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Windows 10 Enables Switching Between Desktop and Tablet Modes
jones_supa writes: In Windows 8, you were trapped in either the Modern UI or using the desktop, and going back and forth between the two worlds was cumbersome. Windows 10 takes a hybrid approach, allowing the user to choose between a classic desktop and a full-screen mobile experience. The feature, which has been developed under the name "Continuum," is now simply called "Tablet mode". In the build 9926 of Windows 10 Technical Preview, switching between the modes can finally be tried out. The leaked build 10036 shows that eventually you will also have the option to automate the process for dockable devices. Since Windows 10 is being positioned as the one OS for all of Microsoft's devices, being able to control the desktop and tablet experiences like this is critical to appeasing the consumer.
I can't believe it took them TWO FULL VERSIONS to realize they needed the feature. This should have been implemented back in Windows 8, or 9 at least...
I art more snarky, and terse than thou. I art Slashdot!
Getting out of a metro app is a mystery to me. I want to kill the video, not have it running in the background. The only way I can find is to swipe to the metro start screen, click on the desktop icon, go to task manager, find the metro app I want to kill, and end the process.
Why can't they let me exit the metro app directly?
Because Microsoft knows better than you.
This is part of the absurd new mindset at Microsoft. You aren't supposed to exit the application. When the application has been idle for a while the OS (supposedly) will suspend it.
This design makes no sense, but neither do the other 1000 bad design decisions they made with Windows 8/10, so it's not surprising.
If only they put the original start menu structure back in one of those modes, maybe an 'enterprise' or 'user with 20years experience on windows' option. Still need to install 'Classic Start Menu' to make things sane. Users I deal with will never switch to metro, they love using Desktop to dump all those files they're working with, at least can boot into Desktop mode now to save metro flashing up. but.. STILL need the start menu. Have the Metro 'view' slide into place when you select that menu, but for all that's workable, PUT BACK THE START MENU.
Waiting for an amusing sig.
Indeed. Android allows you to swipe away a process from the "Running/Recent Tasks" list, which forces a program to shutdown...
"Always forever running, don't worry, when you come back it's there" is not really the best solution for everything... ESPECIALLY, if it continues to play audio...
Now, being able to tell an app like Pandora to keep playing after shutting down is entirely different...
WARNING! This girl exceeds the MAXIMUM SAFE standards established by the FDA for BRATTINESS
Loading apps drains the battery more and wears out memory faster in mobile devices than just leaving them running. Even on an Android device, everything you do is kept running until you manually kill it, and some things just immediately restart. So, there's a sound technical reason for it.
The problem is, this leaves us feeling like we don't have control of our devices, and consumers with intermediate technical skills (read: almost the entire market for Microsoft's shiny new OS) are very uncomfortable with that feeling. Experts disagree, and will point out that it depends upon what exactly is running. Personally, I would have thought that taking control of the machine away from the user was proven bad when Gateway tanked. Also, isn't that why people hated that damned paperclip?
So, there's an element of frustration with that concept among those who consider having control over our machines to be sacrosanct. Then, in niche problems (like mobile environments), we're shown that if that's the case then there must be exceptions to sacrosanct. Now, here's Microsoft in the middle trying to get it all sorted without crossing desktop users. They are absolutely guaranteed to piss off somebody. Or at least they were with Windows 8.
If they can make us feel like the old brand has returned, start menu and all, on desktop then Windows 10 will be a success, simply put. That OS will fly, and so will MS stock in that case. But marketers, PR firms, and some systems engineers are trying like hell to change our perspective on that. Meanwhile, the exact conversations we COULD be having that would accomplish what they want are practically forbidden in social media. Note that you're downmodded just for saying how you feel as a consumer. Since when is consumer preference taboo? What's next? Hating on people for having a favorite color? Aesthetics count.
It's worth putting all this out there because it has been one gigantic clusterfuck ever since Windows 8's features were revealed. And I will continue to point out that PR firms and fanbois have harmed Microsoft more than help them. I really hope Windows 10 can put this awkward, uncomfortable, frustrating dynamic to bed. The social costs of Windows 8 have undermined its value as an OS, and that's so damn silly that it's a shame I have to type it. In the Army, we called that "Mickey Mouse bullshit." All that should matter is the OS itself, and I'm optimistic about Windows 10 in that regard.
It's worth putting all this out there because it has been one gigantic clusterfuck ever since Windows 8's features were revealed. And I will continue to point out that PR firms and fanbois have harmed Microsoft more than help them. I really hope Windows 10 can put this awkward, uncomfortable, frustrating dynamic to bed. The social costs of Windows 8 have undermined its value as an OS, and that's so damn silly that it's a shame I have to type it. In the Army, we called that "Mickey Mouse bullshit." All that should matter is the OS itself, and I'm optimistic about Windows 10 in that regard.
I some time running the Windows 10 Technical preview that was released in January. Although it's an early, nowhere-near-finished- pre-beta version, it shows where Microsoft's thinking is headed. And it's not good.
While they have made some improvements over the clusterfuck that is Windows 8, in most cases they have doubled-down on stupid, keeping the vast majority of bad design decisions that were made with Windows 8. Even bringing back the Start Menu was botched. It still isn't as functional as Windows 7.
And the whole thing is just fucking ugly. More and more people spend an enormous amount of time in front of a computer, not just for social/entertainment purposes but for work as well. Aesthetics matter and Windows 8/10 fail horribly. This picture sums it all up perfectly:
http://i.imgur.com/iiXQRtN.jpg
What do you do when you plug your tablet in a docking station and start using it with multiple displays, a keyboard and a mouse?
I have no idea. In probably 4-5 years of owning tablet-style devices, I have never once connected them to any external peripherals like that, nor wanted to.
Tablets are for convenient data access and occasional very light data entry. For the stuff that needs multiple displays and serious input devices, I have other tools that are much, much better at it than any tablet ever produced.
In other words, my use cases (and going by the Internet commentary, almost everyone else's use cases too) are completely different for tablets and real PCs. It makes absolutely no sense to run the same style of operating system on both of them -- not just the shell, but the file system, the process model, the security model, connectivity...
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Before I get into this, know that I understand that it will take time for Microsoft to develop their new interface paradigm, and I know that it will get better as they do so. Much of what I say here will hopefully not apply at all one day, and it's completely understandable that they need time to reach that point.
Problem 1: Multiple instances of the same program.
In the past, this was simple. Go to it in the start menu and click it again. Now, I have to look up a new set of key-click combinations or run a new search in the start screen every time I want multiple instances of the same program. This forces me into a mobile interface on desktop, and lowers my productivity by making me stop and relearn a set of shortcuts. Sure, they're not that complicated, but people don't just sit around memorizing things just for the fun of it, and the fact that we need to means a downgrade in usability and productivity.
(https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/e9fd8b8a-bc5f-48a8-9e18-6da070c0caec/how-to-run-multiple-instances-of-the-same-application-from-the-metro-interface?forum=w8itproappcompat)
Problem 2: The start screen forces me into a mobile interface.
Simplistic, blocky interfaces aren't so much attractive on mobile and touch screen devices as they're necessary. We tolerate them because they make the device easier to use. However, that does not automatically mean that such interfaces are aesthetically pleasing nor the most useful. The entire point of such interfaces is to overcome the limitations of a touch screen interface, so by forcing desktop users to use that kind of interface is in general a downgrade in usability and productivity.
Problem 3: Windows 8 sends to Microsoft everything we locally search.
The problem with this isn't a matter of privacy paranoia, but rather economics. ISPs today are setting artificial resource limitations to price gouge for profit. That is, data caps. When we exceed these caps, we pay. This isn't a big deal for those who don't stream anything, don't update anything, and don't download any new programs or tools. Now, on top of this, we have an OS that uses bandwidth every time we need to find a program we haven't pinned. Microsoft is effectively spending our money for us. It's inconsiderate.
Problem 4: Functionality isn't everything.
Innovation has revolved around the concept of making things easier to do. If you have two devices that do the same thing but one is easier to use, which will you prefer? So, in general, making things harder to do and pushing everybody to learn something new and more complicated does not innovate. It does exactly the opposite. Furthermore, see item 2 again. The aesthetics of the operating system are sacrificed at the same time, which means on desktop it's all a gigantic step backward.
Problem 5: The new paradigm has a negative impact on consumer perceptions.
The absolute best way for Microsoft to introduce the changes we've seen with Windows 8 would have been to make them optional at the moment of installation. We could then have chosen the interface that best suits our device. Maybe by changing Windows components and features, we could have even made changes later, say, if we bought a touch screen. Instead, Microsoft forced these changed on every desktop user with reason to upgrade and not only have they not cared what any of us think, but they've hired public relations firms to aggressively treat us like shit for having our own opinions. Everything about the first step of this transition has been inconsiderate and disrespectful.
Problem 6: Nothing about the new Windows features is necessary.
I've used Windows 8 for about a year and a half. At one point, my metro apps quick working, and Windows advised me to refresh my PC from installation disc. That would have then involved time sacrificed to updates and reconfiguration. I didn't do it. I still haven't. And there is nothing at all about metro
I just thought of the perfect analogy!
She wouldn't, but suppose my ol' lady goes out and gets the stereotypical trashy-street-walker-looking trailer park hoochie mama outfit. Of course, it would appall me, and I'd be entitled to that opinion, right? It's her clothes, her body they're being put on, her choice. It would annoy me, but it wouldn't necessarily be a relationship-killer unless she started trying wearing it to functions where it's *really* inappropriate.
However, suppose she paid some group of people to follow me everywhere and interrupt conversations or say rude things any time I mentioned the word "clothes" without involving some kind of glowing praise for the hoochie mama outfit. That would be a relationship-killer, right? That's basically what Microsoft has done, and the mobile interface is the hoochie mama outfit.
Are you saying that the more advanced the Windows UI, the more power users should and will use the keyboard? The entire GUI premise is flawed if the strategy is to revert to keyboard shortcuts.
I think Microsoft's introduction of Windows 8 and the Office Ribbon have been so badly bungled that many power users have simply reverted to keyboard shortcuts. However, as a strategy, I don't think it is a good idea. Why even have the mouse when we can all go back to command line?
Problem 1: Multiple instances of the same program.
This was answered in the link that you provided. Right click on the task bar icon and open a new instance of the application (or access the jump list of recently used files). It works for Windows 7 and 8.
Problem 2: The start screen forces me into a mobile interface.
Yeah, I hate the Metro interface too. But this is the high profile change that they made to Windows 10, so it is already a solved problem.
Problem 3: Windows 8 sends to Microsoft everything we locally search.
This is a configurable option in Windows 8.1, so that isn't a problem.
Problem 4: Functionality isn't everything.
It will be interesting how many of Windows 8's less intuitive user interface features will still be around in the final version of Windows 10. My most hated modern user interface idea is the removal of UI hints to simplify the screen. You end up having to try clicking and swiping everything just to see if it does something. Having to move the mouse to particular corners of the screen is a crap idea too
Problem 5: The new paradigm has a negative impact on consumer perceptions.
The absolute best way for Microsoft to introduce the changes we've seen with Windows 8 would have been to make them optional at the moment of installation. We could then have chosen the interface that best suits our device.
Well that is what they have done now. I read a great article once on the though process that went on behind the scenes about the new interface. I wish I could find it again, because it put it all into perspective. I will still always hate the Metro interface and the loss of functionality that it brings, but I have been surprised at the change of heart about it that the staff at my company have had about it. They went from hating it to acceptance (and even one who loves it).
Problem 6: Nothing about the new Windows features is necessary.
That gets said about every version of Windows. XP was just a face-lift on 2000. Vista was just XP run as a limited user. Windows 7 was just Vista, which, for some reason, the people who hated Vista decided that they loved. The changes in each version are more noticeable when moving back to an old version. You suddenly realise how many of the new features you use when they suddenly disappear.
Now I write that though (on my Windows 7 computer), I can't think of any examples of things that I miss from Win8 right now.
If you need to install third-party software to make the basic OS usable or presentable, then the OS makers have failed miserably. Add-ons come with potential penalties as well. You're never sure how long they'll be supported. They may have performance penalties or security implications, they might cause stability issues (since some of them hook into the guts of the OS via undocumented interfaces), or they might interfere with future updates, etc. People are quick to load up their software platforms of choice (Windows, Firefox, Android, etc) with dozens of third-party add-ons, and then they bitch about how how slow, buggy, bloated, etc that platform is.
The entire point of an OS platform is to enable your clients to essentially ignore the OS and simply get their work done. Windows 8 seemed intent on getting in the users face by introducing radical and unnecessary new paradigms, or by shoving ass-ugly new "modern" visual concepts that look like Windows 3.1 rejects. At the very least, Windows 10 is improving on some of the worst aspects of 8 usability, even if it still looks like crap.
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
4. Don't forget the latency and legacy directx issues caused by the always-on dwm. There are kludgy work arounds like using application compatibility toolkit to turn on certain shims, but even those break once multiple monitors are enabled. The only way to enable multiple monitors and have these applications work is to kill the dwm entirely, which is a massive kludge that breaks things like task manager and the login screen.
5. The new interface doesn't allow adjusting window size attributes. It won't even let you set the title text to a light color when the bar is a dark one. Also the current theme is terrible. I'd like the classic win2k look back (with its explorer because of its capabilities, and configuration flexibility). I realize some find that ugly too, but the current design is worse than that.
As far as I know, these were not addressed in the current windows 10 builds.