[Blue] Things we'd like to see in Win8 Blue

[MrChris2000]

So I've been using a Lenovo Helix for the past few days; it's been my first experience of using Win 8 on a tablet, I normally use it on 2 desktop machines.

Being on a tablet though I'm sticking more to Modern apps (unless I'm in laptop mode - love me some convertible). But having had an iPad for content consumption prior there are some things that I think are 'obvious' missing from the tablet experience and I'm curious where others have found gaps.

The biggies for me are:

-- 'Hot standby' Power mode - a mode akin to the iPad where I can turn off the screen (and touch screen), but still have media playing. On the Helix (and I assume Surface?), hitting the power button puts the machine into Standby which cuts the media out.

-- Context aware keyboards - at the moment there are a range of keyboard types available, but they 'hide' common keys. On the iPad if I was entering data in a web form it would detect and add an '@' symbol to the keyboard layout, this is on a second part of the keyboard in Win 8.

-- Auto keyboard - if I put the cursor in a text box anywhere on screen (and I don't have the keyboard connected to the tablet), I expect the OS to just pop up the touch keyboard, not make me hunt for it (this may just affect desktop apps).

-- Keyboard on the start screen - maybe I'm too used to Win8 on a desktop, but 'Start' + 'Type' to find an app is so easy, but I can't do this on a tablet?? Put a keyboard option in the Start Screen app bar and let me use that if I want to...?

A lot more keyboard things there than I thought, but on the whole I like Win8 on a tablet, I just find some things easier on a desktop (which judging from other comments puts me in a very small minority :) ).

So if Microsoft could fix some small annoyances in Win8 for you, what would they be?

[nekrosoft13]

a start menu

start button

removal of metro

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

a start menu

start button

removal of metro

Give it a rest!

I agree hugely on context aware keyboards!!!

[ZakO]

Proper interface scaling and ability to adjust the scaling per-screen. With laptops having high-resolution screens such as the rMBP (and others coming soon) this is essential.

[xendrome]

a start menu

start button

removal of metro

Windows 8 already has a start menu, and a start button (not visible, but just move your mouse to bottom left and click) and metro doesn't exist, perhaps you mean Modern UI?

[Stoffel]

So I've been using a Lenovo Helix for the past few days; it's been my first experience of using Win 8 on a tablet, I normally use it on 2 desktop machines.

Being on a tablet though I'm sticking more to Modern apps (unless I'm in laptop mode - love me some convertible). But having had an iPad for content consumption prior there are some things that I think are 'obvious' missing from the tablet experience and I'm curious where others have found gaps.

The biggies for me are:

-- 'Hot standby' Power mode - a mode akin to the iPad where I can turn off the screen (and touch screen), but still have media playing. On the Helix (and I assume Surface?), hitting the power button puts the machine into Standby which cuts the media out.

-- Context aware keyboards - at the moment there are a range of keyboard types available, but they 'hide' common keys. On the iPad if I was entering data in a web form it would detect and add an '@' symbol to the keyboard layout, this is on a second part of the keyboard in Win 8.

-- Auto keyboard - if I put the cursor in a text box anywhere on screen (and I don't have the keyboard connected to the tablet), I expect the OS to just pop up the touch keyboard, not make me hunt for it (this may just affect desktop apps).

-- Keyboard on the start screen - maybe I'm too used to Win8 on a desktop, but 'Start' + 'Type' to find an app is so easy, but I can't do this on a tablet?? Put a keyboard option in the Start Screen app bar and let me use that if I want to...?

A lot more keyboard things there than I thought, but on the whole I like Win8 on a tablet, I just find some things easier on a desktop (which judging from other comments puts me in a very small minority :) ).

So if Microsoft could fix some small annoyances in Win8 for you, what would they be?

1 No idea about that one

2 Somebody posted an option the other day to include a full keyboard option as one of the keyboards. It was in a thread about tips for the surface if I remember correctly

3 Works perfectly fine with Metro apps, but like you say, not very well with desktop apps

4 Use the charms bar and search when you are on the start screen, it's only a swipe from the right hand side

I've been using Win8 on a Lenovo Yoga for the last few weeks and really like it, but you are right, there are some little annoyances that still need to be fixed, lets hope Win8.1 helps with it

a start menu

start button

removal of metro

Wow real mature, haven't we beaten this to dead yet?

[nekrosoft13]

Windows 8 already has a start menu, and a start button (not visible, but just move your mouse to bottom left and click) and metro doesn't exist, perhaps you mean Modern UI?

its start screen, not a start menu, there is no button, and call **** by any name you want its still ****

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

call **** by any name you want its still ****

Or how about not trolling and thus not calling it anything!

[Brandon H Supervisor]

its start screen, not a start menu, there is no button, and call **** by any name you want its still ****

the start screen is still a menu and has buttons to press/click

and there is a button in the bottom left corner, deny it all you want but that doesn't mean it's not there

and thus i use your own logic against you

[TPreston]

Per-Computer metro settings themes etc for business branding.

Update default modern applications from WSUS

Automatically install updates for modern applications

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

Things I would like to see are

1. A standalone power button in the charms bar.

2. An icon in the task bar for the charms bar.

3. An ability to resize the start screen which would be nice for desktop users.

4. A return of the aero glass and classic theme (no reason why they cant)

5. A power button on the start screen thats just like in the old start menu.

6. Background photo option for the start screen.

7. More organization features for the start screen.

8. The ability to put modern apps in a window

9. Modern UI widgets for the desktop such as weather to make use of the apps on the desktop

Its funny people don't complain that when you press ALT+CTRL+Delete in Vista, 7 and 8, it takes you to a security screen instead of the task manager.

[Ian W]

its start screen, not a start menu, there is no button, and call **** by any name you want its still ****

Don't get technical. It has almost all of the features the Start menu had (unfortunately some nice ones are absent, but I'm sure this will be fixed soon enough).

And the hot corner serves the same purpose as the button, so you can't really (fairly) criticize it. Also, it being **** is just your opinion.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

metro doesn't exist, perhaps you mean Modern UI?

If Metro doesn't exist, then Modern UI doesn't, either.

"Metro" was only a codename that would be phased out prior to Windows 8's release.^[78] Following these reports, the terms "Modern UI-style apps",^[79] "Windows 8-style apps"^[80] and "Windows Store apps" began to be used by various Microsoft documents and material to refer to the new apps. In an interview on September 12, 2012, Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software division) confirmed that "Windows Store apps" would be the official term for the appsx

Currently, the term "Microsoft design language" is used on MSDN documentation when referring to the design language (since September 2012).^{[21][22][23][24]} Furthermore, in Microsoft's Build 2012 developer conference, the company also uses the "Microsoft design language" name.^[25][26]

[Yogurth]

A choice between full Desktop(including Start menu and Start button) and Tablet environment.

Choice to turn off Metro completely when using Desktop environment.

Ability to run Metro apps in windowed mode.

Ability to close metro apps with one click.

[nekrosoft13]

A choice between full Desktop(including Start menu and Start button) and Tablet environment.

Choice to turn off Metro completely when using Desktop environment.

Ability to run Metro apps in windowed mode.

Ability to close metro apps with one click.

amen

[Growled Member]

a start menu

start button

removal of metro

You can get the first two now with third party programs. I am using Classic Start Menu, myself, and never use the third.

[MrChris2000]

> 4 Use the charms bar and search when you are on the start screen, it's only a swipe from the right hand side

Well that's a real 'duh' moment, why hadn't I thought of that! Thanks.

Can we keep the start button/screen stuff out of this thread though, we get that there's gripes there and yes they do fall into the category of 'things we'd like to see', but lets take those as read and consider other aspects of Win8.

One of the annoyances for me that I've just found is that desktop screen scaling seems to apply quite broadly - I run at 150% (never thought I'd have to do that), but this breaks the UI of some apps/games launched from the desktop.

It would be nice to be able to say 'don't scale this app' somehow.

[buggingmenot]

-Boot to desktop

-UPDATED ICONS ON THE DESKTOP

-REMOVAL OF ALL AERO THEME VESTIGES (e.g., wmp, calculator, fax and scan, windows contacts)

-New default wallpaper

-Default metro color should be the blue that's to the right of the current default purple color

-The desktop window color should be a darker shade of blue, preferably the same color I suggested from above^

[nMIK-3]

1. A real Notification Center is the number one request on my personal list. It can host and handle all App notifications in one place along with App Specific Controls. Like the music player controls.

2. Better Program Defaults. I have to be able to handle all defaults from filetypes to web-links ex. twitter/youtube links to Open with a specific App if I want to instead of the browser and I want a proper program default manager with option to "Always Ask" and a list with supported programs for a specific file type or link

3. Metro App Manager. I need a more advance manager that list ALL Modern Apps, with all related info, with the ability to Clear Cache and reset App to factory Settings, Clear Defaults, and finally uninstall option.

[Jose_49]

How about a network and sharing center on the same metro bar? I have always hated how the metro bar didn't have "Open Network and Sharing Center" on it. I know they have their own reasons (to prevent back and forth to the desktop). It would be a nice touch having it, though.

I'd also like to include parallax scrolling inside Metro apps. It feels strange that Microsoft's apps do not work as fluid as the start screen.

The return of the jump lists could be nice.... Maybe on a sided screen?

Folders or some sort of grouping could be a huge boost to the start screen when there is a massive amount of tiles.

[f0rk_b0mb]

- Native Metro apps on the desktop

- New icons

- Stock apps ported fully over to metro and killed on the desktop

- The desktop control panel fully ported over to metro and killed - I'm tired of going back and fourth trying to find an option.

- Better stock metro apps

- Metro apps on multiple monitors

- ... the list goes on....

[fusi0n]

Wow real mature, haven't we beaten this to dead yet?

It is a request thread.. He requested what he would like to see.. Nothing immature about that.. Just because it doesn't fit into your ideology, doesn't make him immature.

[floopydoodle]

-UPDATED ICONS ON THE DESKTOP

-REMOVAL OF ALL AERO THEME VESTIGES (e.g., wmp, calculator, fax and scan, windows contacts)

Yes, yes, yes!

[Jose_49]

Ah, also, (this could be a reg hack soon), if MS won't put a small start screen, then put an option that would trigger the unobtrusive unified search MS has been working for by clicking the windows key .

[Denis W. Veteran]

Let desktop apps use broker applications which can take advantage of the Share charm.

I would definitely like to simply 'share' a file in File Explorer with the Mail or Twitter/Tweetro apps, instead of having to use the horrible Metro file picker to hunt down the file. I'm aware of the existence of a Metro file explorer in Blue but if it's anything like Metro Commander then file management via the desktop is still a must.

I would also like to easily share links from desktop browsers, instead of having to toggle from Desktop to Metro Chrome in order to share a link.