Classic Shell closed beta is looking for participants

Ivo

New Member
Power User
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158
Classic Shell will soon have a closed beta for the upcoming version 4.0. If you are interested in participating, please register on the forum at www.classicshell.net/forum and send a PM to the user Ivo. Include details about the system configuration on which you plan to use CS4.

What's new in 4.0?
  • New "Windows 7" menu style that replicates the look and feel of the Windows 7 start menu
    • the programs show in a tree inside the main menu
    • search results and jump lists show inside the main menu
    • dedicated shutdown button
    • the unparalleled customizability you've come to expect from Classic Shell
  • You can search for files as well as programs
  • The menu can show the frequently used programs instead of the recently launched
  • Newly installed programs are highlighted
  • Many improvements to performance and responsiveness
  • Programs can be pinned directly from Explorer
  • New search feature for the settings
  • New more reliable way to start on Windows 8, that doesn't use a service

Why should you do this?
Participation in the beta has some benefits. You get an early glimpse into the new features in CS4. You get to influence the development of CS4 before the features are finalized.

The beta will begin early next week and will run for about two weeks.
Hurry up, seating is limited.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Some screenshots:
On Windows 7:
kpWxGOs.png


On Windows 8:
z7L6Jb9.png


Classic single column style:
cGjFiGN.png


Settings window with abundant customization:
FeXPpsa.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
There are numerous other improvements and changes all around such as:
- New Windows 8 optimized skin
- Easier to customize Start Menu items in Windows 7 style
- a new turn off monitor command
- Nested settings. Dependent settings are offset from their parent
- Country flags in the Languages tab
- Computer item can now show a list of drives as a menu without expanding them further
- Secondary Tiles for Modern apps show the personalized tile name and can be launched from the menu as well
- "Install Updates and Shutdown/Restart" functionality like the original Start Menu
- Aero Glass rendering if the MSFN member BigMuscle's AeroGlass for Windows 8 mod is installed
- Enhanced keyboard shortcuts like Home/End/Page Up/Page Down in addition to F2, Del, Alt+Enter etc working everywhere
- Shift+Win uses a hotkey instead of a keyboard hook so it will give less problems and work with elevated programs
- The icons and data are saved to a cache on disk at %APPDATA%\ClassicShell, so the menu should stay responsive all the time.
- Right-click for the Win+X menu works even when all corners are disabled
- New setting for the icon size for the classic button
- Windows 7 treeview style can show folders first
- Classic IE9 renamed to Classic IE as it has enhancements for IE9 and up
- Classic Shell 4.0 no longer supports Windows Vista
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
New build supports Windows 8.1. :dinesh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
Looks like the beta does install just fine on 8.1. No boot to desktop option though so I had to turn that option on via the Taskbar > Properties > Navigation view. It seems to be working just fine on default options and I like the new icon too!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Found a tiny beta bug. Inherent shortcut to Desktop comes up as invalid:

bug1.jpg

Also found no way to get back to the Metro screen at default settings (if anyone wants to go back there). Solved this by changing the Windows Key to toggle between Desktop and Metro (maybe I missed a different key combo default setting?).

One other surprise. Apparently, Classic Shell now installs an IE toolbar. I declined to activate it. Is this something new? Never used Classic Shell before.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Just like in previous versions, you can do Shift+Win or Shift+Click to open the metro screen.
You shouldn't use the desktop link while on the desktop. You can get any more desktopy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Just like in previous versions, you can do Shift+Win or Shift+Click to open the metro screen.
You shouldn't use the desktop link while on the desktop. You can get any more desktopy.

That makes perfect sense then why is it there? Didn't know how to toggle in previous versions because I never used it before. Thanks for the response.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
OK, so I simply deleted the desktop link, rebooted, and it never came back:

fyi.jpg

A very nice program BTW but I'm surprised nobody ever brought that to your attention before. You know the old saying "It was curiosity that killed the cat" and I was simply a curious beta tester. I saw, I clicked...

Cheers
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It is there so it appears as a tile on the start screen. Every tile must have a shortcut. Microsoft has decided to put the Desktop shortcut in the Programs folder. If you delete it you will lose the Desktop tile.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
It is there so it appears as a tile on the start screen. Every tile must have a shortcut. Microsoft has decided to put the Desktop shortcut in the Programs folder. If you delete it you will lose the Desktop tile.

Not sure exactly what you mean but everything still works ok for me. I stll have my desktop tile on the Metro screen. See here:

shot1.jpg

shot2.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If you open All Programs do you not see an item called Desktop? Should be near the top.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Apparently, Classic Shell now installs an IE toolbar. I declined to activate it. Is this something new? Never used Classic Shell before.

Classic Shell installs a toolbar into Windows File Explorer, not Internet Explorer. It adds all the commands from the File Menu for 1-click access (even on Windows 8, the awful Ribbon makes you hunt for commands on its numerous tabs or forces you to use tiny 16 x 16 icons at its top on the Quick Access Toolbar). You can just disable the vertical space hogging Ribbon using Winaero's Ribbon Disabler and then enjoy the simpler toolbar with the commands you need. You can also add custom commands to the toolbar which operate on selected files.

For Internet Explorer, Classic Shell restores the page title, the status bar page loading progress indicator and status of the website security zone/Protected Mode on/off.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
Just wanted to stop back and say how much I am enjoying this new beta version. It appears to integrate well with 8.1 Preview and it is full of user controllable options. Moreover, it has a very nice looking interface as well. Thanks to the developer(s) and testers for turning out a great product.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Windows 8.1 Preview
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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