Even if you bypass Windows 8′s “modern” UI entirely using a tool like Start8 or Classic Shell, there are some great apps available for it. Thanks to ModernMix, an app that lets you run full-screen Windows apps in regular windows, you can get the best of both worlds: useful applications in normal desktop windows.
When Windows 8 came out, a lot of great apps also landed. However, some people don’t run full-screen apps in Windows 8 and go right to the desktop instead. Well, love it or hate it, Windows 8 and its “modern UI” is here to stay (at least until Microsoft brings back the start button), and since ModernMix makes it easy to run those full-screen apps in Windows on the desktop, it’s time to take another look at some great, unique Windows 8 apps that you should try.
Groove Music Player is popular on iOS, and we were thrilled when it launched on Windows 8. Its predictive mixes and automatic tagging and organisation of your music collection makes it a must-have app, but if you’re no fan of Windows 8′s modern UI, we can understand why you would have passed it over. With ModernMix, you can run Groove in a window like any other music player and take advantage of all of its features. It will still set you back $3.99, but we think that’s a decent price to pay for an attentive developer, an app that automatically downloads album artwork, lyrics, Last.fm data and auto-tags your tracks for later. Plus, Groove’s automatically generated mixes are so good you’ll wonder how you lived without them.
If you’d rather watch your own videos, the Plex app for Windows 8 is extremely well built and designed, and it runs perfectly even in a window. You could download the standard Plex Media Center app for Windows instead, but the Windows 8 app really does look nice, even when compared to the full Media Center app. Plus, if you can run it in Windowed mode and not turn your entire system into a media centre every time you want to use it, why wouldn’t you? This way you can stream music while minimised, or put the Plex app on a different display and watch video (and still use your primary display for something else) without interrupting your flow.
2013年4月24日星期三
2013年4月10日星期三
Windows 8: Signaling Microsoft’s Bright Future?
Microsoft will be remembered forever as the first company to get computer technology out to the masses. Bill Gates’ vision of a personal computer was groundbreaking at the time, and its manifestation shaped reality to what it is today. Yet, since its initial monopoly in the computer market, the company has seen its ups and downs. Other companies, most notably Apple, have become the leaders in innovation, while Microsoft has experienced moderate success and has mostly struggled to keep up with the industry’s fast pace.
With Windows 8, Microsoft did not just scale up its old interface, it created a new one, introducing many core tweaks and changes. The famed “start” button, a feature which became synonymous with the Windows operating system, was the first to go. With that move, Microsoft showed the world that they mean business. The new “start” interface is slick; it is an entirely new screen, separate from the desktop. It is accessible through a simple click of the window-marked button, which has been introduced to PC users in earlier versions of the operating system.
Users can play around with these windows as much as they want, move them around, add and delete them as they wish. Here, Microsoft introduced an interesting feature that is both technologically innovative and profitable from a business perspective. The applications that appear in your computer’s start screen are also compatible with Microsoft’s Windows Phone and the company’s tablets. This means that the interfaces of all of the company’s new products are extremely similar, an aspect that makes the transition between platforms very comfortable and definitely encourages consumers to “PCify” all of their electronic gadgets.
Steven Sinofsky, Windows division president, said the company aims to make Windows-operating hardware “an extension of Windows. It’s a stage for Windows, yet it’s a beautiful stage.”
This idea works remarkably across the three categories of the tech world—the phone, computer, and tablet. New Asus computers featuring Windows 8 now incorporate a new touch-screen technology that integrates smoothly with Windows’ new interface. The transition from these computers over to Microsoft’s Surface tablet or a Windows Phone is seamless. The uniformity of interfaces across platform is nothing short of a revolutionary idea, that Microsoft and other companies are sure to capitalize on further down the road.
Despite these strong efforts, it seems that Microsoft’s “oldie” label remains strong, as sales in the computer department remain slow. Some computer makers have announced as recently as last week that the PC business is in danger as a result of slow sales and declining revenue. This should be a worrying development for Microsoft; the Windows 8 operating system is not even a year old, yet its ability to attract consumers is faltering. The company’s hardware deal with HTC and Nokia’s phone division includes an aggressive global marketing campaign. This shared venture shows signs of hope, as the three companies catch their breath to keep up with competitors Apple and Samsung.
Nokia’s Windows Phone sales are on a continual rise, and now that the company’s selection of devices is complete, it remains to be seen if the Windows operating system will beat Blackberry phones in its way to a bigger share of the handheld market. A report released by the company last week shows that Windows Phones are selling more units than Apple’s iPhone 5 in seven countries worldwide. This data has been questioned by other companies, yet it stands to show that the operating system does have room in the competitive tech market. All in all, the company seems to be catching up to its competitors, albeit at a slow pace.
With Windows 8, Microsoft did not just scale up its old interface, it created a new one, introducing many core tweaks and changes. The famed “start” button, a feature which became synonymous with the Windows operating system, was the first to go. With that move, Microsoft showed the world that they mean business. The new “start” interface is slick; it is an entirely new screen, separate from the desktop. It is accessible through a simple click of the window-marked button, which has been introduced to PC users in earlier versions of the operating system.
Users can play around with these windows as much as they want, move them around, add and delete them as they wish. Here, Microsoft introduced an interesting feature that is both technologically innovative and profitable from a business perspective. The applications that appear in your computer’s start screen are also compatible with Microsoft’s Windows Phone and the company’s tablets. This means that the interfaces of all of the company’s new products are extremely similar, an aspect that makes the transition between platforms very comfortable and definitely encourages consumers to “PCify” all of their electronic gadgets.
Steven Sinofsky, Windows division president, said the company aims to make Windows-operating hardware “an extension of Windows. It’s a stage for Windows, yet it’s a beautiful stage.”
This idea works remarkably across the three categories of the tech world—the phone, computer, and tablet. New Asus computers featuring Windows 8 now incorporate a new touch-screen technology that integrates smoothly with Windows’ new interface. The transition from these computers over to Microsoft’s Surface tablet or a Windows Phone is seamless. The uniformity of interfaces across platform is nothing short of a revolutionary idea, that Microsoft and other companies are sure to capitalize on further down the road.
Despite these strong efforts, it seems that Microsoft’s “oldie” label remains strong, as sales in the computer department remain slow. Some computer makers have announced as recently as last week that the PC business is in danger as a result of slow sales and declining revenue. This should be a worrying development for Microsoft; the Windows 8 operating system is not even a year old, yet its ability to attract consumers is faltering. The company’s hardware deal with HTC and Nokia’s phone division includes an aggressive global marketing campaign. This shared venture shows signs of hope, as the three companies catch their breath to keep up with competitors Apple and Samsung.
Nokia’s Windows Phone sales are on a continual rise, and now that the company’s selection of devices is complete, it remains to be seen if the Windows operating system will beat Blackberry phones in its way to a bigger share of the handheld market. A report released by the company last week shows that Windows Phones are selling more units than Apple’s iPhone 5 in seven countries worldwide. This data has been questioned by other companies, yet it stands to show that the operating system does have room in the competitive tech market. All in all, the company seems to be catching up to its competitors, albeit at a slow pace.
Windows 8 doesn't need saving
Someone needs to consult the Mayan calendar, a Sumerian tablet, or the Oracle of Algernon, because I'm actually on the same side as Ed Bott in this week's Great Debate argument, "Windows 8: Can this OS be saved?" Well, except for one thing: I don't think that Windows 8 needs saving. So to me, the debate's premise is kind of moot. It will be interesting to see the arguments on this one, but seriously, Windows 8 doesn't need saving. Hold off on lowering the lifeboats.
Every time Microsoft releases a new version of its operating system, there's a bit of controversy and fighting that takes place. And I understand your love for Windows XP or your attachment to Windows 7, but it's time to embrace the future.
In my mind's eye, I imagine two nerds getting into the argument about whether Windows 8 can be saved and ending up in a slap fight that eventually is broken up by one of their mothers. Scenarios like this just make me hang my head in embarrassment. But that's the nature of IT folk. It's kind of like arguing Windows vs. Linux, or PC vs. Mac.
Religion is belief-based. Technology is observation-based. Learn the difference before taking a side.
Now having said that, I will tell you that in my humble opinion, Windows Vista and Windows Me were totally bogus and completely unnecessary efforts. Sorry, I know that I said in a previous post that I'd never dog Vista again, but it's such an easy target that I can't resist. The mere mention of it is like Kryptonite to me. And I'm positive that too much exposure to Vista would eventually kill me. I digress.
The bigger questions for me are, "Why does Windows 8 need to be saved?"; and pray tell, "From what does Windows 8 need to be saved?"
I don't get it.
I've been to several retail stores and one discount store around town, and I've seen Windows 8 on several systems. New laptops with touchscreens, desktops, netbooks, and, of course, the Surface tablet line.
I installed it on a laptop and have yet to see anything wrong with it. Admittedly, I'd enjoy it more if I had one of the new touchscreen, models but there's nothing wrong with Windows 8. And I've put it through its paces. I haven't been nice to Windows 8. I hated it at first, but I forced myself to change with the times and work with it. The Windows 8 Metro-style interface is the future of computing.
The mouse will be a thing of the past very soon in our post-PC era that one of the debaters writes about so often. If you, and he, truly believe that we are now into the post-PC era, why the heck would you need to save Windows 8?
Windows 8 is a full operating system that can run real applications. There's no need to apologize for it. It's a good operating system — every bit (pun?) as good as Windows XP, and in many ways, better than Windows 7. One of my favorite features of Windows 8 is its impressive boot time. Thirty seconds from power on, I'm opening apps. Windows 7, conversely, takes several minutes on the exact same hardware.
Windows 8 doesn't need saving any more than Windows 95 did. People are afraid of something new, but in this case, they shouldn't be. And neither should you. Windows 8 is a good operating system that deserves a respected place in history alongside other innovative technology advances.
Let me put this in personal terms for you: Windows 8 is what you wanted. Seriously.
You wanted an operating system that would run on the hardware that you have now because you don't want to spend the money to upgrade. Done. You wanted an operating system that runs on a variety of hardware so that your user experience is the same on all devices. Done. You wanted an operating system that's easy to use. Done. You wanted an Apple-like experience with swipey icons and an app store. Done. You wanted an operating system that doesn't take a long time to boot up — hence all of the geeky tales of "going to get a cup of coffee while it boots". Done.
There's absolutely no need to save Windows 8.
So don't feel compelled to lower those lifeboats just yet. In fact, you can proceed on the Windows 8 journey with no lifeboats at all because this ship is unsinkable.
Every time Microsoft releases a new version of its operating system, there's a bit of controversy and fighting that takes place. And I understand your love for Windows XP or your attachment to Windows 7, but it's time to embrace the future.
In my mind's eye, I imagine two nerds getting into the argument about whether Windows 8 can be saved and ending up in a slap fight that eventually is broken up by one of their mothers. Scenarios like this just make me hang my head in embarrassment. But that's the nature of IT folk. It's kind of like arguing Windows vs. Linux, or PC vs. Mac.
Religion is belief-based. Technology is observation-based. Learn the difference before taking a side.
Now having said that, I will tell you that in my humble opinion, Windows Vista and Windows Me were totally bogus and completely unnecessary efforts. Sorry, I know that I said in a previous post that I'd never dog Vista again, but it's such an easy target that I can't resist. The mere mention of it is like Kryptonite to me. And I'm positive that too much exposure to Vista would eventually kill me. I digress.
The bigger questions for me are, "Why does Windows 8 need to be saved?"; and pray tell, "From what does Windows 8 need to be saved?"
I don't get it.
I've been to several retail stores and one discount store around town, and I've seen Windows 8 on several systems. New laptops with touchscreens, desktops, netbooks, and, of course, the Surface tablet line.
I installed it on a laptop and have yet to see anything wrong with it. Admittedly, I'd enjoy it more if I had one of the new touchscreen, models but there's nothing wrong with Windows 8. And I've put it through its paces. I haven't been nice to Windows 8. I hated it at first, but I forced myself to change with the times and work with it. The Windows 8 Metro-style interface is the future of computing.
The mouse will be a thing of the past very soon in our post-PC era that one of the debaters writes about so often. If you, and he, truly believe that we are now into the post-PC era, why the heck would you need to save Windows 8?
Windows 8 is a full operating system that can run real applications. There's no need to apologize for it. It's a good operating system — every bit (pun?) as good as Windows XP, and in many ways, better than Windows 7. One of my favorite features of Windows 8 is its impressive boot time. Thirty seconds from power on, I'm opening apps. Windows 7, conversely, takes several minutes on the exact same hardware.
Windows 8 doesn't need saving any more than Windows 95 did. People are afraid of something new, but in this case, they shouldn't be. And neither should you. Windows 8 is a good operating system that deserves a respected place in history alongside other innovative technology advances.
Let me put this in personal terms for you: Windows 8 is what you wanted. Seriously.
You wanted an operating system that would run on the hardware that you have now because you don't want to spend the money to upgrade. Done. You wanted an operating system that runs on a variety of hardware so that your user experience is the same on all devices. Done. You wanted an operating system that's easy to use. Done. You wanted an Apple-like experience with swipey icons and an app store. Done. You wanted an operating system that doesn't take a long time to boot up — hence all of the geeky tales of "going to get a cup of coffee while it boots". Done.
There's absolutely no need to save Windows 8.
So don't feel compelled to lower those lifeboats just yet. In fact, you can proceed on the Windows 8 journey with no lifeboats at all because this ship is unsinkable.
PC sales plunge as Windows 8 flops (Update 2)
In this Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, file photo, a woman walks past laptop computers running Microsoft Windows 8 operating system during its launching ceremony in Hong Kong. Research firm IDC says PC global shipments of PCs fell 14 percent in the first three months this year. The appeal of tablets and smartphones is pulling money away from PC sales, but it also blames Microsoft's latest version of Windows, which forces users to learn new ways to control their machines.
And it appears that a makeover of Microsoft's Windows operating system seems to have done more harm than good since the software was released in October. "This is horrific news for PCs," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis. "It's all about mobile computing now." First-quarter shipments of PCs fell 14 percent from the same time last year, according to International Data Corp. That's the deepest quarterly drop since the firm started tracking the industry in 1994. Another research firm, Gartner Inc., pegged the first-quarter decline at 11 percent. The deviation stemmed from the firms' slightly different definitions of PCs.
This is the worst shape the PC market has been in since IBM Corp. released a desktop machine in 1981. In an attempt to keep the PC relevant, Microsoft released a radical new version of Windows last fall. Windows 8 has a new look that's similar to the design of the software running the most popular smartphones and tablet computers. The overhaul requires a relearning process, a leap that many consumers and corporate buyers aren't ready to take. All signs so far point to Windows 8 being a flop. "Unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn't provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," IDC Vice President Bob O'Donnell said. The newest version of Windows is designed to work well with touch-sensitive screens, but the displays add to the cost of a PC.
Together, the changes and higher prices "have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices," O'Donnell said. Representatives of Microsoft Corp. were not immediately available for comment. IDC's count excludes tablets, even if they run PC-style software. It also excludes any device that has a detachable keyboard. With the release of Windows 8, PC makers have been reviving their experiments with tablet-laptop hybrids, some of which have detachable keyboards. Consumers are likely to have shifted some of their buying away from traditional laptops and toward these new devices, which means that the total sales decline of Windows-based devices may not be quite as drastic as IDC's numbers suggest. Microsoft shares fell 63 cents, or 2 percent, to $29.65 in extended trading, after the release of the report. It had gained 67 cents in regular trading. Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's largest maker of PCs, saw a 24 percent drop in shipments in the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago. The industry's No. 2, China's Lenovo Group, is benefiting from sales to first-time buyers in China and other developing countries.
As a result, it held sales steady, alone among the world's top 5 PC makers, according to IDC's figures. HP shares fell 60 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $21.72 in extended trading. They had risen 10 cents in regular trading. Shares of Intel Corp., which makes four out of five PC processors, fell 27 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $21.99, after rising 51 cents in regular trading. Gartner noted one bright spot: Businesses are buying more PCs, and account for about half of the market. In total, IDC put the global PC shipments at 76.3 million in the quarter, while Gartner put the figure at 79.2 million. The shipments are still higher than they were four years ago, during the recession. Both firms track shipments of PCs from the manufacturer rather than retail sales. Shipments correlate closely with sales. The figures include shipments of Apple's Macs, which account for about 5 percent of the worldwide market.
And it appears that a makeover of Microsoft's Windows operating system seems to have done more harm than good since the software was released in October. "This is horrific news for PCs," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis. "It's all about mobile computing now." First-quarter shipments of PCs fell 14 percent from the same time last year, according to International Data Corp. That's the deepest quarterly drop since the firm started tracking the industry in 1994. Another research firm, Gartner Inc., pegged the first-quarter decline at 11 percent. The deviation stemmed from the firms' slightly different definitions of PCs.
This is the worst shape the PC market has been in since IBM Corp. released a desktop machine in 1981. In an attempt to keep the PC relevant, Microsoft released a radical new version of Windows last fall. Windows 8 has a new look that's similar to the design of the software running the most popular smartphones and tablet computers. The overhaul requires a relearning process, a leap that many consumers and corporate buyers aren't ready to take. All signs so far point to Windows 8 being a flop. "Unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only didn't provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," IDC Vice President Bob O'Donnell said. The newest version of Windows is designed to work well with touch-sensitive screens, but the displays add to the cost of a PC.
Together, the changes and higher prices "have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices," O'Donnell said. Representatives of Microsoft Corp. were not immediately available for comment. IDC's count excludes tablets, even if they run PC-style software. It also excludes any device that has a detachable keyboard. With the release of Windows 8, PC makers have been reviving their experiments with tablet-laptop hybrids, some of which have detachable keyboards. Consumers are likely to have shifted some of their buying away from traditional laptops and toward these new devices, which means that the total sales decline of Windows-based devices may not be quite as drastic as IDC's numbers suggest. Microsoft shares fell 63 cents, or 2 percent, to $29.65 in extended trading, after the release of the report. It had gained 67 cents in regular trading. Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's largest maker of PCs, saw a 24 percent drop in shipments in the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago. The industry's No. 2, China's Lenovo Group, is benefiting from sales to first-time buyers in China and other developing countries.
As a result, it held sales steady, alone among the world's top 5 PC makers, according to IDC's figures. HP shares fell 60 cents, or 2.7 percent, to $21.72 in extended trading. They had risen 10 cents in regular trading. Shares of Intel Corp., which makes four out of five PC processors, fell 27 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $21.99, after rising 51 cents in regular trading. Gartner noted one bright spot: Businesses are buying more PCs, and account for about half of the market. In total, IDC put the global PC shipments at 76.3 million in the quarter, while Gartner put the figure at 79.2 million. The shipments are still higher than they were four years ago, during the recession. Both firms track shipments of PCs from the manufacturer rather than retail sales. Shipments correlate closely with sales. The figures include shipments of Apple's Macs, which account for about 5 percent of the worldwide market.
Windows 8 'Exacerbated' PC Shipment Slowdown
Worldwide PC shipments plunged 13.9% in the first quarter according to IDC, which noted that Microsoft's introduction of Windows 8 hurt overall sales by confusing consumers.
"At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program VP Clients and Displays, said in a statement. "While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market."
The report notes that touchscreen capabilities on some Windows 8 machines have done little to slow consumer migration to tablets. Overall, IDC characterized consumers' reception to Windows 8 as "weak." IDC Analyst Jay Chou also told The Wall Street Journal that businesses have been slow to adopt Windows 8.
The 13.9% decline — the biggest since IDC began tracking quarterly shipments in 1994 — was exacerbated by other factors as well, including Dell and HP's respective reorganizations.
Microsoft could not be reached for immediate comment on the report.
"At this point, unfortunately, it seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," Bob O’Donnell, IDC Program VP Clients and Displays, said in a statement. "While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market."
The report notes that touchscreen capabilities on some Windows 8 machines have done little to slow consumer migration to tablets. Overall, IDC characterized consumers' reception to Windows 8 as "weak." IDC Analyst Jay Chou also told The Wall Street Journal that businesses have been slow to adopt Windows 8.
The 13.9% decline — the biggest since IDC began tracking quarterly shipments in 1994 — was exacerbated by other factors as well, including Dell and HP's respective reorganizations.
Microsoft could not be reached for immediate comment on the report.
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