Windows 8 RC To Get Flatter Explorer UI, Other Changes

By freak180
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Jan Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Canouna: Today we've taken some times to check the most recent build of Windows 8,

Compiled two days ago, this build will let us check what's new on the Release Candidate branch.

First of all, we can note a new icons for Setup.exe,

Then a new color picker style during the OOBE & Personalization panel,

A bunch of new Aero cursors are added,

Another new revision of the Aero,

A bunch of new start page background added,

A polished start "button" in the corner,

And more...

The system is fast, and really stable.

Grand Master

George P Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

So it sounds like they probably added the "button" back in some form but not the "menu", so people shouldn't jump up and down or anything. heh.

Honestly why don't they just let us set the same background as we have on the desktop with the start page? If the images are the same then the transition isn't going to feel as jarring to some/most IMO.

If they don't want to do that because it might mess with the way the tiles look (since they don't have any real border around them so they could "fade" into the wallpaper someone picks), then why not just slap a simple "glass" layer between the tiles and the wallpaper like windows on the desktop do now? That way you have something there to make sure the live tiles don't get lost in the wallpaper as it were.

I really thing that regardless of how many start screen backgrounds they add that it'll never be enough.

Grand Master

freak180

Posted
  • Author
Posted

So it sounds like they probably added the "button" back in some form but not the "menu", so people shouldn't jump up and down or anything. heh.

Honestly why don't they just let us set the same background as we have on the desktop with the start page? If the images are the same then the transition isn't going to feel as jarring to some/most IMO.

If they don't want to do that because it might mess with the way the tiles look (since they don't have any real border around them so they could "fade" into the wallpaper someone picks), then why not just slap a simple "glass" layer between the tiles and the wallpaper like windows on the desktop do now? That way you have something there to make sure the live tiles don't get lost in the wallpaper as it were.

I really thing that regardless of how many start screen backgrounds they add that it'll never be enough.

There is no mention of it being added "back." The one in the CP is just polished.
Grand Master

George P Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

There is no mention of it being added "back." The one in the CP is just polished.

Well in the CP there is no "button" just a tab preview that shows up when you move the mouse down into the corner. They might have added something now though, cuz he says "button" not "preview" or w/e you want to call the popup in the CP. We'll know when screenshots get posted, just have to wait.

I don't care if there is or isn't a button, I'm more interested in the second part of my post about the wallpaper issue.

Proficient

Anthonyd

Posted
Posted

Well in the CP there is no "button" just a tab preview that shows up when you move the mouse down into the corner. They might have added something now though, cuz he says "button" not "preview" or w/e you want to call the popup in the CP. We'll know when screenshots get posted, just have to wait.

I don't care if there is or isn't a button, I'm more interested in the second part of my post about the wallpaper issue.

The start button is inside the charm bar for the CP, it isn't gone.
Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted
Honestly why don't they just let us set the same background as we have on the desktop with the start page? If the images are the same then the transition isn't going to feel as jarring to some/most IMO.

If they don't want to do that because it might mess with the way the tiles look (since they don't have any real border around them so they could "fade" into the wallpaper someone picks), then why not just slap a simple "glass" layer between the tiles and the wallpaper like windows on the desktop do now? That way you have something there to make sure the live tiles don't get lost in the wallpaper as it were.

I really thing that regardless of how many start screen backgrounds they add that it'll never be enough.

All they'd have to do is add a simple blur effect to the desktop background. I'm not really down with the aesthetics of the tiles in the first place though. The icons for legacy apps should be the main element of their respective tile, and therefore should be much larger and probably centered in the tile in a similar way that the icons for Metro apps are centered in their tiles. And the Metro tiles and their colors are too much 'in your face' for my taste, so much so that the Start screen can almost start to look like a bunch of ads...

current.jpgblur.jpg

  • neo1911, T M H and butilikethecookie
  • Like 3
Grand Master

McKay

Posted
Posted

right click on desktop -> Personalize -> Window Color Option (Automatic)

right click on desktop -> Personalize (open another window) -> select Windows Basic

Now select again the Window Color on the first window you did open

Nice! Thanks!

Veteran

bogas04

Posted
Posted

All they'd have to do is add a simple blur effect to the desktop background. I'm not really down with the aesthetics of the tiles in the first place though. The icons for legacy apps should be the main element of their respective tile, and therefore should be much larger and probably centered in the tile in a similar way that the icons for Metro apps are centered in their tiles. And the Metro tiles and their colors are too much 'in your face' for my taste, so much so that the Start screen can almost start to look like a bunch of ads...

current.jpgblur.jpg

a weird wallpaper can ruin it easily, hence the weird start screen background by itself.

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

a weird wallpaper can ruin it easily

Maybe - although nobody is forced to use a weird wallpaper - ... but you're right, it might not be appropriate for MS's concept of going with the very stark colors for their tiles.

I think something like the blur effect would alleviate the problem to a certain extent though.

(first Google result I got for 'weird wallpaper' ;) )

weird.jpg vs. weirdblur.jpg

This is terribad, all that blur in fullscreen really kills my eyes :(

You've got to be kidding ?! (although I'm certainly not saying it's perfect the way I did it)

Grand Master

George P Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

I dunno about blur, that's probably not the right way to go about it. I think added a glass effect like how the taskbar or windows have in the desktop right now is a better way to do it. That way the tiles would look like they're on top of a glass window and your wallpaper is behind the window etc. It'd fit with the "windows" theme still.

As for the desktop app tiles using a small icon I think, as I said in another post months back, that having different tiles look different is by design in the end. Think of it like this, if every type of "object" that you pinned to the start screen had the same live tile look then how would you know what is a metro app, what's a desktop app, or what's a pinned website? Or what's just a shortcut to something on your system for that matter?

Having pinned sites, desktop apps and metro apps with different tiles lets you, as a user, know right away what you're clicking on. But I agree that the icon for desktop apps under the app name could look better if it was a bit bigger. I think the reason it's not is that most apps icons don't support the bigger, i'm guessing 64x64, look and so they're just going with the default 32x32 size icon in the tile?

Veteran

bogas04

Posted
Posted

Maybe - although nobody is forced to use a weird wallpaper - ... but you're right, it might not be appropriate for MS's concept of going with the very stark colors for their tiles.

I think something like the blur effect would alleviate the problem to a certain extent though.

(first Google result I got for 'weird wallpaper' ;) )

Well it would work (as Launchpad does same thing) but then metro apps' tiles are not like apple apps (no boundaries/shadows/<add more differences here>). Anyways , these concepts would just remain here :/

ALSO not to forget how WP is so locked in terms of customization , i think the amount of customization given for Metro Tablets/Desktop Users is more than enough.

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted
As for the desktop app tiles using a small icon I think, as I said in another post months back, that having different tiles look different is by design in the end. Think of it like this, if every type of "object" that you pinned to the start screen had the same live tile look then how would you know what is a metro app, what's a desktop app, or what's a pinned website? Or what's just a shortcut to something on your system for that matter?

Having pinned sites, desktop apps and metro apps with different tiles lets you, as a user, know right away what you're clicking on. But I agree that the icon for desktop apps under the app name could look better if it was a bit bigger. I think the reason it's not is that most apps icons don't support the bigger, i'm guessing 64x64, look and so they're just going with the default 32x32 size icon in the tile?

But would you really look for an app based on whether it's Metro style or legacy? Seems kind of backwards to me. In the end, you just care about what the app does, not what framework it's written in, or its visual style.

Maybe I'm too cynical about this. But I suspect Microsoft are making the tiles for legacy apps look deliberately bad so that the Metro tiles stand out more.

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

Well it would work (as Launchpad does same thing) but then metro apps' tiles are not like apple apps (no boundaries/shadows/<add more differences here>).

You're right. And I think that's great. MS is doing something completely original here (even though I don't agree with all of their decisions).

Veteran

bogas04

Posted
Posted

The new cursors and new icon for setup. Apparently we can see the new Aero revision as well :) Thanks to Jim Allchin & Canouna , but i still hate him for keeping us drooling all this while :p :p :p :drool: :

post-293012-0-07776800-1335782415.png

post-293012-0-13843100-1335782418.png

Which reminds me of Canouna's old tweet which had no explanation behind it , now makes sense :p

568825873.jpg?key=25921944

http://twitpic.com/9enwup

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair review: The Ikea of chairs

      By froggyliver · Posted

      I like mesh chairs like this, but not being able to lock in the back would make it not work for me. Also, I don't like arm rests at all. Can you not install them and the chair still work? Any recommendations on alternative chairs?
    • The Trump administration doesn't want you to use OpenAI's GPT-5.6 without its approval

      By excalpius · Posted

      As before, my notes are in your quoted section. To be clear, you started posting racist, fascist nonsense. And I always challenge lies and the liars that peddle them. Why? Because the truth matters.
    • Onkyo Dolby Atmos AV receivers are really solid deals

      By Thiefyo · Posted

      Deal for those who want 1900 size electronics in their house? with 2026/7 hardware mhm.. not nice
    • Why it's almost impossible to produce a smartphone in the United States

      By ad47uk · Posted

      Cheap labour, the same as the U.K. China pays their people pittance.
    • The Trump administration doesn't want you to use OpenAI's GPT-5.6 without its approval

      By ad47uk · Posted

      Those people that come over here on boats are already in a safe country, if they want to come over here then do so correctly though the right channels. I was born in the U.K, my family that came over here came so via the proper means. My partner came here via the correct channels, she also became a British citizen, she knows more about this country than most of them that was born here, including myself, she worked hard to do what she does. She will stick up for this country and have done a few times, when people from her own part of world have put the U.K down. We are not going to agree, all I said to start with is that maybe Trump has the right idea with this America first thing and maybe we should start doing the same. Maybe not as drastic as what he is doing, but we do need to sort this country out, we need to sort out tech instead of relying on the U.S and others. Again you have not shown why you are so annoyed that we have left the E.U and this is what it is all about? If you don't live in the U.K and live in the E.U are you annoyed that we left your little club? If you live in the U.K and is pro-E.U, then fair enough then I can see how it annoys you. Are you one of these people who lives in the U.K and have a holiday chalet in the E.U and can now only stay there for so long? If so, then that is bad luck. As I have posted before, I have no problem with people coming here to work, as long as they do if via the proper channels. We are out of the E.U, people voted out, and maybe if more people had voted instead of sitting on their backsides the results would have been different. But they like the E.U and our government thought no we would not vote to leave. How wrong they were, surprised me. I expected to wake up in the morning and hear on the radio that we voted to stay. As I said, we are out and have been for 10 years, we are not going to go back in anytime soon if we ever do, so we all need to make the best of how things are. Anyway, this is supposed to be a tech site.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Conversation Starter
      jessse3334 earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Reacting Well
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      Excellence2025 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      502
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      214
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      150
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      74
    5. 5
      macoman
      62
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!