No Microsoft Start Menu for Windows 8 until 2015: Sources

Microsoft won't be delivering a new Start Menu for Windows 8 with its coming Windows 8.1 Update 2, after all.

That recent change in plans comes courtesy of a couple of my sources who've had good track records on Windows information.

Up until recently, Microsoft was hoping to make a new "Mini" Start Menu part of a second update to Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 Update 2 was -- and still is, last I heard -- slated to arrive in August of this year.

Microsoft's operating systems group has decided to hold off on delivering a Microsoft-developed Start Menu until Threshold, the next "major" release of Windows. Threshold, which may or may not ultimately be called Windows 9, is expected to be released in April 2015. I'm not clear whether the postponement is because the feature won't be fully baked in time, or if there's another reason for the change in plans.

Read more at: No Microsoft Start Menu for Windows 8 until 2015: Sources | ZDNet

 

[alphanumeric]

Yuck, and yuck, that's just me though, to each his own. If you like go for it, I don't mind using Windows 8 as is with no extra start menu type of add-in.

 

[RBS]

But, my biggest gripe about Metro, is that I cannot customize the screen as I would like ...

There are still things you can do with décor 8 and oblytile in 811.

View attachment 44423

Yes, I know ...but very limited... I see those pretty, white, background tiles. Isn't white the only option?

 

[mdmd]

Yes, I know ...but very limited... I see those pretty, white, background tiles. Isn't white the only option?

No. Any color, any text font using Paint Shop / 3D using Xara or other, 4 sizes of tiles.
Tiles can be strategically positioned.

I understand, the ability to limit tile rows (to 1), has been eliminated also the ability to colorize the charms bar.
I'm not going to say it's always point and click, it does require some effort.

 

[RBS]

Hi there
@RBS - COULD care or COULDN'T Care -- not sure which side of the fence you are on !!!!

Also to say that Ms screws up a 3rd party app is a bit silly -- WINDOWS IS an Ms application
Cheers
jimbo

I am not on any side. Do I have to be? There are things about Windows 8 I like, there are many things I don't like.

I should have said "Probably, will screw up", maybe? then again, Windows did/does have it's bugs.

Windows is what it is, no more, no less. My comments were simply an expression of my personal likes, dislikes and hopeful wishes for Windows 9.

 

[mdmd]

Yuck, and yuck, that's just me though, to each his own. If you like go for it, I don't mind using Windows 8 as is with no extra start menu type of add-in.

I still use the Windows 8 menu all the time.



With Win + X, and key strokes while in the apps screen, it's awesome !

 

[Clintlgm]

You might want to check out Classic Shell

I don't like the classic shell.

View attachment 44422

Really it does just about everything you said you wanted in a start menu

 

[mdmd]

Really it does just about everything you said you wanted in a start menu

I never said in this thread what I wanted in a start menu.
ok. Here goes. I don't care for Start8 or StartisBack either or any menu that is bolted to a corner or to the taskbar or toolbar on the taskbar. Not saying CS is not great, I just find it boring!

I like the feel and look of the full screen metro start and apps screen.
Others hate it! My view is to not rag on what others like.
I get ticked when some call what I like useless, trash or kiddie land.

 

[pparks1]

M$ is hoping that most will forget about old Start menu by the time when Win 9 comes out and than will taut it as "New" feature.

I wonder what the percentages of people using a third party start menu. I'm thinking its pretty high, I myself actually like classic shell better than the original start menu of MS any version. Then again there may have been ways to tweak MS Start menu that I was not aware of? CS give you lots of customization in one place.

At my job, I'm rolling out Windows 8 to everybody getting a new machine. Without question, they all want and use the start menu, rather than the start screen. I setup classic shell and I make the Windows key on the keyboard go to the start screen itself. I show them how it's a very fast way to get to things, just hit the Windows key, type what you want, done! But I don't think many use it.

I personally use Start8 (have paid for 3 copies), but at work we use classic shell. I just like the look and feel of Start8 a bit better.

 

[mdmd]

Yes !!! 10 / 4 a. ok. Free stuff is always good! I paid for mine as well. Oh well.
Whoever finds whatever easiest or useful, rock on... although I only listen to talk shows now.
Rock hurts my ears.
...Netflix metro app inside of a resizable modern mix window.

 

[mdmd]

I think some of the people in the medical office that I often go to,
Don't even care for a menu, any menu!

It's got to be desktop icons only !!!!

 

[Fredledingue]

It's interresting that they thing of returning the start menu. And encouraging... The Start Screen on desktop PC should be merged with the Desktop. A display area should be defined for metro apps. The main irritant of metro apps is their ridiculous oversized full screen position. The area on which a metro app work should be resized either by entering coordonates in an ini file or by framing it into a resized window. The New Start Menu could take some cool new appearance like long horizintal display.

 

[mdmd]

... A display area should be defined for metro apps. The main irritant of metro apps is their ridiculous oversized full screen position. The area on which a metro app work should be resized ... into a resized window.

These are resizable windowed metro apps (modern mix - metro IE and Netflix)
As you can see, the clutter can get to be an issue.




I think there is a coding and organizational structure that could only be explained by serious technical details.
There is more involved here than screw the consumer with subscriptions.
Although, the profits that Gates / Ballmer and company have made is staggering.

With modern mix, the metro apps are in resizable windows.
But still, there is an issue with multitasking because switching to full screen mode stops all multitasking.
It is a code problem or it is as designed, RT is not well suited to multitask while in full screen mode.
Modern Mix windowed Netflix will stop functioning on the desktop if one goes to a full screen metro app.

The New Start Menu could take some cool new appearance like long horizontal display.

Isn't this what the start screen does? Even though I rant about it,
the start screen can be used or configured as a start menu.

This will continue to be the menu of choice for most serious professionals who only do real work.

 

[Quadrillion]

Greetings! Since 8 debuted, I've been hearing all the whines about the lack of a "Start" menu and wondering what the big deal was. I almost never use it. Since XP, I've used a quick launch bar for literally everything, and I love it. It didn't take long to add it to a recently acquired Win 8 laptop-it's a hidden option. You can put every resource you need into the quick launch function. Not only programs, but URLs and folders open immediately with one click and function exactly like they would sitting on a desktop

Now my 8 laptop looks and functions almost exactly like my 7 laptop and XP desktop. The desktop itself is clean - great for the background slideshow. I have about 25 or 30 quicklaunch icons somewhat organized. The ten most commonly used go across (75% of my activities), the rest vertically on the "overflow" thingy.

There are things I don't like about eight, but it has nothing to do with a start menu. Essentially, it's Windows 7 for Dummies.

 

[mdmd]

See, well, welcome to 8 forums, but there you go! Since we might like it as designed,

it's Windows 7 for Dummies

Can I disagree, I disagree. I wouldn't touch 7 with a ten foot pole.

How is this



better than this?

 

[mdmd]

I've used a quick launch bar for literally everything, and I love it.

That's great. ok. Good!
Can I say, I can have 300 quick launch shortcuts, urls, functions,
anything listed in the metro menu apps screen.

Others rave about taskbar utilities, and prefer them.
I think the start screen and apps area is far more capable of handling application shortcuts
and anything else due to its multipage organization than a taskbar tool.

My experience is that menus or taskbar tools cannot handle folders containing hundreds of shortcuts.

Each to their own preference.

 

[pparks1]

See, well, welcome to 8 forums, but there you go! Since we might like it as designed,

it's Windows 7 for Dummies

Can I disagree, I disagree. I wouldn't touch 7 with a ten foot pole.

How is this

View attachment 44474

better than this?

View attachment 44475

Well, with 1 click on the above your stuff is launched. And while subjective, the second one is drab and boring and looks like crap. I'm not saying i like the way that #1 looks, and I wouldn't have mine that way....but there is a really nice middle ground as far as I am concerned between #1 and #2.

 

[mdmd]

Haha, you give me a chance to respond! ok.

First, what's boring? The folder icon? The tile color? or the text?
My desktop launcher is fascinating because icons can explode, be on fire, shrink, throb, shake, rotate etc...

So I guess if that occurred on the start screen,
it would be another way to criticize people who like it by saying it's for kids only.

There can be no middle ground as to how my shortcuts are placed.
Like I said, a toolbar quicklaunch is ok and has a long history,
but quicklaunch toolbars cannot handle hundreds of shortcuts.

It's like with menus, I say some are boring, not what I like, but I would not call your stuff crap.
The same could be said for examples of Linux menus. They are typical and vertical and limited.
How are you going to get 300 shortcuts on a menu or toolbar?
I don't need groups.

I disagree, with the tile criticism. It can be pinned or not, and still exist,
and can be colorized, add a custom font, add a custom icon.

What can be is limited by ones imagination and creativity.

 

[mdmd]

Well, with 1 click on the above your stuff is launched.

Not true. First you have to launch the quick launch unless your taskbar has 20 icons on it? I remember someone proclaiming how awesome it was for them to have 75 icons on their taskbar? How is that neat? Then you have to find it, as tiny as they are. In the time it takes you to find your quick launch, especially if you have to scroll through a list, I can press the windows key and execute something. Then you have to hope you don't have a window covering it requiring clicks to move / minimize / close a window covering the quick launch if that is the case. Also, how are pencil sized pin head icons easy to find? Is the taskbar auto hidden? Are your shortcuts limited only to the taskbar, do you stretch the taskbar up reducing screen space? Does your list exceed vertical space?

 

[pparks1]

My bar has about 10 things on it. Outlook and lync start when I turn on computer. Rest are single clicks. About 90% of what I do is right there, available without flipping over to start screen. I use start screen as launcher for those occasional few things I don't have pinned, but it's rare to go there. Right click power user menu is pretty much rest of what I need. I run a 2560x1440 monitor, no one thing should take up the whole thing. My Mac works pretty much same way. I like it that way, no amount of banter is going to change that.

 

[mdmd]

... no one thing should take up the whole thing ... I like it that way, no amount of banter is going to change that.

ok. No one thing? Full screen videos? Full screen spreadsheets? Full screen CAD?
Full screen coding environments?
Full screen Photo and creative creations applications?
Full screen databases?
Full screen compilers?
Full screen video editors and 3D movie productions tools?

no one thing should take up the whole thing

OEM store demos? ATMs full screen. Kiosks? Medical Device tools full screen.
Full screen GPS and NASA satellite monitors?
Smartphones?
Aerospace manufacturing tools full screen?
Product counters running embedded systems?
Enterprise statistics collectors in real time?
Stock exchange monitors?

The Desktop is full screen. Should we Windowize the desktop?

The login screen is full screen. The boot menu is full screen. Ctrl Alt Del is full screen.
Screen Savers are full screen. Obviously, Charms links are all full screen, as such they must be useless, right?
My Bing (app) is full screen. My Weather (app) is full screen. My Background Wallpapers (app) is full screen.
National Parks (app) is full screen. My News Photo (app) pictorials are all full screen.

No one thing?