Stardock CEO Developing Start Menu App for Windows 8
Are you hating life because the Start menu has been stripped out of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview? There's an app for that... soon.
Brad Wardell, the founder and CEO of Stardock, says that he's working on a free Windows 8 app called Start8 that will enable the Start menu on the desktop.
When completed, the Start8 app will place the familiar Start button at the bottom left corner of the screen on the taskbar (where it belongs). It will also reportedly have a Run and Shutdown option when users right-click on the menu.
"The lack of a start button and start menu in Windows 8 has made using Microsoft’s new OS a non-starter for me and a lot of other people," he writes in a blog. "I like Metro, I really do – for tablets. But as a desktop user, I need a consistent work flow that lets me have my windows together on my desktop and don’t want to be jerked out of that environment every time I want to start some new program."
According to Wardell, the app will allow the user to choose a custom Start button image. It will also enable quick access and searching of the user's installed programs.
Unfortunately, those currently using Microsoft's just-released Windows 8 Consumer Preview can't download the app directly from Stardock, as it's not available as of this writing. But by providing an email address, Stardock will send a link to the download once it becomes available.
For more information about the Start8 app, head here. Currently there's no indication as to when the app will be completed, so keep checking back if you don't want to be placed on the mailing list.
http://windows8beta.com/2012/03/enable-start-orb-and-start-menu-on-windows-8-consumer-preview
"So I have to install 3rd party software and do registry modifications just to have my system working properly? No thanks, I'm sticking with Win 7."
I'm sticking with MacOS/Linux/FreeBSD/Solaris whatever, had enough of windows stuff in 2006 already...
Win 9 will most propably have new version of metro interface, so why you are waiting for win9? If you have win7 you don't need win 8, there is not so much difference, but Metro interface is not reason to wait win9 instead win8.
MS has now "common" platform for desktops, laptops and pads... there is no any reason why they would abandon that situation. It makes no economical sense to them.
And yeah don't get me wrong, I am still wainting official win7 interface to win8... Have to wait a little bit longer... But metro is here to stay, that is sure!
You can right-click the new start menu and change the icon to the new Windows 8 logo.
i wouldnt say i hate life over this.
do i hate MS ... maybe a little
do i hate windohs 8 ... Definitely
will i ever buy windohs 8 ... hell no.
Considering this is the way Microsoft is going forward with their GUI, I think you should be sure to keep a disk of Windows 7 handy for the rest of your computing years.