Windows 10 and the state of "Modern"/UI

[Ian S.]

So after playing around with the new Technical Preview, I have come to a couple of conclusions. First and foremost, the main thing here is it is a PREVIEW so nothing is final.

 

However, I noticed a couple of things. 

 

• The Taskbar now prominently shows on the Start Screen and is more pesky then on 8.1 Update
• Charms is no longer accessible through mouse (don't know if this is just me)
• Right click on the Start screen, and you get a new settings option in the right-click menu that opens the start settings
• Bing Apps (now MSN) have smaller buttons within the apps and the text is smaller in the weather app
• The updated MSN apps feel more crowded than before
• Google Chrome (which runs on desktop mode) has an extra bar along the side due to the Modernization of the window borders, thinner borders
• Apps cannot be switched to full screen mode. 
• Without the App Switcher, switching between Modern UI apps is clunky with the new Task View
• I AM liking the multi-desktop feature though
• I cannot resize a Modern UI app vertically to less than 2/3 of the screen vertically
• Especially on the SP3, the new experience is less than satisfiable
• The icons are some Modern, mostly Vista, some XP and some 95/98 STILL
• the repetitive apps are really shown as they are now side by side (calculator)
• The gesture for closing an app quickly (swipe down) is gone 

[trek]

I hated metro in windows 8 on my desktops so the changes in the tech preview have made that experience much better. However as you say, the touch friendlyness has definitely gone down. I'm afraid to load it on my SP3 as yet since it's obviously not finished. From what I've seen with my VM, on my tablet I will miss the quick swiping left thumb move and the swipe down to close.

 

Those may be reinstated as they finish work on the continuum feature where it switches between desktop-first and tablet-first depending on the attached peripherals. But this is the way it should have always been. Context-aware I mean; and not trying to forcefeed metro and the start screen on everyone. That has backfired badly for them obviously.

[Alwaysonacoffebreak]

What I kind of dislike is the "PC settings" throws you into a fullscreen "modern" mode..

[LimeMaster]

• Charms is no longer accessible through mouse (don't know if this is just me)

You're right! Bits of Charms are gone even when the Start Screen is enabled. This means that certain personalization settings cannot be accessed to change logon/Start Screen colors.

[George P Global Moderator]

What I kind of dislike is the "PC settings" throws you into a fullscreen "modern" mode..

 

Do you run it in a VM by any chance or did you install it on a PC without touch?   I have it in a VM on vbox and the input settings is for "tablet" or something along those lines.   I think if the system sees that you have touch as a option it will default modern apps to full screen when you first open them.   At least now we can change that and move them around like other desktop apps.

 

Anyways, on topic, I voted no to both because they were clear cut about the nature of this preview build, it's for core keyboard and desktop users and not for touch users.  JoeB was clear about who this targeted, and besides we know the touch first parts are coming, they're not in this build though, heck Continuum isn't even in this build.

[(Account no longer active)]

'The icons are some Modern, mostly Vista, some XP and some 95/98 STILL'

Yes, they STILL are! :laugh: In the early days of using XP, I used to change all icons to Windows 98's variants, and even go to the extent of replacing XP sounds with 98's! Now that's CLASSIC.

[SionicIon]

 

Apps cannot be switched to full screen mode. 

 

 

Yes that can actually be done by using the charms menu in modern apps. In a modern app's window titlebar, there should be a "..." button, click that and then choose Full Screen.

[TruckWEB]

Lots of "modern" apps don't like to be used inside a window, mostly games, they don't redraw correctly to account for the window size.  Devs will have to upgrade all their modern apps for Win10.

 

And yes, lots of swipe gesture are gone in this preview, hope they come back soon.  Won't be installing this on my SP3 because of that.

[George P Global Moderator]

I'm sure developers will just have to run their app through VS and make some minor changes so that they can better support windowed modes in 10, I don't think lots of work will be needed.

[Sszecret Veteran]

 

• Apps cannot be switched to full screen mode. 

 

 

Actually, yes they can. Click the '...' that's to the right of the App icon in the titlebar. The last option is 'Full Screen'. :)

[FloatingFatMan]

Stop worrying about the Charms bar, that's almost certainly going away once they finish the UI (which is nowhere near complete at this stage).

[xankazo]

There are MANY rough edges and I've submitted my fair share of suggestions to the Feedback Program, but most of the changes are really welcomed.

[DConnell Member]

This is unfinished and focused on the desktop UI side of things. I'm not going to draw any conclusions about Win 10's incarnation of Modern based on this preview.

 

Stop worrying about the Charms bar, that's almost certainly going away once they finish the UI (which is nowhere near complete at this stage).

 

And that's what worries me. I'd prefer the Charms bar be made useful on the desktop side, not removed. How can a central control panel for settings, printing etc. not be a good thing?

[G0ldenheaven]

 

So after playing around with the new Technical Preview, I have come to a couple of conclusions. First and foremost, the main thing here is it is a PREVIEW so nothing is final.

 

However, I noticed a couple of things. 

 

• The Taskbar now prominently shows on the Start Screen and is more pesky then on 8.1 Update
• Charms is no longer accessible through mouse (don't know if this is just me)
• Right click on the Start screen, and you get a new settings option in the right-click menu that opens the start settings
• Bing Apps (now MSN) have smaller buttons within the apps and the text is smaller in the weather app
• The updated MSN apps feel more crowded than before
• Google Chrome (which runs on desktop mode) has an extra bar along the side due to the Modernization of the window borders, thinner borders
• Apps cannot be switched to full screen mode. 
• Without the App Switcher, switching between Modern UI apps is clunky with the new Task View
• I AM liking the multi-desktop feature though
• I cannot resize a Modern UI app vertically to less than 2/3 of the screen vertically
• Especially on the SP3, the new experience is less than satisfiable
• The icons are some Modern, mostly Vista, some XP and some 95/98 STILL
• the repetitive apps are really shown as they are now side by side (calculator)
• The gesture for closing an app quickly (swipe down) is gone 

 

Soo heres my 2 cents on some of your points:

 

Charms is no longer accessible through mouse (don't know if this is just me) > Although its enabled by default charms mouse acessibility isnt working (Feedback it if you havent done so) and Windows Key + C will have to do for now.

 

Apps cannont be switched to full-screen, Unless your talking about normal apps which is normal behaviour for them not to go full-screen, metro apps can be set to full-screen by pressing the Wonderfull new Button ... right after the apps icon on the oposite side of minimize,maximize and close.

 

As a unfinished software its supposed to have its "new experiences" as you call them less than satisfiable especially considering it still has a full year at least in development.

[Dashel]

Really hope they don't throw out the baby with the bathwater of Metro.  I want 8.1 on touch and WinOne on k+m.  I want Charms on touch, but not on the desktop.  Its ok to be split-brained if you handle the transition effectively which is where they failed before.

 

Do we really need a poll for what should be self-evident?

[Dot Matrix]

Stop worrying about the Charms bar, that's almost certainly going away once they finish the UI (which is nowhere near complete at this stage).

It's evolving, but it won't be going away, according to Joe Bielfiore.

[+Warwagon MVC]

It's evolving, but it won't be going away, according to Joe Bielfiore.

 

So the hidden black charms bar along the right side of the screen will be returning in Windows 10?

[Dot Matrix]

So the hidden black charms bar along the right side of the screen will be returning in Windows 10?

Returning? It's still there. Press Win+C. ;)

[+Warwagon MVC]

Returning? It's still there. Press Win+C. ;)

 

Accessible only via a hot key means it's gone for the average user. I would say most average users didn't use it anyway because it was hidden. Most users who have windows 8 and I walk then through something over the phone and walk them through activating the charms bar have no idea what i'm talking about. I usually have them Do Windows key + C because they always screw up when trying to activate it with their mouse.

[Max Norris]

So the hidden black charms bar along the right side of the screen will be returning in Windows 10?

Would make sense for the mobile devices, easier to access, maybe after Continuum makes it in or the CP? *shrug*

As far as the poll goes.. Eh I wouldn't say crippled (in 8.x), but definitely needed refinement yet. So far, on the desktop side, it's a huge improvement, a bit more work needed yet personally.. as long as they keep it friendly for touch for the mobile devices, it'll be pretty slick.

[Dot Matrix]

Accessible only via a hot key means it's gone for the average user.

For right now. But consumer features are coming later, at which point, I'm sure you'll see it again. Right now, Windows 10 only has about 10% of its over all planned feature set.

[+Warwagon MVC]

For right now. But consumer features are coming later, at which point, I'm sure you'll see it again. Right now, Windows 10 only has about 10% of its over all planned feature set.

 

I think only a few consumers even knew the charms bar was ever in windows 8.

[Studio384]

Many of the points you noted will be fixed as soon as Continuum is enabled. However, I can assure you that the interface of the MSN Apps is identical to that of the MSN Apps on Windows 8.1.

[Ice_Blue]

Slightly OT:

I wonder if Chris Pirillo will do a new video with his dad.

[Max Norris]

I think only a few consumers even knew the charms bar was ever in windows 8.

Shoot saw tons of complaints about accidentally triggering the thing when 8.0 was released.. wasn't hard to find, even when you didn't mean to. (Never mind it flat out shows you how to do it the first time using your system, reeeealy hard to miss.)