Interest in customizable, dynamic user interfaces for Windows reached a new level of excitement this week, after a prominent Microsoft engineer gave a public sneak peek at a project with the potential to fundamentally change the way many interact with their PCs. On May 22, 2025, Etienne Baudoux, a software engineer at Microsoft well-known in the developer community, posted a teaser on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, hinting at his work to bring a MacBook Touch Bar-style interface to the Windows desktop. While the details remain sparse, the announcement already has Windows enthusiasts and .NET developers abuzz, eager to see whether this concept could breathe new life into Windows desktop customization and productivity.
The inspiration behind Baudoux’s project is clear: Apple’s Touch Bar, a slim, contextual touchscreen strip that debuted with the MacBook Pro in 2016. Designed to replace traditional function keys with a digital control surface, the Touch Bar promised new ways to interact with macOS—contextual buttons, emoji pickers, sliders for volume and brightness
Source: Windows Report Microsoft Engineer teases MacBook-style Touch Bar for Windows
The Touch Bar: Apple’s Short-Lived Gamble, Windows’ Next Big Thing?
The inspiration behind Baudoux’s project is clear: Apple’s Touch Bar, a slim, contextual touchscreen strip that debuted with the MacBook Pro in 2016. Designed to replace traditional function keys with a digital control surface, the Touch Bar promised new ways to interact with macOS—contextual buttons, emoji pickers, sliders for volume and brightnessSource: Windows Report Microsoft Engineer teases MacBook-style Touch Bar for Windows