Microsoft confirms the new ribbon-based Explorer for Windows 8

[nsane.forums]

In the latest update to the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft gives a detailed explanation of the new Windows Explorer, whose ribbon-based interface has been hinted at in early leaked screenshots.

The latest blog post on Building Windows 8 confirms an observation made earlier this year, back in April, when screenshots of development Windows 8 builds began leaking onto the Internet. Windows 8's new Explorer will be getting the Scenic UI, also known as the "ribbon."

Alex Simons from the Windows 8 Program Management team explains this change as melding the best of both worlds, that being the Explorers of Windows XP and Vista/7. The main design objective of the new Explorer is almost identical to a similar problem the Office suite faced - simplify the user interface, but expose as much functionality to the user as possible.

Simons describes the three goals as follows:

1. Optimize Windows Explorer for file management tasks.
2. Streamline the user experience. Place controls in predictable locations, organize them into meaningful groupings, and expose them in contextual scenarios if possible.
3. Respect Explorer's heritage. Bring back commonly requested features from the Windows XP era.

The goals may be better explained by looking at the current Windows 7 Explorer, and comparing that to the Windows XP Explorer:

The Vista/7 Explorer offered a richer representation of files and folders compared to the XP Explorer. It also did away with traditional pulldown menu bars and toolbars for a command bar that changed depending on which file was selected. As Microsoft's telemetry data shows, the command bar did not contain most of the common tasks users perform with Explorer:

Some of these commands can be added to the toolbar in the XP Explorer, as seen in the above screenshot. Not so for the Vista/7 Explorer. Users turned to the right-click menus and keyboard shortcuts in lieu of the command bar:

Given that almost 85% of users accessed the most common Explorer operations using a method that deviates from the most exposed part of the current Explorer - the command bar - the new Explorer had to accommodate these commands, especially for tablet users who do not have a keyboard at hand. Simon explains the team considered expanding on the current Vista/7 command bar, or going back to XP-style menus and toolbars, before settling on the Ribbon.

Like with Office, the Ribbon also exposes hidden "gems" in the user interface. For instance, in the Windows 8 Explorer pictured above, there is a button for users to invert the selection of files in the current folder. On XP, this option is available via the Edit menu. Windows 7 users have to enable the Menu bar and go to the Edit menu to access this feature.

Despite the extra amount of space the Ribbon takes up, the new Explorer actually shows more files than the Windows 7 Explorer as Microsoft moved the Details pane to the right, instead of being on the bottom as it was in Windows Vista and 7. Users can also collapse the ribbon and show it on demand for even more screen estate. The new Details pane is similar to that in Windows Live Photo Gallery.

The downside of the new Explorer? Current toolbars that plug into the Explorer UI will no longer work. In addition, there will be no "classic" UI for the new Explorer. Microsoft is hoping users will embrace the change without a legacy UI to fall back on as they have done going from Office 2003 to 2007.

View: Original Article

[bkm]

Interesting reading, thanks. Just as long as they bring back the ability to manually sort files like in XP then Windows8 will be great. That's my only real complaint with Win7, you can't manually sort your files and put them where you want. I can't even find a 3rd party file manager that does that. I wonder why XP had this ability so easy...

[HX1]

I do not like the ribbon.. Much the same way I think that some of the UI from some of the current programs need some updating/altering... This will cause problems for customizing Windows as well... This to me is bulky and Vista-ish.. needs to be cleaner and more minimal/clear-minded. OR come with options to customize the UI as wanted.. right down to the text...

I use shortcut keys for the most part even for the Context Menu...and a very clean appearance.. I think it should be capable of being configured in both directions for proper user accessibility.. yet going in the opposite direction has always been forgotten.. IMO.. Windows 7 For example has to be res-hacked, and files replaced in order to get the desired appearance I want now..

I dunno... Maybe I should so some concepts and send them to MS.. :P

[DKT27]

I do not like the ribbon.. Much the same way I think that some of the UI from some of the current programs need some updating/altering... This will cause problems for customizing Windows as well... This to me is bulky and Vista-ish.. needs to be cleaner and more minimal/clear-minded. OR come with options to customize the UI as wanted.. right down to the text...

I dunno... Maybe I should so some concepts and send them to MS.. :P

Totally agree. Ribbon feels bloated to me. I'll prefer the Windows 7 look. But there again, it's matter of getting used to too.

I remember M$ saying that they are not going to hear or allow any concept / improvement from users this time (or atleast for now). That's good and bad. Good cause they can concentrate on their aim. Bad cause they aren't allowing the community to come in.

[HX1]

Well.. really WIndows 8 is going to offer a new platform.. and technically I sort of understand it sort of being like the Gadget platform for Vista.. My next thought on the matter - is that Windows 9 or 10 may be a better option to upgrade as this may wind up being a stepping stone working on the main OS for MS.. making improvements, taking feedback, and working on making it more USER friendly for their clients... working o the new application platform rather its .NET or Javascript..I mean you really can do all of these things already..technically..People will adjust slightly as well during this introduction phase for both devs and n00b alike... Then 9 possibly being a more polished version.. more with the time and hopefully not change that is far too late or years behind design/appearance wise.. This sort of thing is usually here today and gone tomorrow BUT it is good to keep up with holding trends... and idealism in present-ability as far as the stature of the companies representation is concerned..

Windows 7 actually incorporates this already in Paint, Office, and many Windows Live applications.. This does seem to be something handed down or filtered down from Microsoft, not directly from the Windows department 'so-to-speak'.. as have many devs in programs such as Foxit. I think however it really seems out of place given the clean appearance and better performance coming from the system. I feel the look should also mirror this ( without giving it racing stripes or skid-marks.. LOL ).

Oh and technically I was sort of joking around about submitting a concept.. BUT I totally would..

[deyani]

Finally... very nice feature!

[anuraag]

8 Reasons Windows 8 Explorer Ribbon UI Is Better than Its Predecessors

When Microsoft set out to build the next-gen Windows Explorer for Windows 8, it did so with three goals in mind: optimization for file management tasks, streamlining the command experience and ensuring that the heritage of this core OS component survives through an evolutionary leap.

Alex Simons, from the Windows Program Management team, is featured in a video shared by the Redmond company, explaining the evolution of Windows Explorer.

Long story short, Windows 8 Explorer sports a brand new graphical user interface, which the software giant is referring to as the Ribbon UI or the Fluent UI.

As far as I'm concerned, there are a number of reasons why Windows 8 Explorer is clearly superior to all its predecessors:

1. Customization – If there's one thing that I absolutely love about the UI of Office 2010 is that I can customize it to my liking. Simons promises that Windows 8 "provides UI customization with the quick access toolbar, taking us back to a customization level that is basically equivalent to Windows XP."

2. No more digging around for options through menus and submenus – There are approximately 200 commands on the new Windows 8 Explorer UI, even hidden features that would otherwise sit unused.

3. Shortcuts, shortcuts, shortcuts - Who doesn't like shortcuts? They manage to speed up workflow considerably, and for some users they are as natural as everyday gestures.

4. NUI ready – speaking of natural gestures, can you imagine having to use the Windows Explorer old menu using your finger? Windows 8 seamlessly blends GUI and NUI, it's only fitted that its Windows Explorer be as touch friendly as possible.

Here are four more reasons from Microsoft:

"5. Makes it easy to find commands predictably and reliably. Every important file management command could be given a home in the ribbon, and customers would always know where to look for them.

6. Aids command identification with support for grouping, a variety of button sizes and icons, and aids deeper investigation with live previews and expanded tooltips.

7. Takes a similar approach to Office, Microsoft Paint, and Windows Live Essentials, which means that many of our customers will be familiar with the model and not have a lot to learn.

8. Provides a consistent, reliable UI that doesn't degrade over time like traditional toolbar and menu-based user interfaces do."

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