Microsoft Confirms Start Button Returns in Windows 8.1
Antoine Leblond, Corporate Vice President of Windows Program Management, wrote a lengthy blog on Thursday that provides a "first look" at Windows 8.1 although we've seen plenty in reports stemming from leaked builds over the last several months. The OS update will deliver improvements and enhancements in key areas, he states, like personalization, search, the built-in apps, Windows Store experience, and cloud connectivity. It will also include "big bets" for business in areas such as management and security.
"We’re only a bit more than seven months into this new, bold approach to computing," he says. "The response to Windows 8 has been substantial— from new devices to strong app growth to key enhancements to the OS and apps. We’ve learned from customers in how they are using the product and have received a lot of feedback. We’ve delivered hundreds of updates to the product and to apps. We’re just getting started, and the potential ahead is tremendous."
The new update will allow users to turn their PC or tablet into a picture frame by making their Lock screen a slide show of pictures stored locally or in the cloud via SkyDrive. Users can also take pictures with the built-in camera right from the lock screen without having to log in.
As for the Start screen, Windows 8.1 will provide more colors, backgrounds, and motion-based wallpapers. Users can also assign their current desktop wallpaper to the Start screen as well, providing the user a sense of unity between the two interfaces. As previously reported, more tile sizes are on the way – large and small ones – so users can organize the Start screen exactly the way they want it.
"It’s also even easier to name groups and rearrange tiles," he says. "You can now select multiple apps all at once, resize them, uninstall them, or rearrange them. We also found people were accidentally moving tiles on their Start screen so in Windows 8.1, you press and hold (or right click) to move things around."
Windows 8.1 also brings the ability to view all apps by swiping from the bottom, and to filter apps by name, date installed, most used, or by category. New apps won't automatically appear on the Start screen either, but will instead be shoved into the "view all apps" mode and marked as "new".
He goes on to talk about the Search charm which will provide global search results powered by Bing, and improvements to the built-in apps such as the Photos app which will sport new editing features, and a completely redesigned Music app. Users will also be able to share the screen between two apps, or have up to three apps on each screen if multiple displays are connected. Users can even have different Windows Store apps running on all the displays at the same time while the Start Screen stays open on one monitor.
The blog also talks about an improved Windows Store, improved cloud connectivity, better mouse and keyboard options, the addition of Internet Explorer 11, and an updated PC Settings that grants access to all the device settings without having to dive into the platform's Control Panel. That's fine and dandy, but what about that missing Start button? That's making a return, but not in its original pre-Windows 8 form.
"We’ve improved the way you navigate to Start with the mouse by changing the Start 'tip' to be the familiar Windows logo," he said. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop. There are also options to change what the corners do, and options to boot into alternate screens. For example, if you prefer to see the Apps view versus all the tiles, you can choose to have the Start screen go directly to Apps view."
These are just some of the changes arriving with Windows 8.1. More will be revealed in additional blogs in the coming weeks.
Microsoft is bringing back the start button but NOT the start menu. Instead when you click on the start button it will bring up the metro interface. It's a sneaky move by microsoft to try and gather some support, it's quite disgusting.
To all the windows 8 supporters:
Windows 8 might be a decent OS but the company behind it is going in the wrong direction. If they can't even bring back the start button without a huge caveat, what faith should professionals have in microsoft to use their system for work? I can't believe that microsoft continues to spit in the face of the largest purchaser of their OS, business.
I always new this day was coming. Digital picture frames are as doomed as landline phones.
If you already have a desktop, you might as well double it as a picture frame when it's not in use. And there's no concern for battery life when it's plugged into an outlet. People have done so for years by using the "slideshow" option in screen savers.
If it didn't have to use office and stream had more linux games
I would ditch Windows 8 happily
With the inclusion of the start menu, Metro existing really doesn't take away from regular desktop computing at all. That being said, when you want a full Windows machine in the form of a tablet, you more likely than not will quite appreciate being able to switch to Metro rather than using the non-touch friendly desktop UI. If Metro no longer impedes or encroaches on your desktop in any way, why would you want to get rid of another potentially very useful option?
Don't fuck with this, MS, I like it.
* turn their PC or tablet into a picture frame
* Start screen, Windows 8.1 will provide more colors, backgrounds, and motion-based wallpapers
* easier to name groups and rearrange tiles - for you METRO Lovers out there
* Search charm
* redesigned Music app - yes , we really need another one of those
* Users can even have different Windows Store apps running on all the displays at the same time - more shopping joy!
* There are also options to change what the corners do - I think Apple had that since OSX
Now if that does not entice you to spend another $100 bucks with Microshit, I just don't know what will!
Microsoft is bringing back the start button but NOT the start menu. Instead when you click on the start button it will bring up the metro interface. It's a sneaky move by microsoft to try and gather some support, it's quite disgusting.
To all the windows 8 supporters:
Windows 8 might be a decent OS but the company behind it is going in the wrong direction. If they can't even bring back the start button without a huge caveat, what faith should professionals have in microsoft to use their system for work? I can't believe that microsoft continues to spit in the face of the largest purchaser of their OS, business.
"Windows 8 sucks, I'm never going to get it or use it"
If you have used it, and don't like it fine, but settle down if you have never used it.
Also, if you thing a feature is pointless, then don't use it. Windows offers the most versatility of any OS. This has a lot to do with the market share they have, but Apple has no plans to make their OS as open as Windows. Linux is too disjointed for most casual users. I would rather MS do more with the power they have with the the market share they have, but so far, nobody seems to be able or willing to challenge them. There might be a reason why, and I really doubt its because MS is a monopoly, cause companies like google if they found a way to take that market, they would. Chrome might some day, but google seems content with letting MS have the fun for now.
That's what I see when I see Windows 8 advertisements anymore... From the administration side of things, it's too much of a headache. I'm not even talking about the start button, metro, etc. Honestly I'm surprised they're back-stepping on Metro at this point. Now if they add back in the other features they ripped out...
But I do agree with the others out there... Like I'm going to make my $3500 rig a picture frame or added more music stuff I don't use or new IE crap I'll NEVER use (why use a W3C non-compliant browser, I'll never understand... Ironically, I posted a new video to youtube and a friend running IE on W8 couldn't see it... Go figure. )
But why in the heck they have to turn windows into the app-store factory doesn't make any sense to... Oh wait... M$ greed... Android and Apple and even steam has an app-store, we want one too!!! We want to do data-mining now also on your PCs and sell that too! Never mind, figured it out for myself...
We want an OS that works well with a mouse and keyboard so we can get actual work done. The BUTTON itself doesn't matter. It's not a problem to use a hot-corner. The problem is that clicking the start "button" rips you from your workflow and wastes screen space in the sake of looking "modern". It offers no tangible benefits to anyone who uses their computer for work.
The metro UI needs to be redesigned for PCs. Take a look at Start8 from stardock (hell, hire them to do it for you). They've already come out with solutions to problems that should have never made it to release.
Also, figure out how to make things work WITHOUT swipe gestures. It has no place on a computer with a mouse. It's slow and its uncomfortably foreign in a desktop environment. This is something a user will learn to cope with, but never something that will feel right for the platform.
It looks like Microsoft missed the mark... again.
I guess we'll have to wait for 8.2 or 9 for a decent desktop environment.
From the business sense, BUSINESSES DO NOT UPGRADE WITH EVERY OS RELEASE. You guys act like companies jump on the next new thing all the time. They are going to do like they did with XP, stay with it FOREVER and then gradually change to 7. Companies already had to pay a ton of money for win7 and they will use it till nothing supports anymore.
I feel Microsoft made a somewhat decent decision with this new OS. They saw how tablets were taking over the market and how limited tablet OSes were. If you actually sit down for an hour and use win8 on a tablet, it is amazing. I personally could not use it for a desktop and I don't think it was meant to be on desktops, which is were I would say Microsoft went wrong, not with win8, but their implementation of it.
And to those joking about "HUR DUR NOW I CAN MAKE MY 1337 RIG INTO A PICTURE FRAME HOW DUMB DUUURRRR." That functionality is mainly for tablets. People love to store photos on them and then show them off. It'll be a great function to easily share pictures.