Is the Metro interface doomed?

[seawolf]

Mozilla pulls the plug on 'Metro' mode Firefox browser for Windows 8 | The Verge

 

Mozilla has announced that they will not be proceeding with the release of a Metro version of Firefox. There stats show very low use of Metro resulting in great difficulties in adequately testing a Metro version of Firefox.

 

This and the cries for a return of the traditional Windows start menu and desktop mode make me think the Metro interface may not be long for this world unless MS can really turn it around in Wimdows 9. If Windows 9 removed Metro though and we were left with all of the improvements 8.1 has over 7, I imagine Windows 9 would be wildly successful on the desktop.

 

Thoughts?

[Arthur]

Their stats show very low use of Metro resulting in great difficulties in adequately testing a Metro version of Firefox.

I was waiting for a stable version before trying it out. I guess a lot of other people were too?

 

Mozilla has a habit of cancelling projects (or putting them on hold) and then coming back to them at a later date. e.g.

 

• Electrolysis project on hold / Mozilla may bring the multi-process architecture Electrolysis (e10s) back from the dead
  
• Mozilla quietly kills Firefox 64-bit for Windows, despite an estimated 50% of testers using it / Mozilla backpedals on Firefox 64-bit for Windows, will keep nightly builds coming after all
  

I bet within the next two or three years Mozilla will start working on Metro Firefox again, especially if Firefox OS has limited success.

 

the cries for a return of the traditional Windows start menu and desktop mode make me think the Metro interface may not be long for this world

There are also cries from a small minority of Firefox users for Mozilla to scrap Firefox's forthcoming Australis UX. It doesn't mean to say the most vocal users are always right however (the same applies to Windows users too).

 

I am looking forward to when Sir Jonathan Ive redesigns OS X to look more like iOS 7 - it's only a matter of time!

 

Some Apple users are going to go absolutely mental, simply because it's different to what they are used to!

 

Edited March 15, 2014 by Arthur

[robjduk]

In all honestly I can see the desktop going over the metro style. I like the metro style and think it shows up just how cluttered the start menu was to the point where when using 7, I now hit start and just type to search the program rather than use the start menu (a sort of omg what cavemen we were back in 2010 using this interface).

 

As for Firefox pulling out.... in my opinion, who the hell uses Firefox anyway over Chrome or IE 10/11?

[mattx]

In all honestly I can see the desktop going over the metro style. I like the metro style and think it shows up just how cluttered the start menu was to the point where when using 7, I now hit start and just type to search the program rather than use the start menu (a sort of omg what cavemen we were back in 2010 using this interface).

 

As for Firefox pulling out.... in my opinion, who the hell uses Firefox anyway over Chrome or IE 10/11?

 

I do ( well did ) - Aurora on my Mac as it's easier on the Battery. I will never understand why it drains it so quick using Chrome. Also started to us Aurora on my Win7 but flip to Chrome for when testing page updates I've done and also some aspects of what the developers have updated. IE is great, great for downloading another browser.

[seawolf]

As for Firefox pulling out.... in my opinion, who the hell uses Firefox anyway over Chrome or IE 10/11?

 

The numbers show that Firefox still has 26.9% of the worldwide browser market as of January 2104 and 17.68% of the worldwide market share on Windows computers. As Chrome has a 16.84% market share on Windows, it is beaten by Firefox on Windows. So, who indeed.

 

Browser Statistics

IE10 Falls Below IE9, Firefox Down, Chrome Up

[SYNACK]

Firefox is terrible now, we have ripped it off all our machines thanks to its mental footprint and its dirty Linux habit of spewing a billion tiny long named files to the roaming user profile by default.

[seawolf]

Firefox is terrible now, we have ripped it off all our machines thanks to its mental footprint and its dirty Linux habit of spewing a billion tiny long named files to the roaming user profile by default.

 

Firefox works better than Chrome in a locked down, managed environment. The Chrome autoupdate feature is a nightmare in a managed environment both for Windows 7 and Macs. We use the Frontmotion community edition of Firefox (with the icon changed to look like the normal Firefox browser). We had lots of issues with Chrome early last year, none at all with Frontmotion since making the switch.

 

We don't use roaming profiles, so can't comment on what it does there.

[SYNACK]

We used the front motion one, never worked well with the GPO templates, still wanted filthy text files twiddles with and spewed rubbish as above. Chrome by comparison behaves fine and encapsulated the disgusting adobe flash like IE11 on w8 which is a major given how terrible that is.

[seawolf]

We used the front motion one, never worked well with the GPO templates, still wanted filthy text files twiddles with and spewed rubbish as above. Chrome by comparison behaves fine and encapsulated the disgusting adobe flash like IE11 on w8 which is a major given how terrible that is.

 

Frontmotion packages up Adobe Flash now as well, which is good. Haven't had any issues with it although like I said we don't use roaming profiles. Chrome gave us all sorts of fits in early 2013 though and I was having the same feelings towards it that you're having for Firefox right now.

[SYNACK]

Frontmotion packages up Adobe Flash now as well, which is good. Haven't had any issues with it although like I said we don't use roaming profiles. Chrome gave us all sorts of fits in early 2013 though and I was having the same feelings towards it that you're having for Firefox right now.

 

Yea, browsers are a pain in general, the only one that plays nice on a network fully is IE which is less supported thanks to every web scriptkiddie targeting for webkit exclusively with merit or otherwise. I guess it is a case of finding the path of least evil and going with that.

[localzuk]

I thought Microsoft have already confirmed that TIFKAM was here to stay, but the way it works was going to change. Eg. Being able to have TIFKAM apps open in windows on the normal desktop.

 

The thing with it is, Microsoft have made it difficult for users to make use of alternative browsers in the TIFKAM interface. Once you open one browser, all subsequent browsers are forced to open as 'desktop' applications, and not as a TIFKAM app.

[Arthur]

Their stats show very low use of Metro

Meanwhile, VLC release a beta version of their Metro app and get 38,000 downloads in less than four days.

 

Surely this means people want Metro apps?

[seawolf]

Meanwhile, VLC release a beta version of their Metro app and get 38,000 downloads in less than four days.

 

Surely this means people want Metro apps?

 

38,000 downloads? Heck, that's peanuts when there have been over 200 million Windows 8/8.1 licenses sold.

 

By my calculations that is only 0.00019% of Windows 8/8.1 users. Sounds like throngs of people are crying out for Metro apps...

[sted]

38,000 downloads? Heck, that's peanuts when there have been over 200 million Windows 8/8.1 licenses sold.

 

By my calculations that is only 0.00019% of Windows 8/8.1 users. Sounds like throngs of people are crying out for Metro apps...

 

but in 4 days with very little press (i only knew because it was posted here and havnt installed it yer on any of my 8.1 pcs yet but as soon as i need it i will

[RafaelLane44]

I think they will have to slowly roll it back..they've already backtracked and in 8.1 allow users to disable it without using third party software after initially refusing to do so..even after the huge outcry from many users.

 

IMO Metro (which is basically an android imitation) is best suited for mobile devices; surface..etc. Also attempting to force it on users will only backfire.

 

I think they'll eventually do what they should have done from the start: give users the option to switch between the old start menu and the metro interface.

Edited March 18, 2014 by RafaelLane44

[zag]

Metro is simply awful, I really don't get people who defend it (probably the same people who defend windows phones lol).

 

It is just not a well designed User Interface experience compared to the old style windows desktop. The proof is in how many people use it, I've got windows 8 installed on one of my PC's and just boot straight to the desktop. I'm sure many others do too.

[SYNACK]

I think they will have to slowly roll it back..they've already backtracked and in 8.1 allow users to disable it without using third party software after initially refusing to do so..even after the huge outcry from many users.

 

IMO Metro (which is basically an android imitation) is best suited for mobile devices; surface..etc. Also attempting to force it on users will only backfire.

 

I think they'll eventually do what they should have done from the start: give users the option to switch between the old start menu and the metro interface.

 

I don't think android invented icons on a screen, you may want to look at Xerox from that, the UI that everyone has used in different forms for the past 4 or 5 decades. It is a change just like windows 95 was, all the die hard windows 3.11 fans wined just as hard.

[Bradlys]

Metro is simply awful, I really don't get people who defend it (probably the same people who defend windows phones lol).

 

It is just not a well designed User Interface experience compared to the old style windows desktop. The proof is in how many people use it, I've got windows 8 installed on one of my PC's and just boot straight to the desktop. I'm sure many others do too.

 

Agreed.

 

I dislike the idea of having to move a lot when I want to click an APPLICATION. NOT AN APP DAMN IT.

[jinnantonnixx]

It's not just a change of interface - it's an inconsistent, jarring user experience.

 

I've used a ton of interfaces from early Gem, SunOS on early Sparcs, OS/2, through fvwm, *boxes to Unity (my favourite!!!). I prefer some, dislike others, but Metro is simply horrible.

 

Yes, you can get used to it. You can get used to anything, but that doesn't mean it's a good interface.

Edited March 18, 2014 by jinnantonnixx

[pcstru]

Mozilla has announced that they will not be proceeding with the release of a Metro version of Firefox. There stats show very low use of Metro resulting in great difficulties in adequately testing a Metro version of Firefox.

 

Thoughts?

 

What do they actually mean by the Metro version? I personally like the Metro start screens where I can arrange the stuff I use 99% of the time into one uncluttered screen of icons/tiles. The live update of the tiles is a nice touch too. I like the clean interfaces and lack of clutter that full screen Metro applications give and the constraints of windows controls don't matter in the context I'm generally using them in (surface RT and Pro tablets).

 

I think being faced with new computer interfaces is difficult for people. People generally don't like change and regardless of the merits of an interface, you get used to what you use. It's a problem for evangelists who will say "Try Mac/KDE/Gnome/Windows/X". The first experience anyone has of a new interface is the pain of change - they won't see the benefits easily through the effort they have to make simply to assimilate change, so evangelists say try X and are then disappointed when someone does but comes back and says "well, I did try it and I didn't like it". Windows 8 IMO suffers hugely from this in that it is such a big change. It takes a while to get over that hurdle.

 

Learning new stuff causes physical changes in the brain, it is hard, it takes energy and it can actually be painful. I think people tend to underestimate the effect of that on their judgement when trying to be objective about change. It's very difficult to eliminate confirmation bias at the best of times, it's hugely difficult when it is associated with things that are temporarily rendered difficult that used to be easy. I found W8 to be a real pain at first, but actually using it on a tablet, it makes a lot of sense. Just getting over that hurdle is a challenge. MS underestimated that and will now pay for it, having to reign in the pace of change. However, IMO the long term future is more Metro style than Windows desktop.

[Quackers]

For me , Metro is just more dumbing down of Windows (and a step way to far, and bad design at its greatest) thats been happening since Windows XP. Windows 2000 was great GUI design wise. With XP it was dumped down, take the 'Control Panel' as one example, i had to turn it to Classic to make it usable, they made 'Simple File Sharing' which actually made things harder. To name but a few annoyances. Luckily in XP you could turn everything back to classic and get on with using the machine again. Every version of Windows this is getting worse.

[sted]

Metro is simply awful, I really don't get people who defend it (probably the same people who defend windows phones lol).

 

It is just not a well designed User Interface experience compared to the old style windows desktop. The proof is in how many people use it, I've got windows 8 installed on one of my PC's and just boot straight to the desktop. I'm sure many others do too.

 

I prefer metro to the start menu as others have said it simple and uncluttered pin what you use mostly on the left and what youuse less further right nice and simple. Again I also like my windows phone it just works my android phones have always done dumb things (like thinking its still connected to my car even though im miles away and the cars turned off and then not reconnecting. as the first example. Android is a fragmented nightmare pick 4 random devices and odds on you will have 4 different versions of android and probably 4 different skins etc

 

ive never even wanted to set my pc/laptop/tablet to boot to desktop

[gshaw]

I've put 8.1 on most devices I use and don't mind the Start screen \ search on 8.1 (8.0 was horrible though) but have to agree many of the "Modern" apps are pretty poor. The only one I use is OneNote which works better than the desktop version, apart from that every other app is better in its legacy form.

 

Live tiles are useful for email and similar and for a couple of frequently-used programs so I can tolerate that, works well on the touch-screen devices it was intended for and not unbearable even on a 23" widescreen. What I don't like is how inconsistent the navigation is using the Charms and similar. For example in apps you'd expect to be able to use the search charm to find information inside that app but in the Windows Store that doesn't work and you have to find the other search bar at the top which to me feels rather counter-intuitive. It's still too easy to get "out of control" by accidentally activating the hot corners when you don't want them, not sure how MS can get around that though.

 

Alongside other stupidities like needing both Office 365 and Microsoft accounts to use certain features in 8.1 \ Office 2013 it just seems like MS need to sit down and sort out all the oddities and smooth the user experience before trying anything more radical as at times it's all over the place.

[jamesbmarshall]

I'm not going to wade into the opinion debate about whether the modern UI is good or not (but for the record: I think it is a great move forward that gets somethings right immediately, but leaves other things to be refined in future) but for those of you who are interested I'd recommend giving this video a whirl:

 

UX Week 2012 | Jensen Harris | The Story of Windows 8 on Vimeo

 

It's quite long, but worth watching if you've ever thought "what on Earth was Microsoft thinking with the modern UI?".

[Sheridan]

I'm happy to adapt to a new interface but I'm finding metro offers me little in the way of improvements. Its lacking in control and manageability in the work environment we're used to, but ok for home users and tablets.

 

On our test Win8.1 laptop everything we use here opens up on the desktop anyway, so the metro interface is defunct before we're even rolled out any Win 8 devices.

 

I'm typing this on my home 8.1 touchscreen pc and its fine, although I'm using the desktop Firefox and I don't have to worry about proxy authentication

 

As soon as you say you prefer the start menu layout you're dismissed as a Window 8 hater or just dragging behind the times, but the simple fact is the expanding menu structure is a very simply and very effective way for all sorts of levels of users to navigate their PC, whether at work or at home. Perhaps MS should have split Win8 into tablet + metro version and Pro + Start menu versions to suit the two different markets?

Edited March 18, 2014 by Sheridan