Windows Blue poised to become Windows 8.1

Microsoft officials supposedly have decided on the final name for Windows Blue. The final decision, one of my sources told me, is that it will be Windows 8.1.

The client version of Blue, codenamed Windows Blue, is a refresh of Windows 8. It is expected to be released to manufacturing around August of this year. As I've blogged a few times, Microsoft is planning to position Blue as part of the Windows 8 wave, not as Windows 9.

Read more at source:
Windows Blue poised to become Windows 8.1 | Microsoft - CNET News

 

[FuturDreamz]

The fact that it didn't drop you out of desktop just to launch a desktop app is one...

 

[Ray8]

What made the smaller one better than the new?

It didn't take up the whole screen.

For example, does a TV remote control have to be this big:

 

[Lee]

I attended a Microsoft-sponsored programming seminar today, and pretty much the exact words to come out of the Developer Evangelist's mouth were "The desktop isn't going anywhere, and desktop apps are still first-class citizens."

You should have seen her rather humorous way of addressing the "lack" of the Start button ... she started kind of screaming and said, "Oh my god! Aughghghghghghghghghghghgh..." Then she explained how the Start screen is one giant Start button. It's not really gone (at least, that's how I see it, too).

10-4 good buddy on the start screen/button. . .

 

[Lee]

What made the smaller one better than the new?

It didn't take up the whole screen.

For example, does a TV remote control have to be this big:

View attachment 19648

YES. . .old guys like me need them that big so we can see them. . .

Heck, wish they made keyboards much larger. . .

 

[Ray8]

What made the smaller one better than the new?

It didn't take up the whole screen.

For example, does a TV remote control have to be this big:

View attachment 19648

YES. . .old guys like me need them that big so we can see them. . .

Heck, wish they made keyboards much larger. . .

But the Windows 8 start screen isn't aimed at us old farts, it's aimed at the hip youngsters, the 'now' generation.

 

[Hopachi]

What made the smaller one better than the new?

It didn't take up the whole screen.

For example, does a TV remote control have to be this big:

View attachment 19648

YES. . .old guys like me need them that big so we can see them. . .

Heck, wish they made keyboards much larger. . .

Here you go Lee:

This is one that makes you move but can be more tiring than the Start Screen.

 

[Ray8]

Here you go Lee:
View attachment 19667
This is one that makes you move but can be more tiring than the Start Screen.

And selling like Windows 8.

 

[DavidY]

What made the smaller one better than the new?

The fact that it didn't drop you out of desktop just to launch a desktop app is one...

Yes to that.

The thing about the small Start button and also the Taskbar in pre-Windows 8, is that they are always on the screen, you can always see what's going on and you can always take control.

Especially for people who don't spend their lives in front of a computer, it's much less intuitive to have your whole screen taken over.

Think of that example in one of the new stories a few weeks ago when the chap was watching his elderly Dad. He clicked on an attachment in an email, found himself in full-screen-Metro land with no indication of how to get back to where he was. In Windows 7 he'd be able to see the Taskbar and use it to swap back or close the Metro app. In Windows 8 the Taskbar only works on Desktop (and won't even show you Metro apps that you have open).

 

[labeeman]

Some more screen shots of Windows 8.1

The Windows 8.1 Saga: One More Leaked Build, New Screenshots - Softpedia

 

[msdos622wasfun]

You should have seen her rather humorous way of addressing the "lack" of the Start button ... she started kind of screaming and said, "Oh my god! Aughghghghghghghghghghghgh..." Then she explained how the Start screen is one giant Start button. It's not really gone (at least, that's how I see it, too).

What makes '...one giant Start Button...' better than the small one that existed previously? Is it just for the finger painters?

My cat's name is Mittens.

 

[FuturDreamz]

You should have seen her rather humorous way of addressing the "lack" of the Start button ... she started kind of screaming and said, "Oh my god! Aughghghghghghghghghghghgh..." Then she explained how the Start screen is one giant Start button. It's not really gone (at least, that's how I see it, too).

What makes '...one giant Start Button...' better than the small one that existed previously? Is it just for the finger painters?

My cat's name is Mittens.

My pug's name is Otis.

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Haha. Okay, in all seriousness, without making it sound like I'm disrespecting anybody. The reason I personally don't mind the Start screen is because I would rather use all the real estate I have to look at its contents. I mean, the way I figure, when the Start menu was originally conceived, it wasn't jam packed full of features yet. It just had the basics with Windows 95. But over the past few years it just seemed to me like SO much was crammed into it. Trying to move around little icons to manage my installed software really became a pain. I really don't know how else to explain it. IMO, the Start screen is now a glorious, wonderful dashboard and launching point.

I'll say it again, there was a small learning curve with Windows 8 when I first approached it, but I managed to overcome it. But I respect everyone for how they feel, and I consider opposing points of view as well. It's just that ... well ... I'm okay with it.

 

[pparks1]

Haha. Okay, in all seriousness, without making it sound like I'm disrespecting anybody. The reason I personally don't mind the Start screen is because I would rather use all the real estate I have to look at its contents. I mean, the way I figure, when the Start menu was originally conceived, it wasn't jam packed full of features yet. It just had the basics with Windows 95. But over the past few years it just seemed to me like SO much was crammed into it. Trying to move around little icons to manage my installed software really became a pain. I really don't know how else to explain it. IMO, the Start screen is now a glorious, wonderful dashboard and launching point.

I'll say it again, there was a small learning curve with Windows 8 when I first approached it, but I managed to overcome it. But I respect everyone for how they feel, and I consider opposing points of view as well. It's just that ... well ... I'm okay with it.

I'm ok with Windows 8 too. I rarely see anything that makes it much different from Windows 7.

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Actually I do agree with the notion that the disappearance of the desktop should be gradual, if it happens at all. I'm trying to imagine the Metro-fied versions of Office and other large pieces of software I use, like Cakewalk SONAR X2. I'm not saying it can't be done or that we shouldn't head in that direction, it's just that since we are only at the beginning of this transition, it's going to take some time so people can adjust.

 

[PaulGo]

Blue state: Microsoft's tricky strategy to strike back against Apple and Google

...After years of domination, Microsoft is finally facing serious threats at the cores of its business, Office and Windows. Consumers and businesses alike are largely purchasing devices based on their capabilities and form factors rather than the software contained within. Windows is slowly becoming commoditized and Microsoft’s traditional allies are looking at Android and Chrome OS as viable alternatives, a trend that threatens the Windows monopoly. Microsoft faces a tricky balancing act as it faces a future that’s very different from its existing business.


Protecting the two cash cows, Office and Windows, by licensing software to businesses and OEMs has long been the strategy in Redmond — but things are starting to change. Microsoft is moving towards the cloud, and beyond that it sees Blue.


...The other shift with Blue — software as a service — also requires consumer buy-in, moving from a product you own to something you rent and pay for annually or monthly. If Windows and Office are truly becoming commoditized then Microsoft has to convince the average customer that it’s worth paying to access its software and services in a move away from traditional licensing. It’s a big ask, and Office 365 subscriptions are a testbed for moves elsewhere in the company.

Blue state: Microsoft's tricky strategy to strike back against Apple and Google | The Verge

 

[labeeman]

This is not good.

Microsoft is moving towards an era where it may eventually sell access to Windows or its services as part of a subscription, in the same way it has started to do so for its Office 365 service.

 

[Ray8]

This is not good.

Microsoft is moving towards an era where it may eventually sell access to Windows or its services as part of a subscription, in the same way it has started to do so for its Office 365 service.

I think that's been on the cards and suspected for some time.

 

[pparks1]

This is not good.

Microsoft is moving towards an era where it may eventually sell access to Windows or its services as part of a subscription, in the same way it has started to do so for its Office 365 service.

I don't really fear this. As we move to more device types, it would be nice to have an account rather than a perpetual software license.

Not too mention, you could add and remove services as you need them. Would be nice when you need something for a few weeks, but don't want to pay for permanent use.

 

[Ray8]

I don't really fear this. As we move to more device types, it would be nice to have an account rather than a perpetual software license.

Not too mention, you could add and remove services as you need them. Would be nice when you need something for a few weeks, but don't want to pay for permanent use.

In theory, that sentiment may be good, but in practice, it won't work like that. At the end of the day, you'll be paying a lot more than you do now and potentially with some inconvenience. No one provides subscription models because it's for the benefit of the consumer.

 

[Frank1]

Hello Windows 3.11!

Yes, and DOS 6.22