Windows 8 Start screen/Desktop twist

Posted by Adamo Pinheiro on July 20, 2012 04:24 pm 15

Lots of people complain about how the desktop in Windows 8 doesn't bode well with the Metro start screen. So I have thought a way to make it look a little bit more clear the transition between the 2 worlds.

I really don't feel that the desktop should be placed like a tile in the start screen. I think they should be presented more or less like they are the 2 different sides of windows. That's how:

http://postimage.org/image/iwyj5in9x/

The start button is gone, right? So, why not make the windows superbar the "tip of the iceberg"? Just push up from the bottom the bar and you will bring the other side, or the start screen. On the other hand, while on the start screen just push down and you will get the desktop. The mouse solution would be click on any part of the bar if you are on the bottom edge (instead of just the bottom corner). To give a visual clue, if you let the mouse for a second or two the bar raises a little.

The other thing is I think the desktop tiles are completely awful. They should be like the metro apps, but with a tag or something that made clear it is a desktop app. And finally, it should have a separate category in the Marketplace for desktop apps.

I wish I could make an animation or a better illustration but I don't have much free time so I hope you get the idea.