Update: additional Refining Metro concept added here.
This week we heard of a new development codenamed Threshold by Microsoft, which mentions the return of the start menu but more importantly the “unification” of Windows in part achieved by running Metro apps on the desktop. This is important.
So what does windows 8.2 (or 9) need to have?
(View the full photos here, here, and here)
1. Metro Apps on the Desktop
Device Flexibility
Windows falls flat on large screens because it wastes space. Nobody buys a 30″ screen to use their mail app in full screen. 8.1 tried to improve this by allowing (gasp!) more than 2 apps on the same screen but only horizontally stacked. Running mail and 4 other apps all in 1:12 aspect ratio doesn’t do a whole lot either. So while I think Windows 8.1 has an excellent tablet UI model, that’s where it’s truly appreciated. But Microsoft has the advantage of making an operating system for every device from 4″ to 100″ (Windows Phone, Windows, Xbox) and if they’re looking for true consistency (which they need in order to thrive), then they must balance that with flexibility in the model. And in the oddball case where display technology gets really cheap and people own “display walls” (and they run Windows), the OS would obviously have to be flexible enough to allow things running all over the wall. Even though that’s not an imminent reality, Windows has to find out how to bridge the gap to future needs.
Desktop and Metro: Disjointed
In addition, it really sucks to have two drastically different experiences in the new Windows-8-Store-Style (Metro) mode and the traditional desktop. I have two different Skype applications that receive messages separately and notify me in two different ways. My note-taking app (OneNote) is in one place/style and my word processing app (Word) is in another. A lot of people are afraid that the desktop will go away completely to fix the inconsistently, but that’s really just impractical. Metro set off a revolution in UI design and it’s right to embrace the style over the flattened-Aero look of the desktop, so why not allow the new Windows 8 apps to be “popped” out of full screen onto the desktop? Everyone’s happy– traditional users can stick to the multi-window desktop mode, lovers of the new stuff can continue to use their apps full screen, and the aesthetic inconsistencies of the two modes fade away. Tablet users can experience the way Windows exists now and desktop users can enjoy the new functionality. And Microsoft can even decide what’s enabled based on the size of the device.
This reminds me a lot of a Windows 8 concept that I saw a while back and loved.
2. Better ‘Play To’ functionality that rivals Apple’s Airplay
I recently got an Xbox One. I’m fairly happy about it minus a small handful of complaints that I’ll write about later. But here’s one thing- the “One” in Xbox “One” refers to Microsoft’s goal of making the “One” box anyone needs in their place of entertainment. The Xbox One aims to satisfy the needs of gamers and non-gamers alike by offering games, apps, video and music services, multi-view functionality, voice control, etc. I figured this would include the ability to play music, photos, and videos from my Surface Pro directly to the Xbox– which it does– but it’s pretty slow and clunky. Here’s the process:
- On Windows, go to the desired app. Let’s say the “Xbox Music” app on a Surface Pro.
- Start the song. (Issue #1: entering “Play To” mode won’t work unless something is actually playing).
- Swipe in from the left side, hit “Devices”, then “Play”, then choose the Xbox. (Issue #2: by default, the ability to see the Xbox is disabled in PC Settings, but the “Play” screen won’t say anything useful to let you know).
- The “Xbox Music” app will open on the Xbox. (Issue #3: you can’t play background music. The app has to open, interrupting the current activity).
- Wait for a non-trivial amount of seconds for the music to play on your Xbox and possibly sound system. (Issue #4: the process is really slow when compared to Airplay).
- Don’t switch back to your game or the music will stop. (Issue #3 again).
This is an example of why Microsoft has been being beat in the consumer world: it’s really the little things. People love to play music and show photos from their mobile device onto the big screen (and speakers), and if Microsoft wants to really use the leverage they have in a multi-device-world, the small things need to get a bit more attention.
In Summary
In summary, I’m a former Mac user who at first hated Windows 8, but have had it grow on me over time to the point that I now use both. I see the potential of Windows, along with Xbox, for the future of Microsoft but certain aspects just need more attention to detail.
