BBC News,
Dave Lee, Technology reporter, 30 May 2013
Related
Stories
- Windows 8 update timing revealed
- Microsoft's Steve Ballmer: Should he stay as boss?
- Windows 8: The experts weigh in
 |
| Microsoft has released screenshots confirming the return of a Start button to Windows 8 |
The lack of
the facility - which had been in every previous version since Windows 95 - has
been one of the most controversial aspects of the software.
However, it
will not offer all the functionality previously associated with the feature.
Instead it
will bring users to the recently-introduced "Metro" interface.
"We've
improved the way you navigate to Start with the mouse by changing the Start
'tip' to be the familiar Windows logo," the company said in a blog post.
"The
new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the
screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop."
On current
versions of Windows 8, the start tip would only appear when users hovered their
cursor over the lower-left corner of their screen.
In the 8.1
update, the area will be more visible.
A
left-click on the tip will bring up a tile-based Start Screen - formerly known
as the Metro interface - designed for touch-screen users.
A
right-click will display a small menu of other options such as Event Viewer,
Device Manager and Disk Management.
Another
change will allow users to boot their computers directly into desktop mode,
meaning they can avoid ever using the Start Screen if they wish.
 |
| The Windows 7 Start button triggered a menu with apps and other links |
'New Coke'
Microsoft
had been stung by claims that the expected reintroduction of a Start button
would mark a major U-turn.
An article
in the Financial Times described the move as one of the "most prominent
admissions of failure for a new mass-market consumer product since Coca-Cola's
New Coke fiasco nearly 30 years ago" - making reference to the soft drinks
company's to ditch a new recipe after overwhelming customer dissatisfaction.
Microsoft
later issued a statement saying it was "unfortunate" the FT did not
represent the "good response to date on Windows 8."
A preview
download of Windows 8.1 will be released to the public in June, and a final
version before the end of the year. Both will be free of charge to existing
users.
'A fudge'
Chris
Green, principal technology analyst for the Davies Murphy Group, told the BBC
he did not think the change would be enough to silence the critics.
"What
they're proposing to do is a bit of a fudge.
"It's
the bare minimum to say they've addressed people's complaints while not having
to really backtrack on anything."
He said
Microsoft faced a challenge in being able to innovative with Windows while also
keeping its vast user base comfortable.
"When
new operating systems come along, same with major applications, everything
moves around. People hate it because they have to re-learn from scratch."
Other
changes that will appear to users running the update include:
- Added customisation options, with more choice over colours and backgrounds on the Start Screen.
- An improved search function that covers web content as well as apps, files and settings on the PC.
- A new version of the firm's web browser - Internet Explorer 11 - which Microsoft said would offer improved tools for developers.
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