Microsoft to shake-up Windows 8 Start screen

Microsoft to shake-up Windows 8 Start screen

Microsoft will make changes to the Windows 8 Start screen based on user feedback, according to a company executive.Speaking to PC Pro in London today, the company's general manager of platform strategy, Tim O'Brien, suggested next month's Windows 8 beta will make amendments to the divisive Start screen menu.The Windows 8 Start screen currently defaults to the new, tile-based Metro interface. More controversially, when users click on the Start button in the tradtional Windows desktop, they are immediately thrown back to the Metro screen.[FONT=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][/FONT]
O'Brien said Microsoft will react to the feedback received on the Building Windows 8 blog, which devoted a lengthy post to the Start screen in October last year. "Some of the changes you'll see on the Start screen are based on feedback from developers on that blog," O'Brien explained.

Windows chief Steven Sinofsky admitted on the blog last year that forcing Windows 8 users to run the touchscreen-oriented Metro - irrespective of whether they're using a tablet, laptop or desktop PC - had angered some early testers."We've seen some small amount of visceral feedback focused on 'choice' or 'disable' — a natural reaction to change, but perhaps not the best way to have a dialog leading to a new product," Sinofsky wrote.

Microsoft then spent the rest of the lengthy post justifying the decision to apply Metro by default, but promised modifications such as increasing the number of tiles displayed on larger screens, and a redesigned Apps screen that makes it easier to scan through long lists of installed apps.

O'Brien couldn't confirm what features will be tweaked ahead of the beta, which is due to be released at the end of next month.​

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Microsoft to shake-up Windows 8 Start screen | News | PC Pro

 

[Coke Robot]

Interesting....I figured Microsoft would do this because they know they need to cater to everyone. Also, I assumed that they would considering they have talked about an interface that adapts to the user. Hmm, I should become a Microsoft crystal ball!

 

[ADRz]

Interesting....I figured Microsoft would do this because they know they need to cater to everyone. Also, I assumed that they would considering they have talked about an interface that adapts to the user. Hmm, I should become a Microsoft crystal ball!

Just read what these Microsoft idiots have stated:

Microsoft then spent the rest of the lengthy post justifying the decision to apply Metro by default, but promised modifications such as increasing the number of tiles displayed on larger screens, and a redesigned Apps screen that makes it easier to scan through long lists of installed apps.

As you can see, these are just cosmetic changes. The Metro screens stays, guys, very much as it is. Wow, MS would allow you to have more tiles on it!!! Now, I am in heaven. These are very, very minor changes. This is nothing to be excited about. These designers are starring disaster in the face and they have frozen in place. The only thing that they have to say is that angry users do not promote a good discussion!!! Give me a break.

The beta will ship with minor changes to the Metro screen, making desktop with monitors of 20 and upwards feel like oversized phones. When the howling begins, Microsoft will then start issuing patches like crazy. But they are going to test the waters first to see how much abuse current users can take.

 

[vrosa]

The beta will ship with minor changes to the Metro screen, making desktop with monitors of 20 and upwards feel like oversized phones. When the howling begins, Microsoft will then start issuing patches like crazy. But they are going to test the waters first to see how much abuse current users can take.

So, Metro haters will still sufer with the next public build

 

[SIW2]

We will have to see what arrives.

I would expect MS will have the sense to allow the user to easily select which interface they want to use - the other one will go away completely - and not interfere at all.

The user could of course switch back and forth if they like.

If MS do that - I don't imagine they will get too may complaints.

I expect that is what they had planned all along.


There is the question of Metro interference in other areas - will you need to have Metro enabled to use some of the system recovery options ?

I hope not.

 

[SIW2]

"We've seen some small amount of visceral feedback focused on 'choice' or 'disable' — a natural reaction to change, but perhaps not the best way to have a dialog leading to a new product," Sinofsky wrote.

Nonsense. People like change , if it for the better - that is why they buy new records, new fashions , new devices.

People have good reason for disliking the Metro interface - not because it is new - on the contrary - there is a tendency to want to like anything new .

It is insulting to brush it off like that.

Sinofsky should know better.

 

[vrosa]

"We've seen some small amount of visceral feedback focused on 'choice' or 'disable' — a natural reaction to change, but perhaps not the best way to have a dialog leading to a new product," Sinofsky wrote.

Nonsense. People like change , if it for the better - that is why they buy new records, new fashions , new devices.

People have good reason for disliking the Metro interface - not because it is new - on the contrary - there is a tendency to want to like anything new .

It is insulting to brush it off like that.

Sinofsky should know better.

100% agreed

 

[ADRz]

"We've seen some small amount of visceral feedback focused on 'choice' or 'disable' — a natural reaction to change, but perhaps not the best way to have a dialog leading to a new product," Sinofsky wrote.

Nonsense. People like change , if it for the better - that is why they buy new records, new fashions , new devices.

People have good reason for disliking the Metro interface - not because it is new - on the contrary - there is a tendency to want to like anything new .

It is insulting to brush it off like that.

Sinofsky should know better.

I agree with you. However, Sinofsky does not really care about pleasing the current customer base. For example, when the Vista "disaster" occured, Microsoft simply continued selling WinXP licenses. No sweat. Microsoft figures here that if Win8 does not fly among upgraders, this is no big loss. It derives little income from upgrades. So, as far as Microsoft is concerned, they do not care for your business, if all you want to do is upgrade. Most of the licenses for Win8 will be sold with new computers. If enterprise customers do not want Win8, then they will sell them Win7...so what is there to fret about???

Thus, looking at the cold numbers, Microsoft cares little if you like or dislike Win8. It cares about picking up new tablet customers. Somehow, MS believes that the tablet market is humongous and the PC market is well covered by Win7 (for those who would like the old desktop). For MS, a license is a license. It does not matter if it is Win7 or Win8.

If MS allows users to switch off the Metro Start Screen (and it should, in my opinion), then it would have very few customers for its Metro apps shop. It cannot afford to do this. It would depend on you going to Costco and buying a new machine with Win8 preinstalled and buying new Metro apps (you need one to check the weather, right?). All of it is a pure money calculation.

 

[burtie]

Metro is just dumbed down computing for novices, big bright colours and big boxes everywhere! Yeah it looks clean and simple and will work great on a touch screen device like a tablet but it just doesn't work on a desktop. They need to have the two options in there otherwise I won't be touching with a barge pole!

 

[ADRz]

Metro is just dumbed down computing for novices, big bright colours and big boxes everywhere! Yeah it looks clean and simple and will work great on a touch screen device like a tablet but it just doesn't work on a desktop. They need to have the two options in there otherwise I won't be touching with a barge pole!

It is also not engaging in the long term. The desktop is designed with the idea that the person would be interacting with it continuously throughout the day. Telephones and tablets are designed for occassional use. I would challenge those who like Metro to discuss with us their impressions after running for multiple hours and how all the green wears on them. Let's not go even to the fact that the operating system is called "Windows" but it does not do any windows???? If the desktop is gone as a task, there is not a single windowing applications in it.

 

[burtie]

They could always change the name to Boxes! lol

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

YOU do KNOW, you can change the Metro tile colors, right? I like mine in the nice blue I have them in.

 

[ADRz]

YOU do KNOW, you can change the Metro tile colors, right? I like mine in the nice blue I have them in.

Although I know this, I would take this contribution as a joke!!

 

[Vertex]

There is the question of Metro interference in other areas - will you need to have Metro enabled to use some of the system recovery options ?

I hope not.

Sadly, this was true with the Windows Developer Preview. I disabled the Metro using Brink's tutorial but when I went to the Control Panel to test System Refresh and System Reset, a dialog box appears saying those features were disabled. I enabled Metro again, then tested those recovery options again and they seem to launch this time. This led me to believe that using those two recovery options are hard-coded with the Metro. That gave me a bad impression.

I also believe that they better make the System Refresh and System Refresh usable even if Metro is disabled and without the need of inserting the Windows installation media.

 

[vrosa]

I also believe that they better make the System Refresh and System Refresh usable even if Metro is disabled and without the need of inserting the Windows installation media

I must agree with that

 

[ADRz]

I also believe that they better make the System Refresh and System Refresh usable even if Metro is disabled and without the need of inserting the Windows installation media

I must agree with that

This would never happen. First of all, I predict that MS would not make the Metro Start Screen optional. This became clear now in some of the later builds that are called in general "consumer review". MS is in a public relations push to outline the advantages of the "Metro" Start screen. So, all of you who dream of an easy way to disable Metro, I think that you would be disappointed. Yes, some hacks will be developed to disable it, but with it, one would disable other parts of Windows.

Since Windows is no longer windowing, the previous suggestion of renaming it "Boxes" is a good one.

Anyway, I have been saying that Android ICS certainly looks more interesting than Win8 Metro. In fact, there are number of downloads that allows one to transform the Win7 start screen to something resembling ICS. If you are interested, check this URL
The Ice Cream Sandwich Desktop

The result certainly looks a lot more animated than the Win8 tiles.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

I think a better name would be "Tiles"

 

[Coke Robot]

The beta will ship with minor changes to the Metro screen, making desktop with monitors of 20 and upwards feel like oversized phones. When the howling begins, Microsoft will then start issuing patches like crazy. But they are going to test the waters first to see how much abuse current users can take.

So, Metro haters will still sufer with the next public build

Seems like....

 

[Coke Robot]

Metro is just dumbed down computing for novices, big bright colours and big boxes everywhere! Yeah it looks clean and simple and will work great on a touch screen device like a tablet but it just doesn't work on a desktop. They need to have the two options in there otherwise I won't be touching with a barge pole!

It is also not engaging in the long term. The desktop is designed with the idea that the person would be interacting with it continuously throughout the day. Telephones and tablets are designed for occassional use. I would challenge those who like Metro to discuss with us their impressions after running for multiple hours and how all the green wears on them. Let's not go even to the fact that the operating system is called "Windows" but it does not do any windows???? If the desktop is gone as a task, there is not a single windowing applications in it.

I'll have that discussion. I've literally been running Windows 8 for days now. And no, I don't get worn down by the green, I've already changed that to black tiles and a marroon background with a tile pattern. I've done heavy data transfers, hard drive checks, PhotoShopping, and such. The OS is called Windows. Windows has a Taskbar and an interface to start programs. Windows 8 boots into an interface to start either a desktop program or an app. Either way, you get into the desktop without harrassment.

 

[Coke Robot]

There is the question of Metro interference in other areas - will you need to have Metro enabled to use some of the system recovery options ?

I hope not.

Sadly, this was true with the Windows Developer Preview. I disabled the Metro using Brink's tutorial but when I went to the Control Panel to test System Refresh and System Reset, a dialog box appears saying those features were disabled. I enabled Metro again, then tested those recovery options again and they seem to launch this time. This led me to believe that using those two recovery options are hard-coded with the Metro. That gave me a bad impression.

I also believe that they better make the System Refresh and System Refresh usable even if Metro is disabled and without the need of inserting the Windows installation media.

Again, Developer Preview guys! No one ever said an OS that is at this stage was final. For crying out loud....