Boot-to-desktop will make a comeback.
After months of speculation among technology commentators, Microsoft has at last confirmed that the Start button will return with the Windows 8.1 update later this year.
Reinventing the Start button
The operating system update was leaked earlier this year under the codename Windows Blue. More details about upcoming features of 8.1 were outed in a post made today on Windows’ official blog by Antoine Leblond, Vice President for Windows Program Management at Microsoft.
Among some major concessions to the continued importance of mouse-based desktop computing, Leblond confirmed that the Start button would be enabled by default but could be disabled if the user preferred.
Windows 8.1 will introduce personalised images for the Start Screen – even the choice to use your desktop background.
Microsoft suffered a critical backlash when Windows 8 launched in 2012. Much of the ire aimed at the operating system was blamed on the removal of familiar features, in particular the Start button that had been so controversial when it was introduced by Windows 95. Some users took to installing mods to bring back the Start button, such as Classic Shell or Stardock’s Start8.
Improved features
PCs today are evolving for a world of mobile computing where people interact with their devices through touch, and we designed Windows 8 for this. But we also recognize there are many non-touch devices in use today – especially in the commercial setting. As such we’ve focused on a number of improvements to ensure easier navigation for people using a mouse and keyboard.
– Antoine Leblond, VP of Windows Program Management
Microsoft took the opportunity to announce Internet Explorer 11, with new tab and syncing features that improve on Windows 8’s IE10.
Leblond also confirmed that users could choose to boot Windows 8.1 into screens other than the Start Screen. A Microsoft spokesman confirmed to TechCrunch that this included the choice to boot to desktop.
The Start Screen will see more varied tile sizes in Windows 8.1, flexibility in grouping and management of tiles, and more reliance on the App View to pin tiles.
Windows 8.1 adds a 50/50 snap view for better multitasking.
Other improvements to Windows 8.1 include more control of PC settings from the Charms bar. SkyDrive functionality is updated to allow users to save files directly to their cloud with the service, and manage their account through the PC settings screen.
Leblond discussed some interesting enhancements to the Start Screen’s search functionality that will pull through results from Bing, SkyDrive and sources local to a user’s computer that he claimed to be “the modern version of the command line”.
Built-in apps are getting updates and more of them will be forthcoming from Microsoft. A useful new feature is 50/50 multitasking, which Leblond stated would allow two windows of the same app to be snapped together. The Windows Store itself will have greater complexity on its homepage, increasing the available information when the app is launched.
Windows 8.1 in the wild
Last week saw Microsoft concentrate on the launch of its Xbox One entertainment console. Xbox One will be running the Windows kernel alongside its Xbox OS, using a bridging platform to co-ordinate between the two.
Early adopters can get a taste of the new Start button when Windows 8.1 goes into public preview on June 26 to coincide with Microsoft’s Build developer conference. Windows 8.1 will be rolled out later in 2013 as a free update downloadable through the Windows Store.
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