Windows 8 - the Features, Applications and News Thread

[Twirlywoos]

Drag apps into an empty space on the metro screen to start anew group. Zoom out and right click on the group to have the option to name it. (from memory)

to create a group you just drag and drop the tiles wherever you want. to name the group, you have to click bottom right, right click on the group you created and THEN you can name it.

....intuitive, huh?


My screenshot is a dirty mockup I did to show where the option, imo, should be. sorry about that (proves a point though....)

that is so complicated. I've created a group now called test and the games tile is under it, but now how do I add other programmes to it like my Logitech mouse apps?

Defo not intuitive and that is one of my problems with Win 8 that it's a pain to do anything as logic is thrown out of the Window (excuse the pun) lol

 

[james.miller]

that is so complicated. I've created a group now called test and the games tile is under it, but now how do I add other programmes to it like my Logitech mouse apps?

Defo not intuitive and that is one of my problems with Win 8 that it's a pain to do anything as logic is thrown out of the Window (excuse the pun) lol

you have the group there, just drag other tiles in to it

 

[Twirlywoos]

okay how do you delete a group? This is getting ridiculous now lol

 

[james.miller]

you don't, you move the tiles out of the group and it will disappear

 

[Twirlywoos]

you don't, you move the tiles out of the group and it will disappear

thanks

 

[willhub]

Is there a lot of difference from Consumer Preview to the newer versions?

 

[Phil2008]

Well in the preview version there was a reg hack that would disable metro and by doing this, the start button/menu would appear and would display the desktop on reboot . Microsoft has stopped you from doing this in the RTM version...

I DONT KNOW WHY MS ARE FORCING US TO USE METRO ON DESKTOP PC'S

 

[Twirlywoos]

you don't, you move the tiles out of the group and it will disappear

is it possible to assign those groups to folders?

for example when you create a folder and install programme to it would automatically add the exe to the Group in the Metro UI.

Otherwise I'd have to manually add and move stuff around which is a bit of a chore.

 

[ColEx]

Some reason i am interested in this now after seeing that screenshot james.miller posted. Up until now i have been quite ignorant towards Windows 8, the Metro UI doesn't look to bad really, and tbh Windows is in need of a overhaul with the UI as its old and boring. If the performance is just as good/better than Windows 7 gaming, then i can see my self upgrading.

 

[Phil2008]

Some reason i am interested in this now after seeing that screenshot james.miller posted. Up until now i have been quite ignorant towards Windows 8, the Metro UI doesn't look to bad really, and tbh Windows is in need of a overhaul with the UI as its old and boring. If the performance is just as good/better than Windows 7 gaming, then i can see my self upgrading.

But its aiming towards the touch screen and portable devices, not us desktop/power users. I cannot see why ppl would upgrade from win 7 to win8 if there's no real benefit. Like for me, as windows 8 is at the moment it would make it harder to use, resulting in slower to get things done, as metro is totally rubbish for the desktop user

Yeah I liked james.miller's post too, so I thought Id give it another go, and even that you can do that stuff with metro, it still don't make it much easier to use. Going back to win7 was heaven after the 2 attempts of using win8

 

[ColEx]

But its aiming towards the touch screen and portable devices, not us desktop/power users. I cannot see why ppl would upgrade from win 7 to win8 if there's no real benefit. Like for me, as windows 8 is at the moment it would make it harder to use, resulting in slower to get things done, as metro is totally rubbish for the desktop user

Yeah I liked james.miller's post too, so I thought Id give it another go, and even that you can do that stuff with metro, it still don't make it much easier to use. Going back to win7 was heaven after the 2 attempts of using win8

I really cant say anything about Metro with a keyboard and mouse as i haven't tried it yet, and the reason to why i been so ignorant towards windows 8 was pretty much based on what you just said. But surely it cant be that hard to use though?

 

[Phil2008]

I really cant say anything about Metro with a keyboard and mouse as i haven't tried it yet, and the reason to why i been so ignorant towards windows 8 was pretty much based on what you just said. But surely it cant be that hard to use though?

Its not so much hard to use, its just for some tasks it takes longer todo when you have to go through metro, if that makes sense? Plus adding, grouping ect shortcuts to metro is quite confusing as your not sure if its the left or right mouse button

 

[Twirlywoos]

I'm in Win 8 desktop and pressing Win Key + Tab and it seems Aero is disabled in the RTM version. I also can't find any settings for it under themes. I quite liked Aero.

 

[prescott28]

I'm in Win 8 desktop and pressing Win Key + Tab and it seems Aero is disabled in the RTM version. I also can't find any settings for it under themes. I quite liked Aero.

That's right. There was a Windows blog entry and a video explaining that this was to go in the final version. They claimed it looked cleaner etc. Really, I think it's so tablets will look the same as desktops. I don't understand it though as with Windows 7 Aero only appeared when the machine had been rated sounder 7, tablets would not get Aero.

No warez - Gilly

 

[Phil2008]

I thought the aero thing was because I was using rubbish graphic drivers. Its sort of aero tho, the taskbar is, but the windows are not.

 

[prescott28]

I thought the aero thing was because I was using rubbish graphic drivers. Its sort of aero tho, the taskbar is, but the windows are not.

Oh! Yes! I hadn't noticed the Task bar was semi-transparent!

I'm still not that happy without Aero but I suppose we have to yield to tablets - supposing they sell faster than the iPad - which I doubt.

 

[Scottland]

Using it a little more, I'm getting used to it. It's still a pain using it with dual screens though, it just doesn't work very well.

 

[Macro]

as metro is totally rubbish for the desktop user

In which way? I've been using on a mouse/keyboard desktop since the dev preview and it works fine, I find W7 somewhat old fashioned now tbh. I must confess, I find it surprising how many people on a tech forum can't cope with change and learn new ways of doing things, instead wanting to stick with a 17 year old interface.

Frankly i find metro just as capable for mouse/keyboard as touch, I'm beginning to think the "metro is touch rubbish and not for desktop power users" cry is just a convenient hook to hang an opinion on, often without much fact behind it. Sure, change isn't for everyone and it can be annoying to have to do things slightly differently but this is technology, things change, I fully expect ranting from people here these days moaning about those damn printing presses and how a quill and ink was good enough. /sigh

I can't force you to try it with an open mind, but I can say in my experience I prefer it to W7 and whilst it take a little while to get used to anything different for me it was worth the effort (and change for me is kinda the fun part of technology). Give it a go with an open mind and don't approach Metro as something for tablets you have to try to make work like Windows 95 and you might be surprised how many nuggets of great stuff there is in there.

 

[prescott28]

you know, Athanor. the problem I have with 'Metro' (or whatever then end up calling it!) is not that is doesn't work well but that I don't, normally, work with full screen applications. I might have an accounts program, word and an email program on screen and visible at once. Now 'Metro' apps don't allow for this - they are all either full screen of a narrow column. The way I usually work allows a single mouse click to move around applications but, using the equivalent 'Metro' applications, this process is harder.

Then again, what we currently have in 'Metro' apps are not really up to their desktop applications. Say take 'Metro' mail and compare with the Thunderbird I use. The latter is much more capable. I don't see the point of moving to 'Metro' Mail just to end up with a poorer application. Again, Windows live Messenger (or any alternative) on the desktop allows a small window but metro wants a long column of the whole screen. Its no contest.

Now, I agree they may be some useful apps in the future and the present ones may evolve over time but the present ones don't do much more than the gadgets (remember those?) in Windows 7 and Vista. Those were so popular that the store for them closed down last year! of course, for casual users, the apps in 'Metro' my be all they need but for those of us who work our machines harder I just don't see it. I would rather see the choice to run 'Metro' or not available in setup.

However, I shall be upgrading in due course, despite the rather nastier look due to the lack of Aero.

 

[Nikumba]

Anyone found a way of launching a desktop app twice from Metro?