Microsoft gives us another look at the new Windows 10 Start Menu

[Karlston]

Microsoft gives us another look at the new Windows 10 Start Menu

Microsoft has been teasing us with an updated Start Menu for some months now, with rumours that the emphasis will move away from Live Tiles to basic icons.

 

Microsoft has in part both confirmed and debunked the rumour, for example on the  Windows Insider Webcast saying the Live Tiles will remain available to developers and users, but confirming that Microsoft itself is moving away from them, and releasing a set of icons for Windows 10 apps which do not include Live Tiles at all, a big change from previously.

 

The design team also showed off a design concept where the move back to icons is used to improve the look of the Windows 10 Start Menu, and today the Office 365 team posted a set to Windows 10 wallpapers which appear to show the same new-style Start Menu in action.

 

 

The screenshot shows that the “tile” area is now used to integrate better with your choice of Dark or Light mode, with Microsoft noting that your Start Menu would no longer be dominated by blocks of colour you can not change. Microsoft says this is the experience users will receive when they switch Live Tiles off.

 

We can also see on the App list the items are also no longer surrounded by blocks of colour.

 

The intention is to bring Windows 10 closer to Windows 10X and to make a UI that works as well with the Dark as Light mode.

 

 

Microsoft gives us another look at the new Windows 10 Start Menu

 

[BimBamSmash]

Me likes what me sees.

 

But I am concerned about that 10X model in general. Especially if it is going to be a paid upgrade, or the beginning of a subscription or in-app purchases sort of monetizing.

 

On a different note, I see that as Apple is moving to "Bleach White Light Mode" and "Blocks of Color behind app icons" design, Microsoft is moving away from it. Strange times when Apple is trailing Microsoft for design.

 

Also interesting to note that "white, translucent UI sitting on top of some pink background image" is becoming the current trend at Silicon Valley for demonstrating products. Apple's new OS was presented in a very similar fashion the other day.

[Karlston]

I just wish they'd leave the damn UI alone for more than 5 minutes or give users a setting to choose what UI they want to have.

 

But, UI designers have a need to be seen doing stuff, so we keep getting the current latest-and-greatest UI replaced by another latest-and-greatest idea.

 

I bet if UI designers' spouses nagged them to change their house paint colours and decor as often as they change the UI, they'd get the message.

[BimBamSmash]

 

1 hour ago, Karlston said:

I just wish they'd leave the damn UI alone for more than 5 minutes or give users a setting to choose what UI they want to have.

 

They are probably trying to make it look like these upgrades are changing something. More folks are likely to come aboard the new versions for new UI changes than anything else, anyway.

 

On a different note, one can only wonder what we were in for had they been sticking to their original vision of rolling out 3-upgrades every year.

 

1 hour ago, Karlston said:

I bet if UI designers' spouses nagged them to change their house paint colours and decor as often as they change the UI, they'd get the message.

 

Spillover effects of working from home.

[stylemessiah2]

Anything with tiles is a hateful mess made for lazy slobs who stab at things on tablet who cant read text in an ordered list that makes complete sense