“[katogoaward]”
Windows 8.1, which Microsoft launched Thursday, is a feature-rich update that takes Windows 8 machines to a new level of utility. However, it doesn’t do much to address what many critics see as the fundamental problem with Microsoft’s approach to its new operating system: It tries — and fails, some say — to unite a touch-friendly UI with a machine originally created for a mouse and keyboard.
There’s some truth to this interpretation, and Microsoft didn’t do itself any favors with some poor decisions in the initial Windows 8 launch, such as removing the Start button. It’s corrected that particular mistake in Windows 8.1, and made the modern UI somewhat friendlier with some new gestures and different ways to view apps.
The update includes one subtle interface tweak that could prove to be the most important in getting Windows 8 holdouts to finally start embracing the new UI: the ability to share the same background between the Start screen and the Desktop. While activating the feature changes no functionality, the psychological effect is palpable — suddenly the new UI doesn’t seem as new anymore. It feels as if the Start screen is now an outgrowth of the Desktop, as opposed to the Desktop being just another “app” to run.
Anything that helps potential Windows 8/8.1 users can get over their fear of the modern UI and its live tiles, charms and minimalist fonts is extremely important to the success of the platform. Even if users upgrade to Windows 8.1, if they’re spending all their time in the Desktop, that won’t give developers any incentive to create apps for the modern UI. Details like the background may seem subtle and unimportant, but they’re often the things that matter most in creating the best user experience. It’s just a shame Microsoft left desktop-background sharing out of the initial launch of Windows 8.
Microsoft also isn’t helping itself by keeping the modern UI segregated from the Desktop in other, unnecessary ways. The two environments still each have their own web browser, status indicator and settings. While Microsoft moved some of the back-end settings to the modern UI, it didn’t go nearly far enough. Even the setting for sharing the desktop background between interfaces is frustratingly, inexplicably buried in the Desktop Control Panel, along with other convenience improvements like Boot to Desktop and making the “All Apps” view the default Start screen.
As long as Microsoft keeps this bifurcated approach of spreading settings and apps between the two environments, the Windows modern UI will never really be what the company wants it to be: the future of computing. The Control Panel shouldn’t even exist on a Windows RT machine, and on PCs it should be a place for power users and developers — everyday people shouldn’t need to dive deep into it to change basic settings.
Perhaps in Windows 8.2 or Windows 9 we’ll finally see the new UI become fully formed, but it’s doubtful. A year ago, CEO Steve Ballmer said Microsoft was “all in” on Windows 8, but from this repeated two-pronged approach of spreading features and apps between the two interfaces suggests otherwise. To get people really thinking of Windows devices as tablets, though, Microsoft’s going to have to fully let go of its PC past.
Windows 8.1, with its improved usability, is a step in the right direction. But it’s a baby step for a platform that’s in dire need of a much bigger leap of faith.
Source: Mashable