Microsoft Alternately Mum and Talkative About Windows 8
Under Windows chief Steven Sinofsky there is a basic blackout on Windows 8 information. No one except a chosen few (he and Steve Ballmer, for instance) are allowed to utter a word on the OS. This is despite the fact that at the recent Build Conference hours of presentations and hundreds of PowerPoint slides were devoted to the topic. And it gave away thousands of Samsung tablets loaded with a Windows 8 preview.
Another who is allowed to speak is Chaitanya Sareen, a program manager who is dribbling out information on his blog -- though, truth be told, he is more about analysis and philosophy than disclosing fresh details.
The biggest change hitting Windows 8 is the Metro interface, which is only one one option for interface -- the old-style Win 7 look will also still be available. Apparently even though the classic look still looks classic, it will no longer have the Start Button. Instead, apps are launched from the taskbar.
Sareen explains that few even use the Start Button anymore (I guess he hasn't been keystroke logging my computer!). Microsoft also argues that the folder-based approach of the Start Menu makes items hard to find -- so long Start Menu!
Metro goes a step further and does away with the taskbar. Instead, it will surface apps in tiles in the middle of the screen.
While Microsoft is in lock-down as far as discussing new features, expect further drum pointing around Metro.
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/21/2011 at 1:18 PM