New Start8 beta for Windows 8 released

Discussion in 'Computer and Technology Discussion' started by InsaneNutter, Aug 30, 2012.

  1. InsaneNutter

    InsaneNutter Resident Nutter Staff Member

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    A few days after Microsoft launched the Consumer Preview build of Windows 8, developer Stardock launched the first beta of Start8, which aimed to give a version of the familiar Start menu to Windows 8 Metro owners. Today, Stardock has released a new and free beta of Start8 that adds quite a few new features.

    While previous versions of the Start8 beta only put in a start button that opened up the "Modern" user interface for Windows 8, this new version has a number of new features, including:

    Windows 7 style Start menu with Windows 8 enhancements:
    • Users can search for Windows 8-style (Metro) apps with it
    • Users can pin Metro apps to it
    • Full support for Jump Lists
    • Unified Search
    • Automatically matches color to the color of the taskbar

    Extra features:
    • Start button is now skinnable
    • Users can boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
    • Optionally disable the desktop “hot spots”.
    • Fast access to shut down, devices, music, documents, videos
    • Supports WindowFX 5.1 startmenu animations (currently in beta)
    • The Windows 8 Start screen becomes accessible from the Start menu
    • Start menu size fully configurable
    • Adds option for WinKey to show fullscreen Metro desktop.

    Download from Stardock

    [video=youtube;7SD5mW-X4vI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SD5mW-X4vI&feature=player_embedded[/video]

    Very impressive if i'm honest, kinda makes me wish i didn't dualboot Windows 7 and 8 now!
    Just need to get a nice theme for Windows 8 and my two biggest issues are fixed with it.
     
    Rick and Michael_T like this.

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