Microsoft Could Launch a Start Menu Option in Windows 8


Recommended Posts

From skimming through this thread, I've come to the conclusion that I may be the on,y person that uses the start key on his keyboard to access the start screen. I don't think I've clicked a corner or start orb for years. My usual usage is, Winkey, then type what I need. It's been like that since vista

Steven Sinofsky is no longer head of the Windows division and more and more voices familiar with matter are hinting that a Start Menu option could, after all, land on Windows 8 platforms.

I suspect it will come back now. A week ago I would have said the start menu option was dead in the water but a week ago I would have placed every dime of my money on a bet against Sinofsky leaving Microsoft.

Seems like the OS works perfectly fine to me. Completely usable.

I think you're looking for opinionated words like 'unconventional', 'inconvenient', maybe 'troublesome', etc...

For you my friend, for you. I understand that you adore this way of working buddy, that is great, honestly! Nothing wrong with that at all, no way, but what is completely 'usable' to yourself, might just not be to 'others'?, including myself. :)

What is wrong with that? Is that unconventional, inconvenient, and maybe troublesome all round? Now that is the question? ;)

1. Wall of text...please fix it.

OCD much

2. They didn't talk about it like it was so much code. They had made some serious changes to the OS, and the older start wasn't able to handle some of the changes they made. Their telemetry data was able to tell them how often the start button was actually used. So looking at that data they knew it wasn't really being used, and they already had the start screen ready.

if no one was using it then why put a bigger one that I don't need to use and if I wanted all my icons on the screen Fences is great for that just doble click and they disapear, you don't need the start screen

You should read some of the earlier posts...in particular the post that links to an explanation from one of the folks that worked on OS. It has all this info and more. The reasons for removal were valid.

and if you take out animations, transicions, transparency, and graphics the os will become faster, that's pretty valid to me to make a text OS

Oh, and yeah...they didn't take out Aero. They took out Glass on the frames...but Glass is still present on the taskbar...and Aero is still the primary theme, but with some changes made for Windows 8.

So again...please don't post up something like this without at least checking what you're saying.

really they took out what made Aero Aero without the glass effect guess what it is called "Classic"

1. Nope. It's called being considerate towards people who are going to read your text. People can read things more easily with proper formatting. Not doing that shows contempt and disregard for yourself and potential readers. If you can't take the time to care about what you're presenting...why should they?

2. Evidently I was wrong in point 1 about making it easier to read if the text is well formatted. The point was that people weren't using the start button. That's why that was deprecated. The start menu had issues that were going to take a lot of work to resolve because of other core OS changes. I won't keep repeating this though since it's apparent you don't care.

3. Hmm actually it seems like you have no intention to discuss this. I was reading your post point by point while replying...and I won't waste further time replying to you on this...unless you indicate you actually want to have an honest discussion and not just troll.

From skimming through this thread, I've come to the conclusion that I may be the on,y person that uses the start key on his keyboard to access the start screen. I don't think I've clicked a corner or start orb for years. My usual usage is, Winkey, then type what I need. It's been like that since vista

Actually I use mine all the time, and so do most folks that I know. It seems like it's the people who are resistant to change who don't use it...and since the keyboards have had the WinKey on them for over a decade now it makes sense that they wouldn't want to use it...since back in Windows 95 days most keyboards didn't have that on there.

I suspect it will come back now. A week ago I would have said the start menu option was dead in the water but a week ago I would have placed every dime of my money on a bet against Sinofsky leaving Microsoft.

Considering JL-G is in charge? Nope.

1. Nope. It's called being considerate towards people who are going to read your text. People can read things more easily with proper formatting. Not doing that shows contempt and disregard for yourself and potential readers. If you can't take the time to care about what you're presenting...why should they?

Sorry it's called OCD no one said anythig about it but you, but it's actually weird that you don't OCD about the start screen when it's nothing but a mess of a wall of tiles go figure.

2. Evidently I was wrong in point 1 about making it easier to read if the text is well formatted. The point was that people weren't using the start button. That's why that was deprecated. The start menu had issues that were going to take a lot of work to resolve because of other core OS changes. I won't keep repeating this though since it's apparent you don't care.

oviously it wasn't that difficult to keep it. We already have plenty of third party software doing it so I find it difficult to belive that microsoft a multibillion dollar company can't do it.

3. Hmm actually it seems like you have no intention to discuss this. I was reading your post point by point while replying...and I won't waste further time replying to you on this...unless you indicate you actually want to have an honest discussion and not just troll.

A troll??? just because I don't have the same point of view and I point out some inconsistenciesof the OS.

You still haven't answered why do they keep all the duplicate programs on the desktop since they want to make a lean OS, and why they don't give a choice

and for that I'm a troll :o lol

You tell me. All my icons are organized into groups on the Start Screen. My desktop is as clean as it can be. :D

So you've basically taken what people used to do with the old 9x style start menus, create folders for a task/purpose and group all the relevant shortcuts inside. And you've applied it to the start screen.

That's not progress, that's regression. Search exists for a reason. And honestly, how on earth is that favourites section even useful.

man DM wtf is up with all the IE stuff....? that is a bit messy, do you actually go to every single site that's pinned? I only, have the top 4 I go to most...leaving the others in the browser. See....

AfHV4.jpg

4ti8c.jpg

Not having the start button isn't all that bad, but there are still times I get annoyed that there isn't one. I have contemplated going back to W7, I don't want to go through the headache of getting everything set back up so. I'm sticking to windows 8. Besides I let my mum try it out since she not good with comp's, she likes that it's easier for her to get to things instead of me having to do it for her.

man DM wtf is up with all the IE stuff....? that is a bit messy, do you actually go to every single site that's pinned? I only, have the top 4 I go to most...leaving the others in the browser. See....

AfHV4.jpg

4ti8c.jpg

Not having the start button isn't all that bad, but there are still times I get annoyed that there isn't one. I have contemplated going back to W7, I don't want to go through the headache of getting everything set back up so. I'm sticking to windows 8. Besides I let my mum try it out since she not good with comp's, she likes that it's easier for her to get to things instead of me having to do it for her.

****, stop it! your scaring us.

I really hope they don't bring back the start menu, the start screen is fine, and using metro apps with a start menu would be an even bigger clusterfeck

no it wouldn't be, bring back the start menu, PEOPLE WANT CHOICE

  • Like 3

no it wouldn't be, bring back the start menu, PEOPLE WANT CHOICE

Can we stop focusing on the Start Menu specifically.

I'm willing to bet 90% of the complaints would go away if they added a simple replacement, it doesn't need to be the old start menu. Just a small menu/window with a search box and a couple of "essential" shortcuts. (CPanel etc.)

That would let desktop people use the desktop in peace, the mobile device users can flip between whatever suits the situation and the fanboys can live in Metro and waste their meaningless lives obsessing over their Faycebewk tiles and fawning over images of Sinofsky as usual.

I really hope they don't bring back the start menu, the start screen is fine, and using metro apps with a start menu would be an even bigger clusterfeck

Wrong! move mouse pointer to upper right, bingo! we have the modern UI. why is it so bad to give people what they want or might want? This reminds me of UBISOFT and the ghost recon franchise. we have been wanting the tactical squad based shooter revived but all we get are cinematic, linear trash games and now GR is on the level of Call of duty.

you don't want loyal customers?don't give them what they want. I never or very seldom use modern UI in 8.

Added***. As with all things everyone has their own agenda, this area as well.So we got Modern UI in windows, who's to say the next leader of windows designs something and the modern UI for 8 is out the window?

First Vista's UI was changed with 7, 7 gets changed with 8, 8 will more than likely get changed by 9.... MS hasn't grasped sticking with anything except the start menu. I'm under the impression that MS is somewhat schizophrenic when it comes to UI's and designing the OS overall. wasn't the last head of windows, there when they made 7 and Vista?

A guy could get a freaking headache from all this nonsense :wacko:

Edited by ChrisJ1968

I also prefer my 'favourites' hidden, and where they should be, in my browser lol, and certainly not on my desktop!

You been taking 'e' s lol :D

Start =/= Desktop.

man DM wtf is up with all the IE stuff....? that is a bit messy, do you actually go to every single site that's pinned? I only, have the top 4 I go to most...leaving the others in the browser. See....

More or less. I'm planning to clean up a few later on.

Wrong! move mouse pointer to upper right, bingo! we have the modern UI. why is it so bad to give people what they want or might want? This reminds me of UBISOFT and the ghost recon franchise. we have been wanting the tactical squad based shooter revived but all we get are cinematic, linear trash games and now GR is on the level of Call of duty.

you don't want loyal customers?don't give them what they want. I never or very seldom use modern UI in 8.

Added***. As with all things everyone has their own agenda, this area as well.So we got Modern UI in windows, who's to say the next leader of windows designs something and the modern UI for 8 is out the window?

First Vista's UI was changed with 7, 7 gets changed with 8, 8 will more than likely get changed by 9.... MS hasn't grasped sticking with anything except the start menu. I'm under the impression that MS is somewhat schizophrenic when it comes to UI's and designing the OS overall. wasn't the last head of windows, there when they made 7 and Vista?

A guy could get a freaking headache from all this nonsense :wacko:

So far the only people crying over the decrepit Start Menu are a few techies. A vocal minority who will cry very loudly.

If anything Start will be streamlined in Windows 9, as JL-G is now heading the division. She worked with Sinofsky to develop the Metro UI. So, no, it's not going away.

There just isn't anyway the old menu is coming back at all. It doesn't make sense in the slightest to bring it back. You move computing forward, not back.

Derp Matrix at it again, I see. Yet, no comment from him on the low sales of Windows 8. Oh wait, "Microsoft doesn?t comment on rumors or speculation." Pathetic.

Low OEM sales? Nothing new there. Not an indication of anything. It's just before the holidays.

Not sure why you keep slamming me, but Start is here, and not going anywhere. It's pretty obvious you guys aren't designers or developers. The Metro UI will be improved upon for Windows 9. That's how things go.

It's pretty obvious you guys aren't designers or developers.

Indeed, the abomination known as Metro is a result of developers thinking they are designers.

Not sure why you keep slamming me, but Start is here, and not going anywhere. It's pretty obvious you guys aren't designers or developers. The Metro UI will be improved upon for Windows 9. That's how things go.

I'm a web/graphic designer actually and I think Modern UI is crap.

Let me present a scenario: Graphic designer works on a very detailed graphic which require his attention, he needs an additional app for something

a) In Windows 7 he opens the small (start) menu find what he need and continue his work with as small as possible distraction.

b) In Windows 8 he opens the colorful full screen menu which completely distract him from his work.

How Metro UI will be non-distractive?

Why Microsoft try to force the new UI on their customers?

Microsoft could made the finishing of the setup wizard with user input of selecting UI with or without start menu, it is not that hard as they already have 99% of everything needed.

Let me present a scenario: Graphic designer works on a very detailed graphic which require his attention, he needs an additional app for something

a) In Windows 7 he opens the small (start) menu find what he need and continue his work with as small as possible distraction.

b) In Windows 8 he opens the colorful full screen menu which completely distract him from his work.

How Metro UI will be non-distractive?

Why Microsoft try to force the new UI on their customers?

Microsoft could made the finishing of the setup wizard with user input of selecting UI with or without start menu, it is not that hard as they already have 99% of everything needed.

The reason for this has already been posted at least twice in this thread. It wasn't a random removal.

Will everyone stop posting about how easy this is until after you read the post from Brandon about this.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • Nudge me when they bring back hardware audio acceleration so I can get my EAX 5 back. We've evolved graphics to real-time path tracing, but regressed audio some 15 years back in time with this stupid software audio stack.
    • Ocenaudio 3.19.4 by Razvan Serea  Ocenaudio is a full featured, fast and easy to use audio and music editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications. Ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users. To assist ocenaudio development, a powerful toolset of audio editing, analysis and manipulation called Ocen Framework was created. ocenaudio is also based on Qt framework, a well known library for cross-platform development. Cross-platform support ocenaudio is available for all major operating systems: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. Native applications are generated for each platform from a common source, in order to achieve excelent performance and seamless integration with the operating system. All versions of ocenaudio have a uniform set of features and the same graphical interface, so the skills you learn in one platform can be used in the others. VST plugins support Ocenaudio supports VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins, giving its users access to numerous effects. Like the native effects, VST effects can use real-time preview to aide configuration. Real-time preview of effects Applying effects such as EQ, gain and filtering is an important part of audio editing. However, it is very tricky to get the desired result by adjusting the controls configuration alone: you must listen the processed audio. To ease the configuration of audio effects, ocenaudio has a real time preview feature: you hear the processed signal while adjusting the controls. The effect configuration window also includes a miniature view of the selected audio signal. You can navigate on this miniature view in the same way as you do on the main interface, selecting parts that interest you and listening to the effect result in real time. Multiselection for delicate editions To speed up complex audio files editing, ocenaudio includes multi-selection. With this amazing tool, you can simultaneously select different portions of an audio file and listen, edit or even apply an effect to them. For example, if you want to normalize only the excerpts of an interview where the interviewee is talking, just select them and apply the effect. Eficient edition of large files With ocenaudio, there is no limit to the length or the quantity of the audio files you can edit. Using an advanced memory management system, the application keeps your files open without wasting any of your computer's memory. Even in files several hours long, common editing operations such as copy, cut or paste happen almost instantly. Fully featured spectrogram Besides offering an incredible waveform view of your audio files, ocenaudio has a powerful and complete spectrogram view. In this view, you can analyze the spectral content of your audio signal with maximum clarity. Advanced users will be surprised to find that the spectrogram settings are applied in real time. The display is updated immediately when altering features such as the number of frequency bands, window type and size and dynamic range of the display. Ocenaudio 3.19.4 changelog: Adds fallback fonts so every language and symbol displays correctly Improves autosave and session recovery stability Improves region navigation and display Fixes a crash when the level meter is used on displays with a scaling greater than 200% Fixes memory corruption when using the silence selection tools Fixes crashes when closing a file while effects are still being processed Fixes a freeze when applying effects to many files at once (macOS) Fixes crashes related to audio devices on Windows Fixes invalid file names when exporting regions whose label is used as the file name Other bug fixes and improvements Download: Ocenaudio 64-bit | Portable | ~40.0 MB (Freeware) Download: Ocenaudio for Linux and Mac OS View: Ocenaudio Homepage | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Hasleo Disk Clone 5.8.2.1 by Razvan Serea Hasleo Disk Clone is a free and all-in-one disk cloning software for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista and Windows Server that can help you migrate Windows OS to another disk, clone one disk to another disk or clone one partition to another location quickly and efficiently. Completely Free Windows Migration and Disk/Partition Cloning Software Migrate Windows from one disk to another without reinstalling Windows, apps. Clone one disk to another and makes the data on 2 disks are exactly the same. Clone a partition to another location without losing any data. Easily adjust the size and location of the destination partition. Convert MBR to GPT or convert GPT to MBR by cloning. Creation of Windows PE emergency disk. Extremely fast cloning speed and multi-language support. Supported OS: Windows Vista/Server 2008 or later, fully compatible with GPT and UEFI. Hasleo Disk Clone 5.8.2.1 changelog: Fixed an issue that caused disk enumeration to fail Fixed an issue where WinPE created under Windows ARM64 26H1 did not work properly Download: Hasleo Disk Clone 5.8.2.1 | 32.3 MB (Freeware) Link: Hasleo Disk Clone Home Page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • This got me thinking, would you rather a self driving car prioritise protecting its passengers or everyone else? I'd choose the one that keeps me and my kids safest. At some point, these cars have to make those choices already, don't they? Wonder if we have a way to find out what way they lean.
    • The proportion (or number of iterations) has nothing to with this aspect of Copyright I am describing. In short, it doesn't matter how many times the manager tells you to change something or how. Your work product is always YOURS until and unless you then assign that to the person representing the client/company, usually for financial compensation -- either in salary or as a subcontract work for hire payment. if iterations determined copyright, then businesses would have learned to just keep making changes until they could claim they owned the copyright, without having to compensate the artist for their work. And that would be BAD. The only place where the amount of changes does have a role is in how much does a human modify a previous public domain work (from any source) before it is considered fair use or their own work, etc. For example, if a human makes substantial changes to a public domain (re: AI, by definition) work, then they can then claim that derivative work as their own...but NEVER the original version, of course. That's why anyone can make a movie about Dracula, for example, as long as it is based on the public domain novel, but not if they take new ideas from copyrighted movies made afterwards. As one of the people who personally advised the US Copyright Office on their recent ruling on these very issues, be assured that I specifically used the terminology precisely -- though I made it simple enough for laymen to understand it. If I made this confusing by doing so, I apologize. But, to be clear regarding your assumption that I would agree to your second statement that I quoted above -- the answer is NO. If AI does the work, no matter how much "direction" you give it, it cannot be copyrighted. All AI generated content is in the Public Domain and therefore the copyright cannot be assigned to ANYONE, even you -- until and unless substantial modifications are made to it BY A HUMAN BEING (yourself or a contracted artist/writer/etc.) and then that copyright on the derivative work is legally (in writing) transferred to you. This is a critical distinction. And it is important that people, especially AI sloppers, understand this. For example, YouTube is not paying AI slop generators for the copyright, etc. of their AI slop. What YouTube is doing is sharing AD REVENUE for permission to publish your AI slop. Copyright/ownership/rights never come into it. Importantly, that means that anyone can copy any AI slopware on YouTube, etc. and rehost it anywhere they want, even back on YouTube, and there is nothing legal that YouTube can do about it with regards to copyright protections, ownership, DMCA, etc. Anyone is legally free to use any AI slopware in any way they want. When this ruling was pending, I warned Disney legal of all of this before they did their OpenAI deal -- that it would literally dilute their entire IP portfolio forever. They ignored that warning for the PR and stock bump. But that is why, when the ruling came down last year, Disney quickly extricated themselves from that OpenAI deal, even eating the initial upfront fees -- followed closely by OpenAI ending their entire AI video generating business model. They adjusted their PR release dates to make this less obvious to shareholders, of course. Phew. I hope that this clears up the key distinctions for you and anyone reading. If you have any additional questions or even hypotheticals about AI and Copyright, please feel free to ask.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Skeet Campbell earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      553
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      188
    3. 3
      Michael Scrip
      78
    4. 4
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      74
    5. 5
      neufuse
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!