Rumor: Next Windows to Keep Modern UI, Live Tiles

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[citation][nom]A Bad Day[/nom]I don't use Linux because I don't feel like dealing with compatibility issues.And the business market share is very, very large. There's a reason why there are "Professional" and "Server" Windows editions.[/citation]

Yes, true, but in here, we're talking about the home user, not some large IT department for a megacorp.
 
[citation][nom]NewbieTechGodII[/nom]I find it very interesting indeed that anyone in here bashing Win8 gets a thumb's up, while the opposite is true for those of us actually using reason and logic.[/citation]

It's not terribly interesting. It's just a re-hash of the same discussion that happened when XP came out. No matter that XP was technologically way better then 98, because it looked different everyone called it a failure... Until they started using it a year or two later, and then hailed it as the best Windows ever. Some of these clowns no doubt STILL think of XP as the best version of Windows.

Just do what I do and see the entertainment value of it. It's like a real live zoo for neanderthals. Tom's gives them a treat (A story with Windows 8 in the title) and we get to watch them perform. Their grunts and other such attempts to communicate coherent thoughts are just so cute. 😀
 
I upgraded to win8 for 2 reasons.
1) upgrade from home to pro for $40 is a relative steal
2) I love some of the power user options built into win8 so that I do not have to rely on old/unsupported 3rd party software to get some neat features (specifically the multi-screen desktop options, and native image mounting for VHD/CDs, but others as well)

Truth be told, the new UI does not bother me much, and I even enjoy using it from time to time, but am glad that it sets out of the way unless wanted.

Anywho. I also picked up a lumia 920 a few weeks ago, and here are some of the things I would like to see move between the 2 platforms;
1) App portability. If it is on my phone, then it ought to be available on my PC, and make an option to automate this process. I understand it not working the other way around, but everything in WP8 ought to work in Win8 as well.
2) If I have syncing turned on with my liveID acct in win8 then when I change options on the PC (such as a color scheme) then it ought to change it on the phone also (and vice versa).
3) My phone should be my touch interface for the PC. The smartglass idea is a good idea for xbox... and an even better idea for the desktop. I don't want to touch my monitor of my desktop, but I will touch my phone all day. For most things keys and mice are simply better, but for some options touch could be nice. As an extenstion of #2, let's make the phone be the start screen for the desktop! When you enter into smartglass for your PC it should move all of the UI to the phone (start screen, charms, settings bar, top/bottom option bars, program switching, etc, and then treat the desktop display as... well a display, showing your app or desktop without interruption.
4) (and this will not happen) some sort of desktop emulation on the phone. I dont care if it is remoting in, or emulating, or what, but there are some instances when on the go that I would like to have access to some aspect to my desktop. Tieing the feature to similar versions of the phone and PC OSs would ensure that I keep my desktop up to date every 2 years when I get a new phone.
5) NFC for the PC. My wife and I use NFC all the time now to xfer pics between our phones and I would love to be able to have an upright dock which has an NFC tag and wireless charging. When I plop the phone down on the dock it automagically starts syncing the new pics and media from the phone to the desktop, while the desktop charges the phone.
6) (another one that will not happen) Better voice control for the PC! I demand this! While not always appropriate, I love the idea of being able to tell my computer to do stuff verbally. But this crap control provided by the winXP style voice navigation is not the way to do it. WP7/8 proves that MS has some really good voice recognition software, so lets take it a step further and integrate it into everything! Just like google search has a voice input option, lets add voice input for just about anything.
Taking it a step further, lets make a recognition engine that can understand complex language. The phone may not have enough horsepower to do this in a timely fashion, but my desktop has 8 cores that spend most of their time waiting for something to do. I ought to be able to say things like "open Netflix" and have the PC understand that I need it to launch my browser, and go to netflix's website. Or to say "Continue watching Bones" and it ought to know what bones is (a TV series), what outlet I like to watch it on (netflix, or an AVI, or the Fox website, or some other medium), and be able to pick up where I left off on it. I do not expect the computer to know what I am talking about the first time I say the command, but as I use the computer I would like for it to know what I do (without reporting my activities to anyone), how I do it, and begin to recognize things based on my habits. Like any good doss command it should have a really good default, and then a slew of addendums that can be added if the user want to
This is the Future dammit! And I want Stark's computer!
7) More integration between Apps. While I found it dizying at first, I have really come to love how WP8 moves between apps. You can go from a contact, to a FB conversation, to a web link, to youtube very fluidly. Each step is a link from unrelated media, and yet it flows seamlessly. Some bits (like FB chat) works within the WP8 chat client, but when a link is posted it immediately takes you to the site, and if the site requires PDF or youtube viewer, then it automatically moves to that without hesitation. Win8 does this a little bit in metro, but I would like to see more of it.
8) (another thing that will not happen), windowed apps for the x86 versions of win8. Snap works just fine on a tablet... but it is not so great for a desktop with a large screen. My screen is 1920x1200 (and I hope to have a bigger one soon), apps require a minimum of 1024x768 to run... so lets let apps have an option to run in a 1024x768 window on the desktop! Especially games! There is no need to run solitaire or minesweeper full screen, and snapped it becomes unplayable even on my big screen, so there is no good way for me to play cards while watching a show. It is hardly a 'dealbreaker' issue... but come on! If you have a large or high resolution screen metro makes less and less sense. I completely understand the move towards metro, and am hardly against it, but let's add an element of common sense and flexibility to the new interface.
9) adjustable snap positions. The default ones kinda stink. At least give me 25, 33, 50, 66, and 75% snap points, but a fluid user defined snap point is what I really want.
 
[citation][nom]super d spamalot[/nom]It's not terribly interesting. It's just a re-hash of the same discussion that happened when XP came out. No matter that XP was technologically way better then 98, because it looked different everyone called it a failure... Until they started using it a year or two later, and then hailed it as the best Windows ever. Some of these clowns no doubt STILL think of XP as the best version of Windows. Just do what I do and see the entertainment value of it. It's like a real live zoo for neanderthals. Tom's gives them a treat (A story with Windows 8 in the title) and we get to watch them perform. Their grunts and other such attempts to communicate coherent thoughts are just so cute.[/citation]

How is windows 98 much different from windows xp in terms of the UI? Not to mention you could put it in classic mode? So your statement is quite useless.

As for people making a big deal about their 800+$ computer well i understand maybe others don't care about it but some do. Not only that but its quite easy to understand why people hate metro i think they go to far.


 
[citation][nom]super d spamalot[/nom]It's not terribly interesting. It's just a re-hash of the same discussion that happened when XP came out. No matter that XP was technologically way better then 98, because it looked different everyone called it a failure... Until they started using it a year or two later, and then hailed it as the best Windows ever. Some of these clowns no doubt STILL think of XP as the best version of Windows. Just do what I do and see the entertainment value of it. It's like a real live zoo for neanderthals. Tom's gives them a treat (A story with Windows 8 in the title) and we get to watch them perform. Their grunts and other such attempts to communicate coherent thoughts are just so cute.[/citation]

Oh yeah, I remember all that too...the biggest bitches were that the XP kernel was too NT and wouldn't allow older apps to run; it ran a 'fake' DOS; SP2 'broke' everything with its security model; certain-sized hard drives wouldn't work without going through hoops first; it looked like Fischer-Price designed the UI, yadda yadda yadda...the list could go on forever.

And let's not forget when Vista came out. Now with that certain criticisms were justified because XP and 7 were very different and there were big compatibility issues. SP1 fixed just about everything but it's clear MS has moved on from it. 7 is very good, but I feel that 8 brings it up a notch or two, though it would be difficult justifying moving from 7 to 8.
 


Why would anyone want to run XP in classic mode? Who would do such a stupid thing like that? What would be the point?
 
I don't think this report is accurate. This customization ability for the metro UI will probably be a patch or SP1 for 8, not the successor (Windows 9). And it won't help sales. But however slowly, Microsoft will eventually come to their senses. As the fix is easy enough, Windows 7 SP2 will be called Windows 9.

-----------------------------

Imagine the future of touch. Some type of holographic screen, with advanced kinetic technology - tracking your finger poking around at the air... Try it... poke around at the air. It's BS, do it for any length of time (let alone a whole work day) and you get a strain injury.

The PC future is the same as we have now. A keyboard, mouse, tower and screen. Harddrive space will reach into the 10's of TBs and high resolution LCD's will finally arrive. Seriously we've been stuck at ~100 ppi forever. Where is my (5760x3600) 280+ ppi 24" monitor and 250 watt - 7 nanometre GPU?
 


Go build your stupid monitor yourself...see how easy it is. And you obviously don't know a thing about resolutions or the trade-offs concerning them.

As far as SP2 goes, forget it- I believe MS has already said no to that.
 
[citation][nom]NewbieTechGodII[/nom]Why would anyone want to run XP in classic mode? Who would do such a stupid thing like that? What would be the point?[/citation]

Because the computer is too slow to handle the default mode?
 


Sounds like a cheap-ass who needs to get his PC upgraded.

And BTW, that's a really good point: Every release of Windows, well since '95, required upgrades. But if you could run Vista, you can still run 8 pretty much full-tilt. If you have a machine built for 95/98, can you say the same for 7? I don't think so, Tim.
 
I'm hardly surprised Microsoft is doubling down on proven failed technology. They didn't get the message with Windows Phone. Now they're not getting the message with Windows 8. Ballmer runs one thick-headed crew. He needs to go. Microsoft needs a leadership change or else they're going to keep pushing stuff that people don't want.

I'm a developer, power user, and content creator. I need my computer to get stuff done. Windows 8 does not help me get stuff done faster than Windows 7. In fact, the constant switching back and forth between Metro and desktop drives me crazy and makes my workflow slow down. It also brings me nightmares when I'm gift new computers to people who request to have 7 installed shortly after giving 8 a chance and hating it.

All Microsoft is going to accomplish if they keep going down this road is to push me to Mac or Linux. I use Linux all the time at work. I'd rather not use it at home because of all the compatibility issues and tweaking necessary for regular use. That leaves me, reluctantly, starting to seriously consider Apple since they recognize that the desktop and laptop environment does not function in the same way a tablet or phone environment does. Microsoft needs to wake up and stop hurting the desktop and laptop market in favor of chasing tablets.
 
@NewbieTech

The high resolutions should come. Phones are well past 280 ppi and Apple has some laptops at a good resolution. Although large 24" screens are a ways off and may not be 16:10.
 


And do tell, Mr. Power User, exactly how does Win8 FORCE you to keep swapping between desktop and Metro? The only time I see it is when I first log-on and then click the desktop tile. Poof- there goes Metro.
 
[citation][nom]NewbieTechGodII[/nom]And do tell, Mr. Power User, exactly how does Win8 FORCE you to keep swapping between desktop and Metro? The only time I see it is when I first log-on and then click the desktop tile. Poof- there goes Metro.[/citation]



Every time you hit the goddamn Start key on your keyboard out of habit. That's when.
 


There was an article I read somewhere a few weeks ago about using doing just that. If you're at a desk with a full-on PC in front if you with a keyboard and mouse, why the hell would you need or want to ignore them and use the computer in the manner you suggest? WHY? No, instead, it is nice to have a touchscreen to use on occasion, but not full time in that environment.

For a product like, Surface, if you wanted to use it strictly as a touch device you could...just lay it flat on your lap or on a table/desk. Now doing some things without a mouse or keyboard could be more difficult, but it's not impossible (and you could always use a stylus to get to the non-touch designed apps).
 
"Microsoft is shooting for yearly Windows updates for a low price rather than wait every three or four years to release an upgrade."
Please don't do this Microsoft, Windows needs the 3-4 years for quality testing and ironing out all the bugs.
 


Why bother? Every new release brings new bugs and we discover certain features to be zapped. WMC has a HUGE thread over at the answers site; apparently it doesn't like to play movies to the XBOX anymore (correctly). 17 pages and I think it had two threads going.
 


So what's the problem? Doesn't your keyboard SW give you the option to disable the Windows key? My Logitech does.

And if you do hit it by accident, hit it again (or the ESC key); both will return you to your previous screen.
 
[citation][nom]bigdragon[/nom]I'm hardly surprised Microsoft is doubling down on proven failed technology. They didn't get the message with Windows Phone. Now they're not getting the message with Windows 8. Ballmer runs one thick-headed crew. He needs to go. Microsoft needs a leadership change or else they're going to keep pushing stuff that people don't want.I'm a developer, power user, and content creator. I need my computer to get stuff done. Windows 8 does not help me get stuff done faster than Windows 7. In fact, the constant switching back and forth between Metro and desktop drives me crazy and makes my workflow slow down. It also brings me nightmares when I'm gift new computers to people who request to have 7 installed shortly after giving 8 a chance and hating it.All Microsoft is going to accomplish if they keep going down this road is to push me to Mac or Linux. I use Linux all the time at work. I'd rather not use it at home because of all the compatibility issues and tweaking necessary for regular use. That leaves me, reluctantly, starting to seriously consider Apple since they recognize that the desktop and laptop environment does not function in the same way a tablet or phone environment does. Microsoft needs to wake up and stop hurting the desktop and laptop market in favor of chasing tablets.[/citation]
Keep in mind, future home computing is rapidly changing. Us enthusiasts are a dying breed. They are attempting, and rightfully so, to become a touch screen leader. That is where your average home user is going. MS doesn't want stick with a dying platform. They are also attempting to not have fragmentation in their OS.

Don't expect MS will go back to a Win 7 style desktop. They may make it easier to customize, and give users the ability to use the desktop easier, but this modern UI is here to stay. They have to, or they'll quickly find themselves out of the market completely.
 
I think Microsoft will eventually cave and allow choosing a default environment (desktop or Metro) and running Metro apps windowed on desktop. They'll do this either when enough users start using Metro (fat chance), or when they figure out we can't be forced into their walled garden.

PC is maybe diminishing in importance, since most users don't actually need one for Facebook and Twitter and whatever it is they do, but that's no reason for Microsoft to ruin it for the rest of us.
 
[citation][nom]BigMack70[/nom]Dear Valve,Please get Steam and all relevant games running on Linux so I can stop using this Windows garbage.Sincerely,-Every PC gamer[/citation]

Valve has zero control over developers doing that.

How ever Microsoft can easy just pay developers to never do that, forcing the switch with gamers. I would rather stop gaming then game on consoles so I would make that switch.
 
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