Bye bye Metro? Developers create own Windows 8 Start Menu

05 Jul 12 18:49 by in category Software

A lot of people were very disappointed to hear that Microsoft will remove the Windows Start Menu from Windows 8. The decision seems to be made in favor of the Metro GUI, which Microsoft likes to push to Windows 8 users. We also reported that Microsoft will even remove the code to make it possible with hacks to get the Start Menu back. Fortunately, there is the internet, a seemingly inexhaustible place of smart hackers that have a solution to pretty much each software problem.

Two guys from the Ukraine are developing the software power8, which simulates the Start Menu as you were accustomed too. It’s open source, just runs when you unpack it (no installation) and according to the authors will even work if Microsoft decides it shouldn’t work, in other words, it can’t be blocked. You can also use it for Windows 7 and Windows XP SP3 if you like to see it before installing Windows 8.

Yesterday a new version was released which added an option to block metro screen corner rectangles. Eat that!

17 Comments on Bye bye Metro? Developers create own Windows 8 Start Menu

bean55
Posts: 6323
Posted on: 05 Jul 12 19:21
Cool
CDan
Posts: 3913
Posted on: 05 Jul 12 19:48
Not unlike the "Classic Shell" stuff that was developed for Win-7. Although in that case the underlying code was already in place.
MJPollard
Posts: 51
Posted on: 05 Jul 12 22:30
Sounds like this is a well-deserved middle finger aimed at Microsoft. Sorry, Redmond, no Win8 for me. My desktop PC isn't a tablet, and I do not need nor want a tablet interface on it. You are trying to fix what isn't broken and force your vision onto the rest of the world, and I will have no part of it. If I wanted the Windows 1.0 GUI, I'd f***ing run Windows 1.0.
AgentMC
Posts: 14
Posted on: 05 Jul 12 23:03
Hi! I'm Mike, one of Power8 developers.
DoMiN8ToR, thanks for the review and good words on Power8!

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDan View Post
Not unlike the "Classic Shell" stuff that was developed for Win-7. Although in that case the underlying code was already in place.
Basically, no. It was developed for Win8, just a screenshot was taken under W7. At the moment, project page already contains Win8 screenshot, take a look.
BTW, don't compare us to "ClassicShell". We offer similar functionality, but different philosophy lies beneath. We can discuss this later on the forum pages.
bean55
Posts: 6323
Posted on: 05 Jul 12 23:21
AgentMC Just checked out your screenshots,a big plus for getting Windows 8 for some But I personally will still be passing on this Windows version.

Keep up the good work.
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 00:27
I personally don't have a problem with Metro, but I think it's because I hadn't made up my mind not to like it before I actually saw it (which I'm positive is what lot of people here did); I realize that it works perfectly well even if you don't have a touch screen computer by using a mouse to scroll the screen left and right; and I realize that it's incredibly easy not to use Metro if you don't want to (even though you do have to boot to Metro). Just click the Desktop tile once booted into Windows 8 and you basically have Windows 7 minus a start button. That said, this looks pretty nice. Will it run in Desktop mode, or is it only for use in Metro?
coolcolors
Posts: 6497
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 02:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradWright View Post
I personally don't have a problem with Metro, but I think it's because I hadn't made up my mind not to like it before I actually saw it (which I'm positive is what lot of people here did); I realize that it works perfectly well even if you don't have a touch screen computer by using a mouse to scroll the screen left and right; and I realize that it's incredibly easy not to use Metro if you don't want to (even though you do have to boot to Metro). Just click the Desktop tile once booted into Windows 8 and you basically have Windows 7 minus a start button. That said, this looks pretty nice. Will it run in Desktop mode, or is it only for use in Metro?
Your propaganda couldn't farther from the truth. Most tried to use and work with Metro before saying it wasn't worth the money it was printed on. How about not trying to assume something of which you don't have evidence or empirical data to support. I highly doubt it was that hard for M$ to make two varying version of the O/S for tablet/touchscreen vs desktop/laptop users. They could actually come out ahead by doing this and still saying both version are W8 to a varying degree and give you the option to install in desktop or tablet version. Now you tell me how hard was it to just say that?
DoMiN8ToR
Posts: 11320
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 11:22
We've just added a special power8 forum to our board.
StormJumper
Posts: 12734
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 13:28
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoMiN8ToR View Post
We've just added a special power8 forum to our board.
Nice addition
bean55
Posts: 6323
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 14:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradWright View Post
I personally don't have a problem with Metro, but I think it's because I hadn't made up my mind not to like it before I actually saw it (which I'm positive is what lot of people here did); I realize that it works perfectly well even if you don't have a touch screen computer by using a mouse to scroll the screen left and right; and I realize that it's incredibly easy not to use Metro if you don't want to (even though you do have to boot to Metro). Just click the Desktop tile once booted into Windows 8 and you basically have Windows 7 minus a start button. That said, this looks pretty nice. Will it run in Desktop mode, or is it only for use in Metro?
I am glad that you are Happy with it , as I said some will be.
As far as not trying it first I believe if you looked around most of us have been trying it and responding in other threads here about it all along.
MJPollard
Posts: 51
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 18:19
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradWright View Post
I personally don't have a problem with Metro, but I think it's because I hadn't made up my mind not to like it before I actually saw it (which I'm positive is what lot of people here did)
Nope. Tried it, hated it. And I'll thank you to not make assumptions about me or anyone else. Peddle your propaganda and condescension somewhere else; you're talking to people (correction: AT people) who clearly know more than you give them credit for.
Wombler
Posts: 9578
Posted on: 06 Jul 12 18:32
That's sure to be a popular program especially with Microsoft's recent actions.


Wombler
UTR
Posts: 2879
Posted on: 07 Jul 12 20:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by BradWright View Post
I personally don't have a problem with Metro, but I think it's because I hadn't made up my mind not to like it before I actually saw it (which I'm positive is what lot of people here did); I realize that it works perfectly well even if you don't have a touch screen computer by using a mouse to scroll the screen left and right; and I realize that it's incredibly easy not to use Metro if you don't want to (even though you do have to boot to Metro). Just click the Desktop tile once booted into Windows 8 and you basically have Windows 7 minus a start button. That said, this looks pretty nice. Will it run in Desktop mode, or is it only for use in Metro?
I own a Windows phone running 7.5 so I am very familiar with the Metro setup. Without a Start button Windows 8 sucks, IMO. There is no valid reason for them not to include it unless they are trying to push Metro on people in an effort to get a larger piece of the mobile phone OS pie. Metro is great on a cell phone or tablet. It sucks on a desktop and their is really no valid reason for MS to exclude the Start button from Windows 8.
xorsists
Posts: 389
Posted on: 14 Jul 12 06:29
Just a big thank you to the developers of power8 it makes windows 8 very nice.
AgentMC
Posts: 14
Posted on: 14 Jul 12 21:37
Hi everyone!

We've just released Power8 RC1! *hooray*
Get it -> http://code.google.com/p/power8/downloads/list

Pin/Unpin functions, better user interaction when searching, better search results (want to get "Plants Vs Zombies" by typing "pvz"? ), first translations (Russian and Swedish languages), and a big load of fixes and enhancements.
Know more -> http://code.google.com/p/power8/wiki/Changelog

The release is closer each day. Thank you for the support and feedback, it gives us the energy to move further
Bonaparte
Posts: 6
Posted on: 10 Aug 12 01:20
Thanks
cactusjuice
Posts: 2
Posted on: 15 Aug 12 15:53
i figured a 3rd party solution would come out.

microsoft made a huge mistake and it will cost them
Tell us, what do you think about

Bye bye Metro? Developers create own Windows 8 Start Menu

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