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.

Comments

I must be missing something.

[jtownatpunk.net]

Clicking on one icon to switch to "metro" and then clicking on another to switch to "desktop" doesn't seem terribly cumbersome. On my tablet, search/replace click/tap.

Re:I must be missing something.

[rudy_wayne]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[snowgirl]

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...

Re:I must be missing something.

[duck_rifted]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[snowgirl]

I just checked it out... it doesn't go to metro... it goes to "everything is full screen unless you pull an app to the side for a split-screen effect.

Basically, it's like a tiling window manager, except you only have the choice of one or two windows at a time...

Re:I must be missing something.

[rudy_wayne]

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

Re:I must be missing something.

[loufoque]

99% of the time when my Android phone runs out of battery, it's because some program using GPS was left running.

Re:I must be missing something.

[duck_rifted]

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

Re:I must be missing something.

[duck_rifted]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[Cassini2]

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?

Re:I must be missing something.

[Alien1024]

The headline is wrong. They haven't just now "enabled" switching between desktop and tablet modes - that has been possible since Win8 initial release, in more or less convoluted ways. They have introduced a new, "automatic" way to do it.

Re:I must be missing something.

[Gadget_Guy]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[thegarbz]

I agree with some of what you said. But a few things:

Problem 3: Windows 8 sends to Microsoft everything we locally search.

You're really stretching with this complaint. The data usage of this is incredibly marginal. Also windows allows you to set network interfaces as metered connections. I have heard (though not tried in practice) that this will cause the search not to happen. But don't quote me on this. I've certainly seen it do other things like disable windows update in this scenario.

Problem 6: Nothing about the new Windows features is necessary

This I disagree with. Ok Metro is definitely not the answer. It's an ugly clusterfuck of uselessness, but the change was far from unnecessary. Many devices now are sold with touch screens, many more are sold as convertible tablets. We are moving more and more to "transformer" devices like the Surface series where having a full desktop or a full tablet interface is not the answer. Windows 7 was unusable on such a device.

The changes are definitely necessary. Though they are far from perfect.

Re:I must be missing something.

[thegarbz]

Err in Windows 8.1 you click the x on the top right to exit it too.... or am I missing something.

Re:I must be missing something.

[Dutch Gun]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[zippthorne]

No, they should not add an off switch.

They should add an on switch. The default state shouldn't be "spend my money for me on something that mostly benefits you and not me."

Re:I must be missing something.

[epyT-R]

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.

Re:I must be missing something.

[thegarbz]

In Windows 8.1, you have the same for applications running in the desktop

False. Metro applications have a X in the top right too. Just drag your mouse up there and watch it appear.

The only difference between Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 is that there are now 3 ways of closing an application instead of 2.

1. Alt+F4
2. Click X in the top right with mouse.
3. Single finger swipe from top to bottom (Metro Only).

Re:I must be missing something.

[thegarbz]

You don't. Click the top right with your mouse and your metro application will close.

You get a minimise button too if you want to use the mouse to get back to the metro menu instead of hitting the windows key.

Re:I must be missing something.

[thegarbz]

I understand your argument, but I think we as the users have lost this battle a long time ago.

If I walk away right now:
Slashdot will refresh every few minutes.
Google updater will look online.
Windows update will look online.
Outlook will autofetch my emails.
Lync will use data for its keep alive connection to the server even if someone doesn't talk to me.
Macafee will look for new definitions every hour or so (corporate laptop)
Skype is using data for its keep alive connection.

And all of that is just the things I can see running. We have moved well beyond the tipping point of being in control of data we send and receive in our demand for always on, always up to date, and instant push notifications.

In many regards with the ability to disable some things in windows 8.1 when using a metered connection (i.e. windows update, skype or any other metro application) you will end up using less data now than before. 2 steps forward, one step back.

Re:I must be missing something.

[macs4all]

Why do you type like this...

Did you learn English... from pull-down menus...

Because you certainly haven't retained... any writing skills... past the first grade...

You learned elipses in the first grade?

Dick.

Otherwise known as...

[Anonymous Coward]

fucked up and fucked sideways

Long time...

[redwraith94]

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...

Re:Long time...

[doom]

The real question is why Windows 8. Okay, some dorky website run by twenty-somethings is bound to leap on trendy, flashy technology, because the kids look on "backwards compatibility" as some outmoded, fuddy-duddy infringement on their creative freedom, but you'd think a company like Microsoft would run a complete UI revamp through a testing phase, and not just listen to some bullshit like "oh, people are always resistant to change, they may hate this at first, but when they get used to it, they'll love it!".

Re:Long time...

[rudy_wayne]

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...

Windows 10 IS Windows 9.

Re:Long time...

[Anonymous Coward]

you'd think a company like Microsoft would run a complete UI revamp through a testing phase, and not just listen to some bullshit like "oh, people are always resistant to change, they may hate this at first, but when they get used to it, they'll love it!".

You'd think. But you'd be wrong. Digg did it. Firefox did it. GNOME did it. Even Slashdot damn near did it. UI is about elegant discoverable interfaces between user and computer, and if this means expensive testing and actually listening to feedback that says "don't fix what isn't broken," so be it. UX, by contrast, relies on bogus metrics to justify change for its own sake - said change always requiring the hiring of more UX people, for some strange reason.

UX has become a cancer upon the profession. UXtards destroy products in order to leave their creative stamp on them. They lie to the marketroids and the C-suite by convincing them that change for its own sake is value-add. The existence of UX personnel in your organization ultimately results in a loss of marketshare and mindshare. Fire them all before your customers do.

Re:Long time...

[Dutch Gun]

I think one of the problems from management's perspective is that some of these platforms are now incredibly mature. If version + 1 looks and works exactly like version, then it's harder to make the case that the new product is worthy of purchase. That is, you'd actually have to produce real innovation. That's hard to do in a platform like Windows, where your greatest assets are mass market penetration and boring old backwards compatibility with the ancient Win32 API.

UX is a perceived shortcut. It's a fresh coat of paint that the masses can point to and say "look, it's really different". The downside, of course, is that any UX change is incredibly disruptive even in the *best* case. That means you go through mental disruption and re-learning how tasks are performed, but eventually gain some benefits, especially with initial training which doesn't have to "unlearn" old habits. In the *worst* case, you end up causing a lot of pain for people, and end up with a system worse than what you started with. Then, you either undo what you did and cause further pain, or you stubbornly double-down on the new UX and try to incrementally improve it (aka polishing a turd), with the hope that if you polish it long and hard enough, it may turn into a diamond.

Start Menu

[MrDoh!]

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.

Re:Start Menu

[itsenrique]

Bingo. It doesn't have to be the start menu as imagined in 7, but it CAN NOT require you to type to find things. Tap, click, hover, whatever. But keep the original structure of shortcuts.

Re:Start Menu

[thegarbz]

I find it funny how typing in the start menu is something people are talking about now as if it's a new thing. Someone even showed me how "amazing" the auto search was in Windows 8.1

I blew his mind when I showed him Windows Vista does the same thing.

Re:What about privacy

[viperidaenz]

As a technical preview with a primary goal of soliciting feedback from its user, I'd say quite a bit.

Re:What What?

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

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...

Re:What What?

[ChunderDownunder]

Well I agree with GP's assertion that a 4" phone shouldn't have the same interface as a 2x21" desktop. As such one of my 'computers' runs Firefox OS and the other KDE atop debian.

But I don't have a tablet in my life. A 9" phone, running iOS or Android, that doesn't make phone calls, no thanks! What would convince me to buy a tablet would be one that comes with a fancy stand (we used to call it a docking station back in the day) that allows me to plug in all my existing peripherals and transform into a workstation OS.

MS share that vision. KDE share that vision via plasma (though their Vivaldi tablet didn't make it to market).

Re:What What?

[ChunderDownunder]

Well for the last 4-5 years I haven't owned a tablet. :) A phone can do everything a tablet can do, albeit on a tiny screen such as "convenient data access and occasional very light data entry".

What constitutes a "real PC" these days? Laptops are, for many, a desktop replacement. Touchscreens are becoming the norm because it's a 'value-add' that adds little to the purchase price. If you embed the CPU in the screen instead of the keyboard, you have the option of detaching the keyboard altogether.

Should one device perform both functions, or do we stick with the Apple mantra that you need both an iPad AND a macbook? Or the Google mantra that, increasingly, you don't need a desktop OS altogether?

I know I'm gonna catch a lot of crap for this...

[taoboy]

...but I'm finding Win 8 as a switch-hit tablet/sorta-netbook is working pretty well for me. I've been using both Windows and various Linux desktop distros for decades now, waiting for someone to put together an OS that would alternatively do the tablet thing, then do desktop with a BT keyboard and mouse. Ubuntu seems to be heading there, but Win 8 actually does a passable job in both modes. I'm running it on a cheapie WinBook from Microcenter with 2GB RAM and 32GB flash as C:. And then, to add insult to injury, IE 11 is the best tablet browser I've tried, and I've tried quite a few. I still use Firefox when in the desktop, as well as all my old Windows desktop applications, but I try to Metro-app in Metro when at all possible. Thing is, when in desktop, get out the mouse and keyboard; the screen is too small for fingering around. But I'm finding Metro to be like any other device; you've gotta spend a little time figuring it out, but there's nothing onerous about it, well, maybe the app killing thing.

I wanted Ubuntu to get there first, but it is my studied opinion that Windows is ahead in tablet/desktop switch-hitting. So there; flame away, I've already attracted my mate so I don't have to worry about how I look, smell, or are regarded your eyes... :D

Great feature!

[hcs_$reboot]

Really, great feature. Ok, now, let's be practical: can Linux be installed over windows-10 as usual?

Re:Switching is not integration

[jones_supa]

But this does not justify having two kinds of apps, none of which run in both modes. Either it's a classic desktop app without multitouch/orientation switch support, or a metro app that can not open multiple windows (can it even be tiled with other apps these days?).

The Modern UI apps will run inside resizeable windows in the desktop mode. You are right though that Modern apps cannot open multiple windows.