Start8 v1.1 RC available for download

Stardock Start8 lets you return the Start Button to Windows 8. Microsoft Windows 8 is shipped without the “Start” menu. Start8 brings back Windows 7-style Start menu with Windows 8 enhancements. Also you can view and launch installed applications (including Modern apps), All Programs menu. Start8 includes support for “jump lists”/recent documents for recently accessed programs (Devices, Documents, Music, Videos, Photos, Computer, and more). Pin favorite desktop and Metro apps shortcuts directly to the start menu for easy access. Start8 adds searchable Windows 8-style (Modern UI) Start menu options for Windows desktop applications, Modern applications, and documents. It allows automatically load directly to your Windows desktop on login (vs the start screen). In addition, you can also easily shutdown your PC without needing to access another menus.

Features:

Windows 7-style Start menu with Windows 8 enhancements
Pin desktop and Modern UI apps
Jump list support
Unified Search for Apps, Settings and Files
Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
Automatically matches the color of the taskbar
Skinnable Start button
Windows 8 Start screen accessible from the Start Menu
Optionally disable the Windows 8 desktop “hot spots”
Adds option for WinKey to show full screen metro desktop
Group Policy support

Control:

Configurable Start menu size
Windows 8 Start screen accessible from the Start menu
Clean, streamlined UI enhances Start8′s usability

Customization:

Optionally disable the desktop Windows 8 “hot spots”
Supports WindowFX 5.1 start menu animations (currently in beta)
Choose a custom Start button skin and color

What's new in this version:

Added new start button images
Added option to disable multiple monitor corner stickiness feature of Windows 8 Added option to make right clicking the start button when at the bottom of the screen open the Win + X menu Modified custom places to support libraries Added support for automatically checking for updates every week (control from About page) Right clicking on empty areas of the Start menu shows the Configure
Start8 option.
Tweaked pin to start menu code
Added support for shell: link execution via search Modified jumplist code to handle case of pinning an item resulting in the unpinned items disappearing sometimes Modified jumplist code to handle the case of pinned items not showing after clearing recent docs lists Tweaked jumplists code to handle jumplists not showing for all apps when recently opened programs option is disabled in the OS.
Modified config UI to grey out the inactive start menu style.
Tweak to resolve a rare race condition crash on guest account login.
Modified code to make recently run apps list update directly after launches rather than after the next time the menu is closed.
Menu key on keyboard now opens menu for selected search results.
Additional workaround for slow recent apps list population due to Windows defender bug.
Added German and Chinese (Simplified) localization