Yes, it gives a brief one sentence explanation in the overview of Express Settings ("Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft") and has a link that pops up a window with a detailed overview of each Express Settings option. They even provide a privacy statement in the same place, which details the privacy policy for each setting that collects information including: what it does, what data they collect, what they do with the data, and how you can turn it off or control it.
Problem with virtual space exploration is the speed of light. When thing go wrong (and they will) you're limited by how fast you can respond to disaster. By the time you know about a situation, it will probably already be over. Useful and robot artificial intelligence capable of picking up the slack is probably further off than manned spaceflight is.
I agree, that line about government subpoenas bothered me. But according to the privacy policy regarding SmartScreen (which is available to read during installation when you choose express or custom settings), here is the relevant bit about anonymity:
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information..... We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
This seems perfectly reasonable to me. GUID is a randomized unique number that can't be traced to you and can't identify any personal information. So a government subpoena requesting your personal information is going to be useless. Point one is moot. They're not even using the data to advertise to you.
As for the plight of the hypothetical uninformed, lackadaisical, privacy conscious user, I can't say I'm too sympathetic. Microsoft does a good job explaining what the default settings are before you select express settings, including that app and file data will be shared with Microsoft: "Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft" pretty clearly states you will be sending app and file data to Microsoft. MS goes even further to explain every express setting in detail right on the page by clicking a popup, and go even further still by providing the full privacy statement on what data will be transmitted, how it will be used, and how you can turn the feature off. There really is no reason for a user to be uninformed given these measures, unless they are grossly oblivious and really don't care at all about privacy one way or the other (see almost every Facebook user). I would argue such a user has no right to complain when he finds out his data is being sent to Microsoft.
The only other point TFA raises is that the data isn't encrypted strong enough and a man in the middle could intercept and decrypt, which neglects the fact that a man in the middle could intercept the file when you downloaded in the first place, which is likely unencrypted.
A reputation-based security measure that is opt-in can't be very effective. The whole premise behind this kind of security is that many people use it. The only objection with "opt-out" options are for people who wouldn't want it but who are otherwise not knowledgeable enough to know they don't want it.
Microsoft provides very plain-language text about what SmartScreen does, what data they collect, how they use that data, and how the user can turn the feature off, right there during installation when the user chooses "Express Settings" or "Customize".
Any user seriously concerned about privacy can click right there on the button labeled "Privacy Statement," read through it, and then make an informed decision about what features to enable/disable. They even tell you which features are enabled by choosing express settings before you even choose it. Any user who doesn't care enough and clicks right through express settings without knowing what settings they are enabling are probably the exact users who will benefit from a feature like SmartScreen being opt-out.
Below is the relevant privacy text Microsoft includes when you choose express install. TLDR; they associate a GUID with the data which is used to track data coming from the same computer over time. So they are storing the data, but they aren't able to identify you personally with it. I think that discounts point number one in the article, about a government agency subpoenaing data.
What this feature does
Windows SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking files and apps with Microsoft to help protect you from potentially unsafe files and apps. Windows will ask you what you want to do if the file or app is unknown or potentially unsafe before it's opened"
Information collected, processed, or transmitted
If you choose to use this feature, information about some of the apps you use and some of hte files you download from the Internet will be sent to Microsoft. This information may include a file name, file ID ("hash"), and digital certificate information along with standard PC information and the Windows SmartScreen filter version number. To help protect your privacy, the information sent to Microsoft is encrypted.
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information.
Use of Information
Microsoft uses the information described above to provide warnings to you about potentially unsafe files and apps. We also use the information to analyze performance of the feature to improve the quality of our products and services. We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
Choice and control
If you choose express settings while setting up Windows, you can turn on Windows SmartScreen. If you choose to customize settings, you can control Windows SmartScreen by selecting Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft under Help protect your privacy and your PC. After setting up windows, you can change this setting in Action Center in the Control Panel.
No, it's that it's opt-out and they don't tell you what they're sending.
I take this back. I just checked the windows install process, and on the page where you choose "Use Express Settings" or "Customize" there are two options to "Learn more about express settings" and "Privacy Statement" where Microsoft details each feature, what data they collect, and how they use that data.
For Smartscreen the text reads:
What this feature does
Windows SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking files and apps with Microsoft to help protect you from potentially unsafe files and apps. Windows will ask you what you want to do if the file or app is unknown or potentially unsafe before it's opened"
Information collected, processed, or transmitted
If you choose to use this feature, information about some of the apps you use and some of hte files you download from the Internet will be sent to Microsoft. This information may include a file name, file ID ("hash"), and digital certificate information along with standard PC information and the Windows SmartScreen filter version number. To help protect your privacy, the information sent to Microsoft is encrypted.
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information.
Use of Information
Microsoft uses the information described above to provide warnings to you about potentially unsafe files and apps. We also use the information to analyze performance of the feature to improve the quality of our products and services. We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
Choice and control
If you choose express settings while setting up Windows, you can turn on Windows SmartScreen. If you choose to customize settings, you can control Windows SmartScreen by selecting Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft under Help protect your privacy and your PC. After setting up windows, you can change this setting in Action Center in the Control Panel.
You're wrong. The actual problem is that it's opt-out.
No, it's that it's opt-out and they don't tell you what they're sending. Also even if this were opt-in, it's still a privacy issue. In that respect, Debian popcorn is also a concern issue if they work the same way (I don't know, basing on what you said).
Something being opt-out doesn't automatically make it a privacy concern.
But it's not a privacy concern because it's opt-in.
No, the privacy concern TFA raises is two-fold:
1) Microsoft is centralizing the data collection and Governments could subpoena them for information about an individual.
2) A malicious individual could intercept the data as its transferred and decrypt it.
These are two very big problems for someone concerned about privacy. But that it's an opt-out feature means that it actually has a chance to protect the people who need this kind of protection most. The fact that you can turn if off on install means that you never even have to worry about it if you're concerned about your privacy.
was not only found guilty, but loses their appeals
I don't think his guilt was ever in question since he made the mistake of confessing. In all his interviews, he seems to admit that he did in fact do it.
Can't this kid just file for bankruptcy? Corporations do it all the time and skip out on their obligations. Liquidate all his assets (none) pay off what he can (nothing) and tell the creditors to shove it. Barring that, what else can he possibly do? Pay in $100 for the rest of his life? This is pure lunacy.
I've used one. There's a learning curve, but after a week I was pretty fast with it. I've never actually coded with it though just typed notes, but all the keys are there for just one hand.
The start screen is not the location for "All Programs" anymore; there is a separate screen for that called "All Apps". I have 90% of the apps you have installed, plus other desktop apps, and a bunch of metro apps and games as well. And yet my start screen is very clean and organized. I have my most used apps, about 30 or so, organized into groups for news, games, productivity, reference, and social applications; and to keep things organized, I only put apps on the start screen that I actually use. For instance, Adobe Reader isn't something there, nor is quicktime or 7-zip. If I need to run those I'll do so by opening a file. And no, even with 40+ apps on my start screen I don't need multiple monitors just to view them all.
If I need to open a program that's not on the start screen, I just press start and search for it, like I do in Windows 7, or I open the "all apps" list.
Anyway, if your start screen looks like a mess, it's your own fault for the same reasons it's your fault if your desktop looks like crap. You can let installers put 1000 icons all over your desktop, but if you don't customize it to your liking you have no reason to complain.
Finally, I don't see why you'd pass on Windows 8 just because you don't like the start screen. If it's really that detestable to you, just install a start menu replacement like vistart or a shell replacement like classic shell and use those.
The ribbon probably wasn't implemented for power usres... probably quite the contrary since the whole concept of the ribbon is for novice users. But there are some consequences of the ribbon that make explorer easier to use IMO:
-The inclusion of the ribbon reverses the boneheaded decision in Windows 7 to just hide the menu bar until you press alt
-It brings forward long buried options like "show file extensions" and "show hidden items"
-The ribbon is minimized by default, so it's not exactly in the way
-Microsoft combined a couple toolbars into the ribbon, resulting in less vertical space taken up by headers/toolbars
-They added a quick access toolbar you can pin a couple functions to
-Alt now provides easy indications for shortcut keys to any function in the ribbon.
It should be possible to disable it entirely and have everything work solely in desktop mode.
You have many options now to disable and modify metro from third parties, and I'm sure you can expect many more in the future when Windows 8 is released.
Funny, I have to access the Metro page all the freaking time.
Why? I'm on the desktop 99% of the time and find little reason to access the start screen. I launch all my apps on desktop, manage files on desktop, manage settings on desktop, use all my apps on desktop... the only thing metro I use is the full-screen metro search. Perhaps that's what you're referring to having to do all the time?
The large tiles are not a good thing in the setting of a desktop -- the traditional start menu is a much better way to go in that environment. The density of relevant information (the apps that are available) is much higher, and that's a good thing.
I disagree. The traditional start menu does not scale up, and offers the same amount of information no matter how large your resolution is. Thus maybe the localized density is high, but as a function of screen resolution it's very small and this limits the total amount of information that can be displayed, which is also very important. By contrast, the start screen displays an amount of applications proportional to the size of the screen. Further, the start screen displays two types of information: what programs are available to launch and an expected state of the program if you launch it. Thus for every tile you effectively double your information density compared to the standard start menu. This is an advantage to having large tiles. Also this prevents you from needlessly launching an application you might otherwise launch without that information (stock updates, weather, or a calendar for instance).
All your icons are the same? Mine aren't. The icons reflect what the document or folder contains.
I guess I'm confused. I was talking about all programs. It's just a list of folders with the same folder icon and a word next to it. Maybe you have some mod?
Seriously. No. I don't know if you would prefer to read a website where opinions and comments are carefully monitored to make sure they conform to a prescribed groupthink and echo-chamber mentality, but that's not something I desire. Comments accusing of shilling are completely without merit and are unwarranted, especially when I have a well established comment history and enough karma to burn for the next 6 months. You want me to shut up, refute my points, or better yet just ignore them and move on with your life. Otherwise your comment simply can be read as "lalala can't hear you"
Metro is just a design language that emphasizes minimalism and typography; there are no prescriptions as to the form of input. Metro UIs have been employed for TV, hand held devices, desktop apps, and webpages; for use with remotes, game controllers, voice, kinect, mice, keyboards, and yes touch.
True, many of the default metro apps are very touch friendly. That doesn't mean any developer couldn't make a metro application that is specifically designed for mouse input and is very touch unfriendly. For instance, Office 15 is designed with some metro-specific principles, but is not very touch friendly. Same goes for Zune desktop software.
It is mentally jarring to switch contexts, but I imagine I can get used to Metro's "annoyance"
I see words like "jarring" thrown around with respect to opening the start screen, and after using Windows 8 for months I think that kind of language is vastly overstating the issue. I used to see the same kind of complaints about window animations and aero glass transparency. After a while, you largely don't notice it anymore.
For most people on this forum, accessing the start screen would be a rare event. There are only two reasons to do so: to quickly read live tiles or to launch a metro app. Members of this forum would probably have no want or need for either. Reorienting yourself in the start screen takes a fraction of a second, since the tiles are so large and differentiated enough to encourage quick recognition. This is an improvement over the standard start menu, where all the icons are the same (a folder) and you have to spend time reading the list to find the item you want.
As a creator, I don't want all that extra crap getting in my way.
How is anything "in your way" at all? The elements unique to Windows 8 are only visible when invoked called by you, the user. When on the desktop, there is nothing metro in your way at all.
Your quote suggests that Windows 8 ignores that multitasking and content production is best suited for PCs, but neglects the fact that Windows 8 not only *has* a full featured desktop to use as much as you want, but also has several enhancements especially for multitasking on the desktop, including:
-better multi monitor support
-more informative and helpful file copy dialogs
-enhanced task manager
-the resurgence of the up-directory button
-finer granularity for preemptive multitasking
-and the ability to snap metro windows next to the desktop.
This last feature is especially great for large monitors and multi-monitor setups. I usually dock a calculator, music player, a reference like wikipedia, email, or a chat session in the 25% slot with the desktop in the 75% slot.
The option to start to desktop is still there in RTM in the form of third party utilities. Just because Microsoft doesn't include the particular setting you prefer, doesn't mean you can't customize the desktop in a way you find suitable. It's been this way since the dawn of Windows. I don't like many settings about Windows 7, particularly clicking on a taskbar item doesn't cycle through the windows. I installed a hack that fixes it, and now I'm happier. I've been using every release of Windows 8 and now am on RTM, and there are several things I don't like about it but there are simple utilities that tweak it to how I prefer, and more will be on the way when it's finally released.
I've actually done the calculation for iOS and WP7 in terms of unused space on the homescreen. It turns out that for iOS, if you discount icons, text, and indicators, 43% of the screen accounts for "unused" space. By comparison, the unused space in WP7, even including the black bar on the side, accounts for about 35-40%, depending on where the icons and which type are used. Don't really see how this is a concern however, since the space is used very efficiently by combining widgets and launchers into one.
Either way the point is moot I guess, since WP8/7.8 revamps the home screen.
Slashdot Mirror
I assume it also explains what SmartScreen does?
Yes, it gives a brief one sentence explanation in the overview of Express Settings ("Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft") and has a link that pops up a window with a detailed overview of each Express Settings option. They even provide a privacy statement in the same place, which details the privacy policy for each setting that collects information including: what it does, what data they collect, what they do with the data, and how you can turn it off or control it.
Problem with virtual space exploration is the speed of light. When thing go wrong (and they will) you're limited by how fast you can respond to disaster. By the time you know about a situation, it will probably already be over. Useful and robot artificial intelligence capable of picking up the slack is probably further off than manned spaceflight is.
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information. .... We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
This seems perfectly reasonable to me. GUID is a randomized unique number that can't be traced to you and can't identify any personal information. So a government subpoena requesting your personal information is going to be useless. Point one is moot. They're not even using the data to advertise to you.
As for the plight of the hypothetical uninformed, lackadaisical, privacy conscious user, I can't say I'm too sympathetic. Microsoft does a good job explaining what the default settings are before you select express settings, including that app and file data will be shared with Microsoft: "Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft" pretty clearly states you will be sending app and file data to Microsoft. MS goes even further to explain every express setting in detail right on the page by clicking a popup, and go even further still by providing the full privacy statement on what data will be transmitted, how it will be used, and how you can turn the feature off. There really is no reason for a user to be uninformed given these measures, unless they are grossly oblivious and really don't care at all about privacy one way or the other (see almost every Facebook user). I would argue such a user has no right to complain when he finds out his data is being sent to Microsoft.
The only other point TFA raises is that the data isn't encrypted strong enough and a man in the middle could intercept and decrypt, which neglects the fact that a man in the middle could intercept the file when you downloaded in the first place, which is likely unencrypted.
A reputation-based security measure that is opt-in can't be very effective. The whole premise behind this kind of security is that many people use it. The only objection with "opt-out" options are for people who wouldn't want it but who are otherwise not knowledgeable enough to know they don't want it.
Microsoft provides very plain-language text about what SmartScreen does, what data they collect, how they use that data, and how the user can turn the feature off, right there during installation when the user chooses "Express Settings" or "Customize".
Any user seriously concerned about privacy can click right there on the button labeled "Privacy Statement," read through it, and then make an informed decision about what features to enable/disable. They even tell you which features are enabled by choosing express settings before you even choose it. Any user who doesn't care enough and clicks right through express settings without knowing what settings they are enabling are probably the exact users who will benefit from a feature like SmartScreen being opt-out.
What this feature does
Windows SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking files and apps with Microsoft to help protect you from potentially unsafe files and apps. Windows will ask you what you want to do if the file or app is unknown or potentially unsafe before it's opened"
Information collected, processed, or transmitted
If you choose to use this feature, information about some of the apps you use and some of hte files you download from the Internet will be sent to Microsoft. This information may include a file name, file ID ("hash"), and digital certificate information along with standard PC information and the Windows SmartScreen filter version number. To help protect your privacy, the information sent to Microsoft is encrypted.
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information.
Use of Information
Microsoft uses the information described above to provide warnings to you about potentially unsafe files and apps. We also use the information to analyze performance of the feature to improve the quality of our products and services. We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
Choice and control
If you choose express settings while setting up Windows, you can turn on Windows SmartScreen. If you choose to customize settings, you can control Windows SmartScreen by selecting Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft under Help protect your privacy and your PC. After setting up windows, you can change this setting in Action Center in the Control Panel.
No, it's that it's opt-out and they don't tell you what they're sending.
I take this back. I just checked the windows install process, and on the page where you choose "Use Express Settings" or "Customize" there are two options to "Learn more about express settings" and "Privacy Statement" where Microsoft details each feature, what data they collect, and how they use that data.
For Smartscreen the text reads:
What this feature does
Windows SmartScreen helps keep your PC safe by checking files and apps with Microsoft to help protect you from potentially unsafe files and apps. Windows will ask you what you want to do if the file or app is unknown or potentially unsafe before it's opened"
Information collected, processed, or transmitted
If you choose to use this feature, information about some of the apps you use and some of hte files you download from the Internet will be sent to Microsoft. This information may include a file name, file ID ("hash"), and digital certificate information along with standard PC information and the Windows SmartScreen filter version number. To help protect your privacy, the information sent to Microsoft is encrypted.
Windows SmartScreen randomly generates a number called a GUID that is sent to Microsoft with your SmartScreen usage data. The GUID lets us determine which data is sent from a particular PC over time. The GUID does not contain any personal information.
Use of Information
Microsoft uses the information described above to provide warnings to you about potentially unsafe files and apps. We also use the information to analyze performance of the feature to improve the quality of our products and services. We use the GUID to determine how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one computer experiencing a problem one hundred times and one hundred customers experiencing the same problem once. Microsoft doesn't use the information to identify, contact, or target advertising to you.
Choice and control
If you choose express settings while setting up Windows, you can turn on Windows SmartScreen. If you choose to customize settings, you can control Windows SmartScreen by selecting Use Windows Smartscreen Filter to Check Files and Apps with Microsoft under Help protect your privacy and your PC. After setting up windows, you can change this setting in Action Center in the Control Panel.
You're wrong. The actual problem is that it's opt-out.
No, it's that it's opt-out and they don't tell you what they're sending. Also even if this were opt-in, it's still a privacy issue. In that respect, Debian popcorn is also a concern issue if they work the same way (I don't know, basing on what you said).
Something being opt-out doesn't automatically make it a privacy concern.
But it's not a privacy concern because it's opt-in.
No, the privacy concern TFA raises is two-fold:
1) Microsoft is centralizing the data collection and Governments could subpoena them for information about an individual.
2) A malicious individual could intercept the data as its transferred and decrypt it.
These are two very big problems for someone concerned about privacy. But that it's an opt-out feature means that it actually has a chance to protect the people who need this kind of protection most. The fact that you can turn if off on install means that you never even have to worry about it if you're concerned about your privacy.
was not only found guilty, but loses their appeals
I don't think his guilt was ever in question since he made the mistake of confessing. In all his interviews, he seems to admit that he did in fact do it.
Can't this kid just file for bankruptcy? Corporations do it all the time and skip out on their obligations. Liquidate all his assets (none) pay off what he can (nothing) and tell the creditors to shove it. Barring that, what else can he possibly do? Pay in $100 for the rest of his life? This is pure lunacy.
Nice cover story... what are you really looking to do with that other hand while coding?
On a serious note, maybe this would do the trick: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FrogPad
I've used one. There's a learning curve, but after a week I was pretty fast with it. I've never actually coded with it though just typed notes, but all the keys are there for just one hand.
The start screen is not the location for "All Programs" anymore; there is a separate screen for that called "All Apps". I have 90% of the apps you have installed, plus other desktop apps, and a bunch of metro apps and games as well. And yet my start screen is very clean and organized. I have my most used apps, about 30 or so, organized into groups for news, games, productivity, reference, and social applications; and to keep things organized, I only put apps on the start screen that I actually use. For instance, Adobe Reader isn't something there, nor is quicktime or 7-zip. If I need to run those I'll do so by opening a file. And no, even with 40+ apps on my start screen I don't need multiple monitors just to view them all.
If I need to open a program that's not on the start screen, I just press start and search for it, like I do in Windows 7, or I open the "all apps" list.
Anyway, if your start screen looks like a mess, it's your own fault for the same reasons it's your fault if your desktop looks like crap. You can let installers put 1000 icons all over your desktop, but if you don't customize it to your liking you have no reason to complain.
Finally, I don't see why you'd pass on Windows 8 just because you don't like the start screen. If it's really that detestable to you, just install a start menu replacement like vistart or a shell replacement like classic shell and use those.
The ribbon probably wasn't implemented for power usres... probably quite the contrary since the whole concept of the ribbon is for novice users. But there are some consequences of the ribbon that make explorer easier to use IMO:
-The inclusion of the ribbon reverses the boneheaded decision in Windows 7 to just hide the menu bar until you press alt
-It brings forward long buried options like "show file extensions" and "show hidden items"
-The ribbon is minimized by default, so it's not exactly in the way
-Microsoft combined a couple toolbars into the ribbon, resulting in less vertical space taken up by headers/toolbars
-They added a quick access toolbar you can pin a couple functions to
-Alt now provides easy indications for shortcut keys to any function in the ribbon.
I wouldn't mind it much when Metro apps could just be started in a window like everything else
You will probably see mods for this the first weeks after release. Already there is a mod which runs the start screen in a window.
It should be possible to disable it entirely and have everything work solely in desktop mode.
You have many options now to disable and modify metro from third parties, and I'm sure you can expect many more in the future when Windows 8 is released.
Funny, I have to access the Metro page all the freaking time.
Why? I'm on the desktop 99% of the time and find little reason to access the start screen. I launch all my apps on desktop, manage files on desktop, manage settings on desktop, use all my apps on desktop... the only thing metro I use is the full-screen metro search. Perhaps that's what you're referring to having to do all the time?
The large tiles are not a good thing in the setting of a desktop -- the traditional start menu is a much better way to go in that environment. The density of relevant information (the apps that are available) is much higher, and that's a good thing.
I disagree. The traditional start menu does not scale up, and offers the same amount of information no matter how large your resolution is. Thus maybe the localized density is high, but as a function of screen resolution it's very small and this limits the total amount of information that can be displayed, which is also very important. By contrast, the start screen displays an amount of applications proportional to the size of the screen. Further, the start screen displays two types of information: what programs are available to launch and an expected state of the program if you launch it. Thus for every tile you effectively double your information density compared to the standard start menu. This is an advantage to having large tiles. Also this prevents you from needlessly launching an application you might otherwise launch without that information (stock updates, weather, or a calendar for instance).
All your icons are the same? Mine aren't. The icons reflect what the document or folder contains.
I guess I'm confused. I was talking about all programs. It's just a list of folders with the same folder icon and a word next to it. Maybe you have some mod?
Seriously. No. I don't know if you would prefer to read a website where opinions and comments are carefully monitored to make sure they conform to a prescribed groupthink and echo-chamber mentality, but that's not something I desire. Comments accusing of shilling are completely without merit and are unwarranted, especially when I have a well established comment history and enough karma to burn for the next 6 months. You want me to shut up, refute my points, or better yet just ignore them and move on with your life. Otherwise your comment simply can be read as "lalala can't hear you"
No, I'm pretty much confirming the rest of the sentence, at least IMO.
Except you can boot Server 2012 into Server Core more which is GUI free.
You have it backwards. Here on Slashdot, having the damning opinion ipso facto qualifies you as an authority.
Metro is made for embedded systems.
Metro is just a design language that emphasizes minimalism and typography; there are no prescriptions as to the form of input. Metro UIs have been employed for TV, hand held devices, desktop apps, and webpages; for use with remotes, game controllers, voice, kinect, mice, keyboards, and yes touch.
True, many of the default metro apps are very touch friendly. That doesn't mean any developer couldn't make a metro application that is specifically designed for mouse input and is very touch unfriendly. For instance, Office 15 is designed with some metro-specific principles, but is not very touch friendly. Same goes for Zune desktop software.
Ah yes, sorry. Where are my manners? I forgot you're not allowed to have a dissenting opinion around here.
It is mentally jarring to switch contexts, but I imagine I can get used to Metro's "annoyance"
I see words like "jarring" thrown around with respect to opening the start screen, and after using Windows 8 for months I think that kind of language is vastly overstating the issue. I used to see the same kind of complaints about window animations and aero glass transparency. After a while, you largely don't notice it anymore.
For most people on this forum, accessing the start screen would be a rare event. There are only two reasons to do so: to quickly read live tiles or to launch a metro app. Members of this forum would probably have no want or need for either. Reorienting yourself in the start screen takes a fraction of a second, since the tiles are so large and differentiated enough to encourage quick recognition. This is an improvement over the standard start menu, where all the icons are the same (a folder) and you have to spend time reading the list to find the item you want.
As a creator, I don't want all that extra crap getting in my way.
How is anything "in your way" at all? The elements unique to Windows 8 are only visible when invoked called by you, the user. When on the desktop, there is nothing metro in your way at all.
Your quote suggests that Windows 8 ignores that multitasking and content production is best suited for PCs, but neglects the fact that Windows 8 not only *has* a full featured desktop to use as much as you want, but also has several enhancements especially for multitasking on the desktop, including:
-better multi monitor support
-more informative and helpful file copy dialogs
-enhanced task manager
-the resurgence of the up-directory button
-finer granularity for preemptive multitasking
-and the ability to snap metro windows next to the desktop.
This last feature is especially great for large monitors and multi-monitor setups. I usually dock a calculator, music player, a reference like wikipedia, email, or a chat session in the 25% slot with the desktop in the 75% slot.
The option to start to desktop is still there in RTM in the form of third party utilities. Just because Microsoft doesn't include the particular setting you prefer, doesn't mean you can't customize the desktop in a way you find suitable. It's been this way since the dawn of Windows. I don't like many settings about Windows 7, particularly clicking on a taskbar item doesn't cycle through the windows. I installed a hack that fixes it, and now I'm happier. I've been using every release of Windows 8 and now am on RTM, and there are several things I don't like about it but there are simple utilities that tweak it to how I prefer, and more will be on the way when it's finally released.
I've actually done the calculation for iOS and WP7 in terms of unused space on the homescreen. It turns out that for iOS, if you discount icons, text, and indicators, 43% of the screen accounts for "unused" space. By comparison, the unused space in WP7, even including the black bar on the side, accounts for about 35-40%, depending on where the icons and which type are used. Don't really see how this is a concern however, since the space is used very efficiently by combining widgets and launchers into one.
Either way the point is moot I guess, since WP8/7.8 revamps the home screen.