Microsoft Confirms Metro Apps Coming to Desktop Because “It’s the Core of Windows”

[Matsuda]

It’s pretty obvious that Microsoft is going in reverse right now to adjust some of the changes it made to Windows recently in order to make the operating system better for the traditional PC, but the company says that more improvements are being made right now because the desktop “is the core to Windows.”

Microsoft's Executive Vice President of operating systems, Terry Myerson, said in an interview with ZDNet that improving the desktop was a priority for the software giant in the new Windows 8.1 Update because it continues to be the most familiar working environment for millions of users out there.

“We actually value using the desktop. I feel highly productive using it. It's very familiar to me. We plan -- (as) we talked about at the Build conference -- to bring modern apps to the desktop. We are going to have machines that have a great desktop experience,” Myerson said.

In addition, Microsoft’s executive admitted that the desktop was only helpful for the traditional PC, so the company will continue to focus on the touch experience offered to tablet and smartphone buyers.

This means that the software giant will continue to tweak Windows in such a way that it would better match the device that it’s running on, be it a desktop computer, tablet, smartphone, or laptop, no matter if it has a touch display or not.

“It (the desktop) is also not the right experience for a phone or a tablet. And so how the Windows experience spans these form factors and is familiar across them -- that's what we need to deliver if we're going to delight people in the whole ecosystem. The desktop is part of our future. It's absolutely core to Windows,” Myerson continued.

Windows 8.1 Update already comes with several improvements for the desktop, including options to pin Windows Store apps to the taskbar and context menu for the Start screen to make Metro easier to use with a mouse. At the same time, Modern apps are now launched in their own windows with titlebars and minimize and close buttons, thus providing PC users with more control.

Microsoft is also working to bring back the Start menu at some point in Windows, while Metro apps will benefit from features that’ll let them run in dedicated windows right on the desktop, just like the traditional gadgets that were available in Windows 7 but removed in Windows 8.



Source

[MidnightDistortions]

:lol: they're just figuring that out now?

[xebex]

I am blaming this whole fiasco on Mr. Ex-CEO, Steve Ballmer. Steve has made several major mistakes which is the reason he is no longer CEO. He committed the biggest sin of all, for businesses. He didn't listen to his customers. He tried to force this new and stupid GUI down everyone's throat. Perhaps it works ok on tablets and cell phones, but absolutely not for desktops. As a power user and corporate computer tech, it was pretty obvious that Ballmer's 'Bomination wasn't going to be productive on the desktop, and especially in corporate America. It is obvious to me that Ballmer doesn't have any common sense. Perhaps the new CEO does.

[mjall]

cool :)

[badrobot]

Windows desktop works perfectly by itself. I don't really understand why MS keeps pushing those non-sense apps. Just keep them on windows phone. End of story. If I want to use apps, I have a smartphone for that. Everyone who owns a computer also owns a smartphone.

Edited April 12, 2014 by badrobot

[Sos Gomes]

We at office are not using Metro Apps on tablets or windows phone.Microsoft ,please stop nonsense.kindly ask customers what they really want

[davmil]

I am blaming this whole fiasco on Mr. Ex-CEO, Steve Ballmer. Steve has made several major mistakes which is the reason he is no longer CEO. He committed the biggest sin of all, for businesses. He didn't listen to his customers. He tried to force this new and stupid GUI down everyone's throat. Perhaps it works ok on tablets and cell phones, but absolutely not for desktops. As a power user and corporate computer tech, it was pretty obvious that Ballmer's 'Bomination wasn't going to be productive on the desktop, and especially in corporate America. It is obvious to me that Ballmer doesn't have any common sense. Perhaps the new CEO does.

I'd bet Ballmer trusted his lieutentants to run a business unit profitably while he led a huge multi-national company (quite profitably) and wasn't nearly as involved in the day-2-day Windows GUI as you speculate... if for no other reason than he was a sales/pitch man at heart, not a techno-geek like Gates.

Just my opinion.