Call me crazy, but I seem to be one of the few people who doesn’t mind Windows 8/8.1. The common complaint with Microsoft’s current Windows operating system is how the Start Menu practically disappeared with Windows 8, and as a result Microsoft is working hard on preparing Windows 9 (codenamed “Threshold”) to replace their Windows 8 operating system.
Microsoft’s Windows 9 is currently rumored to be revealed on September 30th, but not much is known about what to expect. That changed yesterday however with the release of this Windows 9 video on YouTube. Keep in mind, this is a pre-release video so the final product may vary from what we see below.
Many Windows users are most likely breathing a collective sigh of relief, and perhaps a few cheers, to see that Microsoft is restoring the Start Menu to it’s previous functionality – as well as some other features.
What’s interesting is that Microsoft also looks to be integrating the tile based Start Screen as part of the Start Menu. It appears that you will be able to pin any app as a tile to the Start Menu, which dynamically expands as more tiles are added. As with the current Start Screen you can drag, resize, and unpin any of the tiles.
While this is a nice solution, those who like the current Windows 8.x iteration of the Start Screen will be pleased to see that Microsoft has included an option for users to choose the full tiled interface as well.
Last, but not least, and one of the things I’ve always wanted to see in Windows 8.x, is the ability to resize Windows apps. In Windows 8 they ran full screen, in 8.1 Microsoft added a title bar, as well as minimize and close buttons, and it looks like they’ll be taking it one step further in Windows 9 with fully windowed apps.
As I mentioned above in the opening, I don’t mind the way Windows 8.1 handles the Start Menu. I like the tiled interface of the Start Screen and a quick Windows Key + X gets me quickly to the menu items I require quicker access to, like the control panel and command prompt. After watching the video though, I think that Microsoft should have used this hybrid approach out of the gate with Windows 8. The integrated Start/Tile Menu, options to go fully tiled as is the case with Windows 8.x, as well as windowed Windows apps is a definite improvement and gives those on both sides of the fence access to the interface style they prefer.
If Windows 9 indeed is unveiled later this month, it marks one of the shortest Windows life cycles since Windows XP at just under 2 years – and just under a year if you count the 8.1 point release as a Windows release and not an update. What do you think about the possible changes to the Start Menu coming in Windows 9 as shown in the video? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Facbook, or Twitter.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
