Today Microsoft unveiled a preview of the next generation of their operating system, cleverly code-named “Windows 8”.
The focus on tiles is clearly inspired by the Windows Phone OS, and it looks pretty slick. Apps going full-screen and behaving more like tablet apps is the direction all desktop operating systems are going, and if it’s done well, it could be great. I’d love to be able to focus on one thing at a time the way I can on an iPad, but still have all the power and flexibility of a desktop.
The way he swipes app in from the left seems like app roulette though. I didn’t see any way to know which app you’re bringing forward, it just looks like a linear carousel. This is the danger of going to far in the direction of a tablet. Compromises like cycling through apps one by one are fine when you have limited screen space and only your finger to navigate, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the best way to do things.
Nice to see Microsoft stretching here though, and it’ll be very interesting to see how much of this makes it to the final product.
Microsoft can’t afford a microphone?
What’s with all the tech news on Slog recently? It’s like if TechCrunch or TechMeme started running second rate sex stuff.
Looks like a much better Tablet interface than what Windows 7 offers.
Also looks like a terrible PC interface.
I’d still be happy with Windows 3.1.
I cant wait for porn explorer 11
This looks strangely similar to the Lion previews.
Jeez, I thought Windoze 7 was the solution to the fucked up mess that was Vista. They’re on to 8 already?
And it took 6 comments before the predictable “apple already did that,” or “nuh-uh” from some Steve Jobs fanboy. Longer than usual. Predictable as ever. The rest of us don’t really care who made it. We just want it to work for longer than 18 months before being forced to upgrade to the latest shiny bauble.
Ditto on #3. I was really liking the pane interface until they swiped right into regular old windows. Unless there’s something really mind-blowing that we’re not seeing, it seems like a pretty awkward way to combine a touch based interface and a kbd & mouse-based interface. Touch stuff looked pretty nice, though.
2 queries:
1. Is worsening everyone’s ADHD a feature or just a bonus?
2. Does it come with some sort of armrest, to make spending all day with your arm stretched out to the screen more comfortable?
I guess MS has completely given up on the concept of an “icon”, and user’s ability to recognize them without an extensive text label. A tablet or phone will have a somewhat limited number of apps, so the carousel approach may be appropriate. The desktop machine of a power user may have 100+ apps installed, and many TBs of data. Heirachical menu systems have proven to be quite effective to manage these larger systems. The new “Tiles” method feels either like a large step back in organization, or a big step forward in limiting flexibilty.
Oh, and a touch screen interface is completely incompatible with an HTPC setup.
Blech. So their big concept is to slap a Windows phone shell on top of the OS. They must have put a lot of thought into that one.
All hail Bob 2.0
This post is made of Ugh.
@7 “Jeez, I thought Windoze 7 was the solution to the fucked up mess that was Vista. They’re on to 8 already?”
I could not get Vista 64 bit to install on any of my 64 bit AMD machines, Win7 installed just fine. Now have it on several of my machines. So yeah, Win7 fixed many of the problems associated with Vista.
Apple is still stuck on version 10 of their OS.