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.