Windows Blue - Confirmed as 8.1 and Free!

[Arthur]

An interesting way to discover some of the new features in 8.1...

 

Windows 8.1 developer APIs reveal: Bluetooth 4.0 support, HDR Cameras, super high-res screens, VPN support, scanner integration, magnetic card reader, barcode scanners, multiple screens for windows store apps, using any USB device from windows store apps and more.

 

Windows 8.1 images contain WinMD files describing their embedded Windows 8.1 developers APIs. It’s possible to get to Win 8.1’s WinMD files and then compare them to the existing Windows 8 RTM WinMD files. This entire article is based upon using Reflection to see those API differences.

[Arthur]

Coming in 8.1: Boot to Desktop, Start Button and More! « WinSupersite

 

Boot to desktop

In the so-called Milestone Preview (MP) version of Windows 8.1, which I know was issued internally at Microsoft about two weeks ago and could be released to the public as a “release preview,” Microsoft has added the option to boot directly to the Windows 8.x desktop.

 

Start button

... the Start button will be enabled—on the desktop only—by default. It will look just like the Start charm in Windows 8 and be positioned in the same place as it was in Windows 7, but will of course trigger the new Start screen when clicked, and not the legacy Start menu. When you mouse into the lower left corner of the screen in any “Metro” experience, you’ll see the new Start button instead of the Windows 8 Start tip.

 

But here’s the trick: If you do click this button, it will remain displayed on the desktop going forward. If you don’t, and instead use a hardware Windows key, the Start button will disappear and things will work as they do in Windows 8. You can of course manually enable and disable this button as you prefer.

 

Start Screen

... users will also be able to replace the stock Start screen with the All Apps view, where you see tile-like icons for every installed application, but no live updating functionality. Users will be able to arrange the icons by usage, allowing the most commonly used apps to be first. This view is the closest users will get to the Windows 7 Start Menu, even though it will be full-screen, instead of a list.

 

Common backgrounds

Windows 8.1 will also apparently offer the ability to set the desktop wallpaper as the Start screen background too

Edited May 29, 2013 by Arthur

[Arthur]

For those who really miss the Start button...

 

http://i.imgur.com/SVFWvfH.jpg

 

Source: Windows Experience Blog

[synaesthesia]

because the 1/2 built into keyboards as standard just isn't enough, eh?

[Arthur]

Here it is. The thing everyone has been waiting for!

 

http://i.imgur.com/L2h1sl3.jpg

 

because the 1/2 built into keyboards as standard just isn't enough, eh?

Nope!

Edited May 29, 2013 by Arthur

[synaesthesia]

Here it is. The thing everyone has been waiting for!

 

http://i.imgur.com/L2h1sl3.jpg

 

 

Nope!

 

Well, "more fool on you" to anyone daft enough to run Windows on a Mac

 

 

Anyway, minus the wallpaper my windows 8.0 already looks exactly like that and boots to desktop Thanks, start8!

Edited May 29, 2013 by synaesthesia

[Michael]

I don't think Microsoft have quite got it right - clicking the Start button will open the Start Screen?

 

Why don't they just restore the Start Menu properly (Windows 7's), but have a static shortcut for the Start Screen on the Start Menu, if users wish to choose it. This would offer the best of both worlds.

[Arthur]

clicking the Start button will open the Start Screen?

A good compromise don't you think, although it might confuse a small number of people because the button won't be visible when they venture in Metro-land (unless you move your mouse into the corner). Still, you can't please everyone.

 

Why don't they just restore the Start Menu properly (Windows 7's)

Because it isn't suitable for high PPI screens (see links below) and lacks the ability to display dynamic information as live tiles can (among many other things).

 

http://i.imgur.com/rcydixw.jpg

 

• High-PPI Toshiba Kirabook goes after Retina MacBook Pro
  
• HP Envy TouchSmart 14 Laptop has a 3,200 x 1,800 Screen
  
• Samsung's New 13-Inch Display has a Crazy 3,200 x 1,800 Pixel Resolution
  

This would offer the best of both worlds.

We've been stuck with the same Start Menu interface for 18 years! It's time to move on from that. Think about how long Microsoft has to support each version of Windows for (10 years!) and then look at how things change in a similar time-frame.

 

http://i.imgur.com/kPc06PH.jpg

[Michael]

I just feel as we're in a transition period, it's best to have both options. You then please customers who want to use Metro fully, customers who want the Start Menu/Desktop experience and users who want both. It's a no brainer to me.

 

The fact developers have gone to the effort to restore the Start Menu, as with Classic Shell, it's clearly what users want. Win 8 is better optimised than Win 7. I can't fault it here, it's just the interface that needs sorting as well as the GPO options.

[Jamo]

A good compromise don't you think, although it might confuse a small number of people because the button won't be visible when they venture in Metro-land (unless you move your mouse into the corner). Still, you can't please everyone.

 

 

Because it isn't suitable for high PPI screens (see links below) and lacks the ability to display dynamic information as live tiles can (among many other things).

 

http://i.imgur.com/rcydixw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kPc06PH.jpg

 

• High-PPI Toshiba Kirabook goes after Retina MacBook Pro
  
• HP Envy TouchSmart 14 Laptop has a 3,200 x 1,800 Screen
  
• Samsung's New 13-Inch Display has a Crazy 3,200 x 1,800 Pixel Resolution
  

 

We've been stuck with the same Start Menu interface for 18 years! It's time to move on from that. Think about how long Microsoft has to support each version of Windows for (10 years!) and then look at how things change in a similar time-frame.

 

 

High PPI screens being the reason? Isn't that what MS came out with the DPI settings for? The solution to having buttons which are too small is to..... make them bigger. Shocker.

 

Using it on server 2012, trying to RDP onto a box with no start menu is such a pain, hovering across the few pixels in the corner just seems like a bug to be honest, such poor user experience, I really cannot express how bad I think the GUI is! It is unfortunate as the dedupe + native NIC teaming is brilliant!!

 

Also why move on from something that works? Innovation for the sake of innovation is dumb.

[Arthur]

High PPI screens being the reason? Isn't that what MS came out with the DPI settings for? The solution to having buttons which are too small is to..... make them bigger. Shocker.

No. High PPI screens aren't the sole reason. Many desktop programs look fuzzy when scaled up, whereas Metro apps are fine. Chrome being a good example of the former and that clearly isn't ideal, is it? Google will no doubt update their browser in due course (like they did for OS X), but many Windows programs will never be updated.

 

http://i.imgur.com/UjPfRgq.png

 

^ Click to make bigger.

 

Using it on Server 2012, trying to RDP onto a box with no start menu is such a pain, hovering across the few pixels in the corner just seems like a bug to be honest, such poor user experience

Make the RDP connection full screen and then you can use the Windows key to open the Start Screen. Alternatively press Alt + Home, click the triangle on the connection bar (as shown below) or use RSAT. There are lots of options.

 

http://i.imgur.com/BjB4j.png

 

The Start button is also going to be added back to Windows Server 2012 R2 so you won't be without it for long.

 

Innovation for the sake of innovation is dumb.

Innovate or die as the saying goes. Apple, Google and Canonical aren't standing still or catering to the whims of people who refuse to learn anything new.

[Arthur]

The fact developers have gone to the effort to restore the Start Menu, as with Classic Shell, it's clearly what users want.

Classic Shell was originally written for Windows 7 which obviously didn't have a Start Screen.

 

Developers are creating Start Menu's for Windows 8 because it's an extremely easy way to make money. If I could code, I would make one too, sell it for £1 and then retire after I became a millionaire.

[Jamo]

Innovate or die?

 

Microsoft have gone down then route of innovate and die.

 

Full screen RDP is great, but what if I want to run in a window for any reason....

 

There is just so much poor thought in this product I can't understand why anyone is defending it

[Roberto]

We've been stuck with the same Start Menu interface for 18 years! It's time to move on from that. Think about how long Microsoft has to support each version of Windows for (10 years!) and then look at how things change in a similar time-frame.

 

There's nothing wrong with moving on from the start menu. I'm comfortable with it being time for a change. I just think the change should be an improvement on what it's replacing, and so far the start screen doesn't meet that criteria, at least for "traditional" computer use scenarios.

[Michael]

Classic Shell was originally written for Windows 7 which obviously didn't have a Start Screen.

 

Developers are creating Start Menu's for Windows 8 because it's an extremely easy way to make money. If I could code, I would make one too, sell it for £1 and then retire after I became a millionaire.

 

But if you take money out the equation, they developed it because users want it - and they offer users to make a donation. If Metro does turn out to be great, it will sell itself and people will use it as they see the advantages. It just seems ridiculous Microsoft doesn't want customers to use Win 8 unless they're using Metro! Why do they care so much? Making it the default is fair enough, but not allowing users to customise the interface to their needs is backwards thinking. This is why there's a lot downgrading or people downloading apps like Classic Shell so it works for them.

 

Microsoft got it right with XP - the new Start Menu, some loved, some hated, but you could restore it to the Classic Start Menu. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe XP is Microsoft's best ever selling OS. I do believe it's because of silly, but small options like this that make all the difference.

[localzuk]

The whole argument that the original start menu wouldn't work with high PPI screens is a silly one. Microsoft could have made one which works with it. The issue is basically one of vector vs bitmap graphics...

 

No, Microsoft have done this simply because they want a slice of the walled garden "app store" approach to doing things.

 

They just haven't yet put any effort into dealing with business requirements.

[Devontechie]

First look at some of the new features in Windows 8.1

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151522560237669.1073741839.30968512668&type=1

 

Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

[nickbro]

I would deploy windows 8 if you could lock the home screen down more, configure it so specific apps are in specific places, and, obviously, stop the little devils changing the background. Love it on my desktop and tablet. You do get used to the new start screen, the only times I'm using a Modern app is for school emails (OWA Anywhere doesn't work through our LA's reverse proxy), and occasionally the people app for updating twitter. I use a lot more apps on my tablet, but that's because it's a tablet. *enter key still doesn't work in Metro IE*. The new features that are coming for Windows 8.1 look really good, but there is still a way to go, more GPO options please.

[arron]

I would deploy windows 8 if you could lock the home screen down more, configure it so specific apps are in specific places

 

That can be done. You have to have a folder that all computers can access (like netlogon) and then some xcopy + group policy file permissions and you have a start menu that only you can modify which updates on user login.

[nickbro]

Hmm, thanks for the info @arron, will have to have another play around when I get some free time

[arron]

Here's what we use to control the windows 8 start menu layout..

 

Startup:

 

 

c:\windows\system32\attrib.exe "c:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" -R

echo f | xcopy "\\server\netlogon\start menus\Pinned_Items\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" "c:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" /D /Y

c:\windows\system32\attrib.exe "c:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" +R

 

 

Users GPO:

 

 

administrive templates -> start menu and taskbar -> Remove drag-and-drop and context menus on the Start Menu

 

 

user registry entry:

 

 

key path - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

name - Allow start menu updating

type - REG_SZ

data - c:\windows\system32\attrib.exe "%USERPROFILE%\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\appsfolder.itemdata-ms" -R

 

 

logon script:

 

 

copy "\\server\netlogon\start menus\Pinned_Items\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" "%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms" /Y

 

 

 

Now i shall explain it all.

 

The startup block copies the network version of your start menu layout to the "default user" in windows. This means that any newly created profiles will get this layout applied. The issue is that windows always replaces this file when it creates a new user, so you have to set the file as read only to prevent this. That is why the startup block removes the read only, updates the file, then marks it as read only again. Note: if you have not run this command then you will not see the file as it does not exist by default.

 

The user GPO setting is what prevents the user from being able to edit the layout, however it also means no "run as administrator" option on the start menu. If you want to prevent the start menu background being changed, i believe you have to disable control panel access.

 

The registry setting removes the read only setting from the copy of the file within the users profile (as when windows copies the file over, the permissions are maintained), allowing you to maintain the layout via the following login script.

 

The login script copies the current layout to users profiles so they always have the up to date version on login.

 

 

To create/update the layout you just have a test computer in an OU with the "Remove drag-and-drop and context menus on the Start Menu" setting disabled so you can edit the layout. Then you just log off, browse to the user profile of the account you used and copy the file from the profile to your network location.

 

Also, incase any of you using roaming profiles have noticed that the file is stored in the "local" folder, windows copies it to the roaming folder on logoff and then back again on logon.