Windows 8.1.1 will have a new start menu?

Is this true? the links will be released on MSDN in a few hours



MOD NOTE: Member banned for spamming!

 

if so, this might, and I want to express might, bring users into the fold. Without a doubt it is a start and a the least looks interesting.

 

I already see the download on the MDSN page but you need an account to download it. It will be uploaded soon by a member on MDL forums

 

I've been watching the liveblogs of the keynote and that menu doesn't look like anything they've unveiled. I think it's one of the third-party start menu programs, or perhaps a non-functioning concept (like Jay Machalani's Windows 8.2 concept). There are a number of changes in Win8.1 Update 1 that make it more KB&M-friendly, but I don't think that screenshot is one of 'em.

And yes, Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be coming April 8th via Windows Update (not the Windows app store like Windows 8.1 did).

EDIT: it's now confirmed as legit, but not part of Update 1 coming April 8th; it's coming at a later date (see below).

 

These updated ISOs are just for English for now.

Anyone here as an MSDN account to download them and share?

 

I take back my previous post: ArsTechnica just confirmed this. This isn't coming in 8.1 Update 1, but it's confirmed as on the way (probably Windows 8.1 Update 2). My best guess is this is something that Satya Nadella green-lighted as soon as he took the helm, but it's not quite ready for release to customers next week.

Future Windows 8.1 update will finally bring back the Start menu | Ars Technica

I think this looks like a great UI for large-screen keyboard-and-mouse desktops.

 

About freaking time!
Now I can start using Windows 8

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5574830/windows-9-start-menu-new-desktop-experience

 

My download will be done in 30 mins! can't wait to install this

I dialed back my expectations about the upcoming Start menu after reading this. I thought the implication during the presentation was that it was coming pre-Win9, but the phrasing here leaves it ambiguous, as it describes "early thinking on how the user experience in Windows will evolve" and "work we are doing for the next iteration of Windows." That could mean Update 2, sure, but it sounds more like next year (Win9).

Thoughts on Day 1 of Build 2014

 

ArsTechnica referred to it as being a future update of Windows 8.1, which I took to mean Windows 8.1 Update 2. But whether they call it Windows 8.1 Update 2, Windows 8.2, or Windows 9, I don't really care. Regardless, this screenshot shows that Nadella's Microsoft is going to be incorporating a much more flexible approach to the UI and how live tiles and such are incorporated, very much like what Jay Machalani showed with his 8.2 concept.

It's been said before, but what you're downloading now, and what will be legally available to consumers on April 8th, is Windows 8.1 Update 1. The screen shot in post #1 is not part of Windows 8.1 Update 1. It's on the way, but not in this particular update.

 

Just finished downloading the ISO and verified the hash with the one on MSDN, they match perfectly

 

Video at 3:09:30, showing how live tiles can be added or subtracted from the start menu. And the presenter says "we will be making this available to all Windows 8.1 users as an update." Which means it's not Windows 9, and Windows 8.x users won't have to pay to update to it. Like I said before, I think we're looking at Windows 8.1 Update 2.

Channel 9: Videos about the people building Microsoft Products & Services

Now that it's been confirmed as legit and a Windows 8.x free update that's on the way, what do the vocal critics of 8.0 and 8.1.0 on this forum feel? Does this address your UI concerns? Or not?

 

So I'm guessing it's true. If so that's awesome!
One more thing left - please, oh please Microsoft, bring back Aero Glass...

 

It is very very much true. Not a rumor, not a leak. Microsoft got on stage and showed this as the next update to Windows 8.1 after 8.1 Update 1. Watch the video from Build 2014 featuring this; it's in post #13.

I'll repost the static image for those just joining the conversation here:

 

A lot of users primarily need the start menu. I need Aero, but that is me and my eyes. Maybe something else can be done with those huge borders etc. but for now I am still an outcast. Maybe I could deal with it as a dual boot just to help others out, but not until it can be accepted by the others I do help out locally.

 

After we wait 8-12 months for start menu we gonna wait another 8-12 for Aero back? possibly in Win9? WHY ARE THEY SO SLOW??!

 

This is the exact same one on MSDN I just verified the hashes.

I installed it, but unfortunately, it has the same bug as the RTM

As soon as I restart, after 10 seconds, my desktop icons won't be click able until like 10 more seconds of waiting! All program icons also would be blank upon a reboot. After 20 seconds or so, they will all show up just fine

Great quality control Microsoft!

Mind you, I have all the latest drivers for my laptop installed.

I just noticed, the error doesn't happen immediately upon restart, it happens upon restart the moment you open a folder (in other words, when explorer.exe opens a folder)

 

Great, now they can tell us how difficult it is for them to find the shut down button.

 

I don't even see the point with this update?

 

Put this way having a start menu functions like W7 is a good start but then again they took 2 steps backward. Putting a tile block in the task side of the start menu is more bonehead moves. Why is it so hard for M$ to give the user the option and choice-that would do more for sales then trying to do more bonehead moves...

 

If they don't let me choose whether I want metro tiles there or all My... folders then they will do even bigger FAIL than they did with Windows 8 without Start Menu.

 

You don't need anything there if you don't want it (watch the Build video). If you want links to "my computer," "my documents," "my photos," "my music," then:

(1) in File Explorer (aka Windows Explorer), right-click each directory and select "pin to start."
(2) place the shortcut tiles that that creates (tiles that act as shortcuts to that directory) in the tile section of the start menu.

Voila, you now have links to all the "my _______" directories in your Win8.1.2 start menu.

 

Seems to be an improvement. But, it doesn't look like a proper Start Menu. Where are the app folders? I hope clicking on "All Apps" doesn't take you to the Start Screen... again...

Anywho, one drawback is that when I click on Start to check on live tiles, it might bother me to also see the Start Menu (as it won't be needed at that instance). Why can't MS have separate buttons for Start Menu and Metro?

 

No. In fact, I find it stunning how these idiots continue to be able to ignore the substance of the complaints, and fiddle around with near-irrelevant incidentals. Specifically, it seems clear from your screenshot that there's no jump lists; you can see a link to Notepad, but there's no right-arrow. Second, and even more crucial, there's a concern that this "start menu" has the same limited flat structure as the Start Screen, meaning there's no hierarchy that is crucial for organizing larger numbers of items. I'm on travel right now, and haven't watched any videos, so if those help clarify the potential issues I have noted, I would be interested in learning about the evidence. But, from what I can see right now, this is little better than the inane addition of a non-functional Start Button in 8.1.

Oh, and I note in passing since this was not really part of your question, lest this be forgotten, that the shortcomings in Windows 8 go well beyond a bad UI.

 

Start menu is only the beginning of changes for me to go to Windows 8. They need to put back menus like how Windows XP/Vista/7 did it, not make things more inconvenient by making you go through more clicks/menus. And with Windows 7 support going to 2020, I may not even go to 8.

 

What are some examples of common tasks in Windows that take "more clicks" to do in 8 compared to 7?

 

A start menu would be exactly that, a start to try too bring consumers over. It may be enough for some and not enough for others.

 

I'd like to know this as well. Debating on whether I should upgrade, have a copy just sitting here but it sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth.

 

I cannot test this right now but how many clicks would be needed to run Windows Update? Hands off the keyboard.

 

I you want to launch the same Windows Update that you have in windows 7 and not the metro version, it would have to be, right click start, control panel, navigate to WU (that will depend on how your view is set), but on default, it would be system and security and then windows update.

It's faster in Windows 7 going through the start menu because it is in the list by default. You could probably pin it to start to get the same amount of clicks, but it requires setting up.

Roughly 3 clicks vs 4.

 

I'm not sure this would be a meaningful test. For both Win7 and Win8, I could pin a shortcut to the Taskbar and/or Start Screen, and get it done in one click. If you're talking about out-of-the-box configuration, then you may or may not find substantial differences, but I'm not sure such differences would tell you much either way.

On the other hand, if you would like to open a program with a previously loaded file, if that program is not pinned to the taskbar then this task will require fewer, and possible many fewer clicks in Windows 7 versus 8, due to the jump lists in the Windows 7 Start Menu.

 

If MS really has update #2 in the works that could indicate updates #1 and #2 are just trial balloons for Windows 9. They could be gauging user feedback.

 

Why can't we have a modern XP with Win7 GUI? Win7 was just a bloated OS. Same thing you can do in 7, you can do 3X faster in XP. Programs also run 3X faster in XP. Win8 should have picked up where XP left off, imho. Win 7 is no successor to XP. In fact, so long as new hardware continue to support XP, it will be my staple OS for a long time, thanks in part to .NET 3.5. (Who needs .NET 4/4.5/5 when you can do identical stuff in 3.5).

 

Three.

You need to run Windows Update:

[ ] 48 times per day
[ ] 24 times per day
[ ] Once a day
[ ] Once every few days

 

Does this update come in automatically through windows update per say?

8.1 was a PITA.

 

700MB of an update an almost 30 minutes of waiting. Aeroglass doesn't work so I deleted it. Will wait for Update 2

 

It will be delivered through Windows Update.

 

It depends on the day but usually I run it on every customer PC that I work on to check that there is no updates left. On fresh installs, several times between reboots.

It's funny because I knew that but I didn't remember it when I wrote the question I was thinking more about the default 8.0 UI since it still dominates over 8.1 installs. Still numbers are roughly like one 8.0 install vs 15 win7 installs last week only. Old hardware breaks more often and I do lots of downgrades on new stuff

 

Well, in 8.0, it's right click the bottom left hot corner instead of start.

Getting to the control panel version of WU from the start screen in 8.0 is going to be a pain with just a mouse though. The best y to do it would be charms bar, change pc settings, windows update, check for updates, details.

 

Windows 8.1 doesn't currently require "several times between reboots" as the update list is nowhere near as vast as Windows 7's is. Also, if you don't have a recently updated Windows 7 image with updates already in it, well, I dunno. My Windows 7 image at work is updated to March 2014. I made it myself.

For Windows 8.1 there is an updated full install ISO for the pending Update release, so new installs will soon be up to date as of April 2014. Yay.

 

Is the 8.1.1 ISO going to be linked in this forum? :hi2:

 

Unlike Digital River, the "worst kept secret at Microsoft", Windows 8 was never publicly stored for anyone to get. I don't assume that will change, and I don't assume the stance about providing links to such will change. The ISO is on MSDN and TechNet, that is where qualifying users will go to get it.

 

I recently caved in and upgraded to 8.1 from 7 and must say its not as bad as i thought it would be.

 

Unfortunately this is the minority and market shares and users wanting a functional O/S doesn't bear out for Windows 8 on Desktop or Laptop for vast majority of users and Corporations and Institutions are going to Windows 7 instead.

 

evolution should go 2 steps forward. Not 1 back and then 1.5 ahead.