	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Program	O
Manager	O
was	O
also	O
ported	O
to	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.1	I-Device
,	O
and	O
was	O
retained	O
through	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.51	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
shell	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
desktop	O
became	O
an	O
interactive	O
area	O
that	O
could	O
contain	O
files	O
(	O
including	O
file	O
shortcuts	O
)	O
,	O
folders	O
,	O
and	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
such	O
as	O
My	B-General_Concept
Computer	I-General_Concept
,	O
Network	B-Protocol
Neighborhood	I-Protocol
and	O
Recycle	B-Application
Bin	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
replaced	O
File	B-Application
Manager	I-Application
,	O
opened	O
both	O
ordinary	O
and	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
taskbar	O
was	O
introduced	O
,	O
which	O
maintained	O
buttons	O
representing	O
open	O
windows	O
,	O
a	O
digital	O
clock	O
,	O
a	O
notifications	O
area	O
for	O
background	O
processes	B-Operating_System
and	O
their	O
notifications	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Start	O
button	O
,	O
which	O
invoked	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Program	O
Manager	O
is	O
also	O
included	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
for	O
backward	O
compatibility	O
,	O
in	O
case	O
the	O
user	O
disliked	O
the	O
new	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
included	O
with	O
all	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	O
up	O
to	O
and	O
including	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
Service	O
Pack	O
1	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
SP2	O
and	O
SP3	O
,	O
PROGMAN.EXE	O
is	O
just	O
an	O
icon	O
library	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
completely	O
removed	O
from	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
shell	O
was	O
also	O
ported	O
to	O
Windows	O
NT	O
,	O
initially	O
released	O
as	O
the	O
NewShell	O
update	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
3.51	I-Device
and	O
then	O
fully	O
integrated	O
into	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
4.0	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
1996	O
,	O
Netscape	B-Protocol
announced	O
that	O
the	O
next	O
release	O
of	O
its	O
browser	O
,	O
codenamed	O
"	O
Constellation	O
"	O
,	O
would	O
completely	O
integrate	O
with	O
Windows	O
and	O
add	O
a	O
new	O
shell	O
,	O
codenamed	O
"	O
HomePort	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
present	O
the	O
same	O
files	O
and	O
shortcuts	O
no	O
matter	O
which	O
machine	O
a	O
user	O
logged	O
into	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
4.0	I-Protocol
was	O
redesigned	O
and	O
resulted	O
in	O
two	O
products	O
:	O
the	O
standalone	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
4	I-Protocol
and	O
Windows	O
Desktop	O
Update	O
,	O
which	O
updated	O
the	O
shell	O
with	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
Active	O
Desktop	O
,	O
Active	B-Application
Channels	I-Application
,	O
Web	O
folders	O
,	O
desktop	O
toolbars	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Quick	O
Launch	O
bars	O
,	O
ability	O
to	O
minimize	O
windows	O
by	O
clicking	O
their	O
button	O
on	O
the	O
taskbar	O
,	O
HTML-based	O
folder	O
customization	O
,	O
single	O
click	O
launching	O
,	O
image	O
thumbnails	O
,	O
folder	O
infotips	O
,	O
web	O
view	O
in	O
folders	O
,	O
Back	O
and	O
Forward	O
navigation	O
buttons	O
,	O
larger	O
toolbar	O
buttons	O
with	O
text	O
labels	O
,	O
favorites	O
,	O
file	O
attributes	O
in	O
Details	O
view	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
address	O
bar	O
in	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
among	O
other	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
introduced	O
the	O
My	B-Application
Documents	I-Application
shell	B-General_Concept
folder	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Future	O
Windows	O
releases	O
,	O
like	O
Windows	O
95C	O
(	O
OSR	O
2.5	O
)	O
and	O
Windows	B-Device
98	I-Device
,	O
included	O
Internet	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
4	I-Protocol
and	O
the	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	O
Desktop	O
Update	O
already	O
built	O
in	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Improvements	O
were	O
made	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
2000	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
ME	I-Device
,	O
such	O
as	O
personalized	O
menus	O
,	O
ability	O
to	O
drag	O
and	O
sort	O
menu	O
items	O
,	O
sort	O
by	O
name	O
function	O
in	O
menus	O
,	O
cascading	O
Start	O
menu	O
special	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
,	O
customizable	O
toolbars	O
for	O
Explorer	O
,	O
auto-complete	O
in	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
address	O
bar	O
and	O
Run	O
box	O
,	O
displaying	O
comments	O
in	O
file	O
shortcuts	O
as	O
tooltips	O
,	O
advanced	O
file	O
type	O
association	O
features	O
,	O
extensible	O
columns	O
in	O
Details	O
view	O
(	O
IColumnProvider	O
interface	O
)	O
,	O
icon	O
overlays	O
,	O
places	O
bar	O
in	O
common	O
dialogs	O
,	O
high-color	O
notification	O
area	O
icons	O
and	O
a	O
search	O
pane	O
in	O
Explorer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
Start	O
Menu	O
,	O
with	O
shortcuts	O
to	O
shell	O
locations	O
on	O
the	O
right	O
and	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
most	O
frequently	O
used	O
applications	O
on	O
the	O
left	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
hid	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
shell	B-General_Concept
folders	I-General_Concept
from	O
the	O
desktop	O
by	O
default	O
,	O
leaving	O
only	O
the	O
Recycle	B-Application
Bin	I-Application
(	O
although	O
the	O
user	O
could	O
get	O
them	O
back	O
if	O
they	O
desired	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
also	O
introduced	O
numerous	O
other	O
shell	O
enhancements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
introduced	O
a	O
searchable	O
Start	O
menu	O
and	O
live	O
taskbar	O
previews	O
to	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
added	O
'	O
pinned	O
 '	O
shortcuts	O
and	O
'	O
jump	O
lists	O
 '	O
to	O
the	O
taskbar	O
,	O
and	O
automatically	O
grouped	O
program	O
windows	O
into	O
one	O
icon	O
(	O
although	O
this	O
could	O
be	O
disabled	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2008	I-Device
introduced	O
the	O
possibility	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
Windows	O
installation	O
without	O
the	O
shell	O
,	O
which	O
results	O
in	O
fewer	O
processes	B-Operating_System
loaded	O
and	O
running	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
removed	O
Flip	O
3D	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
repurpose	O
Win-Tab	O
for	O
displaying	O
an	O
application	O
switcher	O
sidebar	O
containing	O
live	O
previews	O
of	O
active	O
Windows	O
Store	O
apps	O
for	O
users	O
without	O
touchscreens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
added	O
the	O
possibility	O
to	O
have	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
virtual	O
desktop	O
,	O
known	O
as	O
Task	O
View	O
,	O
to	O
group	O
active	O
program	O
windows	O
to	O
their	O
own	O
virtual	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
also	O
added	O
Cortana	B-Application
to	O
the	O
Start	O
menu	O
,	O
to	O
provide	O
interaction	O
with	O
the	O
shell	O
through	O
vocal	O
commands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Newer	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
include	O
recent	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Edge	I-Application
tabs	O
in	O
the	O
Alt-Tab	O
menu	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
disabled	O
to	O
only	O
show	O
open	O
programs	O
,	O
as	O
is	O
the	O
behavior	O
in	O
prior	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
operating	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	O
supports	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
replace	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
with	O
another	O
program	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
third	O
party	O
shells	O
exist	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
the	O
standard	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
.	O
</s>
