Windows 9 Start menu makes video debut: Windows 7 fans should finally be happy
Windows 9 Start menu makes video debut: Windows 7 fans should finally be happy
Yesterday it was screenshots — and today we have a glorious video of the new Windows 9 Start menu. The video, which comes from a genuine early build of the Windows 9 Technical Preview, shows in much greater detail how the new Start menu will intertwine aspects of the old Windows 7-era Start menu with Windows 8’s Metro Start screen. Putting aside for a moment that the Windows 9 Start menu was clearly cut from Metro cloth, I’m actually pleasantly surprised by the functionality and UI displayed in the video.
The new Windows 9 Start menu, while it looks completely different from the Windows Vista or Windows 7 Start menu, retains most of the same functionality — but now the direct Documents, Pictures, Control Panel, etc. links are on the left side, rather than the right. Instead, the right side of the Windows 9 Start menu either contains a flyout menu for expanded folders (0:14 in the video below), or a panel filled with Metro-style live tiles.
While the left side of the Windows 9 Start menu looks somewhat like the Windows 7-era menu, it’s clearly a brand new beast. Still, all of the major functions from the Windows 7 Start menu are there: A Search/Run box (which immediately has focus after you hit the Start key), one-click access to your documents and pictures, and a block that appears to be populated with your most-used apps. (Amusingly, PC Settings is stickied, but Control Panel isn’t. I am very curious to see how Windows 9 handles Desktop configuration for mouse and keyboard users.) The power button is now at the top of the Start menu, but that’s probably a better place for it — harder to mistakenly click it up there.
And then there’s the huge Start screen-style panel on the right hand side. There’s no other way to describe it: It is the Start screen from Windows 8, but in a floating panel rather than full-screen. The live tiles are identical: You can resize them and move them around. As you pin (or remove) items from the Metro portion of the Start menu, it scales accordingly. I have to admit, it’s pretty slick — though personally I will continue to use the taskbar as an app launcher. (Though it would be nice if taskbar icons behaved a little more like live tiles…)
Rounding out some of the other features that we see in the video, we also see that the taskbar properties window will let you choose whether the Start screen or Start menu pops up when you hit the Start button. Presumably the Start menu will be the default for mouse-and-keyboard users, while touchscreen devices will default to the Metro-style Start screen. The video also shows you what Metro apps will look like running in a window on the Desktop. You can see the “three dots” button in the top left of Metro apps that will allow you to access options that were previously accessed through the Charms bar (Search, Share, Settings, etc.)
This is the first footage to appear of the Windows 9 Technical Preview, which is scheduled to be released at the end of September or beginning of October. If you can’t wait for Windows 9 to bring back the Start menu, check out our handy list of third-party Start menu replacements for Windows 8.
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