Windows 8 Tablet UI revealed

[kubani1]

i like the idea with how some of the stuff works, there is some really cool things going on, BUT, just like i don't like the tiles on the windows phone, i like them even less on a bigger screen.

 

[SAWYER]

I love win7 mobile, by far my favorite mobile os and this looks awesome

 

[darkewaffle]

But this means developers will have to make 2 UI's for a program, and which do you think will get the bulk of their attention? In most programs a vanilla looking Windows UI will probably be nothing more than an after thought. So while it'll offer both, imho the touch screen one will probably be the only one worth really using.

I fail to see how Windows offering a secondary interface has anything to do with this. If a piece of software is intended to be used in both a touch and non-touch ecosystem, then it's going to need to be designed with that in mind regardless. MS isn't forcing anyone to do anything.

I don't see why people are imagining -ever- using the touch UI on a non-tablet, non-phone device. It doesn't make any sense, and I can't possibly see MS trying to push that. The whole point is simply to give Windows 8 multiple faces so that users have an optimized and relatively consistent experience on all platforms.

 

[akugami]

But this means developers will have to make 2 UI's for a program, and which do you think will get the bulk of their attention? In most programs a vanilla looking Windows UI will probably be nothing more than an after thought. So while it'll offer both, imho the touch screen one will probably be the only one worth really using.

I see nothing wrong with this. Windows 8 makes a lot of sense from the perspective that Microsoft wants you to remain in the Windows ecosphere. Right now, when you're using an Android or iOS application that can read Office files, you're not actually using Office. You're not using Windows. You're not buying and using Microsoft's products.

What if you're using a Windows 8 tablet. While on the go you can have a more simplified interface that is suited for fat fingers. When you're stationary and have a keyboard and mouse attached you can go with a more traditional interface. It's the same application. You're just presented with two different UI's. There's no question of funky rendering of your Word or Powerpoint files. Everything should just work flawlessly because you're using the same application.

Contrast that with using something like Quickoffice on iOS and Android which can contain incompatibilities with files and also sometimes will render things differently or not even read files correctly. And again, from MS's perspective, you're not buying and using Windows (mobile or otherwise) and you're not buying and using Office.

As far as actually designing the individual UI's. MS has to do that now anyways on Office for Windows Phone 7. MS also has Onenote for iOS devices that has a vastly different UI from its desktop counterpart. Adobe has a Photoshop Express for iOS devices which also requires a new UI that is more suited for touch interfaces. I think more and more of the "big" applications will transition to mobile devices and all of those will require new touch based interfaces. In other words, the new mobile UI's are something most of these companies will need to invest in anyways so it's not really an added cost that they wouldn't need to invest in. Since these companies will need to plan for two UI's anyways it'll probably save them resources in the long run to have one application present two UI's than two different applications with two different UI's.

Did anyone else notice that their Office demo was using a UI that didn't seem optimized for touch interfaces.

 

[finbarqs]

this is pretty risky, and I know Microsoft needs to somehow add support for their legacy products. But they're not unfamiliar with this type of UI seen in Media Center...

 

[Deeko]

this is pretty risky, and I know Microsoft needs to somehow add support for their legacy products. But they're not unfamiliar with this type of UI seen in Media Center...

I bet it would run Hulu though!

 

[finbarqs]

dude, that is awesome. nevermind. I'm sold! Everyone needs to chant "hulu" with me!

 

[poofyhairguy]

I can't wait for Windows 8 ARM. What will happen when there is a version of Windows that can't run old software? Who will be blamed- software makers, Intel, MS? At what rate will the faces of business users melt when their new tablets don't work with some ancient Active X intranet program their company depends on? How will a MS Windows succeed when it will have LESS native apps than the competition off the bat?

It will be fun times.

 

[gsaldivar]

Did anyone else notice that their Office demo was using a UI that didn't seem optimized for touch interfaces.

I can't wait until they start putting tiles on the Office toolbar ribbon...

lol

 

[corkyg]

There is little info on the host tablet. The big question for me is, does it have connectivity for syncing with a desktop?

 

[gsaldivar]

There is little info on the host tablet. The big question for me is, does it have connectivity for syncing with a desktop?

As I understand it, the goal is to put everything in the cloud thus eliminating the need for syncing as we know it today.

Of course, Microsoft will be happy to maintain all the data for your cloud devices for a monthly fee $$$$$....

 

[corkyg]

The cloud works fine as long as you have access to a broadband Internet connection. Could be a rennaissance for Jonny Ray's hit, "The Little White Cloud That Cried."

 

[QueBert]

People on here are crazy if they don't think the average joe wants their computer to be touch screen. I have a few clients who have HP Touchsmart computers, and everything non typing they use the touch screen. I watched a guy play online poker for 30 minutes using nothing but the touch screen. Initially companies will make their Windows 8 programs work well with both. But a touch UI is the future, like it or not. When Win 8 hits it'll be 3 years tops before we have programs with touch UI's that have no business even being touch screen controlled.

 

[JS80]

lol looks like Windows Phone 7 on a desktop

 

[akugami]

People on here are crazy if they don't think the average joe wants their computer to be touch screen. I have a few clients who have HP Touchsmart computers, and everything non typing they use the touch screen. I watched a guy play online poker for 30 minutes using nothing but the touch screen. Initially companies will make their Windows 8 programs work well with both. But a touch UI is the future, like it or not. When Win 8 hits it'll be 3 years tops before we have programs with touch UI's that have no business even being touch screen controlled.

I actually think touch interfaces are easier to learn for the younger crowd and much more intuitive than a keyboard and mouse. Granted for precision and fine control, a mouse is much better. I was curious to note that my two and a half year old daughter would climb on my desk because she wanted to control the computer. She's so used to using a smart phone's touch based interface for stuff like youtube and games. I tell her how to use the mouse but she reverts back to attempting to touch the monitor.

 

[IamDavid]

I would pay twice as much for a tablet with a real OS then these crappy current tablets. Love my zoom but in the end its a toy. Nothing more. Still like it better than my I pad.

 

[MrX8503]

I'm not really digging this on a desktop. On a tablet however, it would be cool.

 

[finbarqs]

the tiles is how I organize my start menu anyways... It would be awesome if we can custom create our own category....

 

[tonygeor]

It'll be real cool if in tablet mode it's the metro UI...and in desktop mode its the windows 7

 

[SandEagle]

saw the video for it. looks great, cant wait

 

[Bryf50]

It'll be real cool if in tablet mode it's the metro UI...and in desktop mode its the windows 7

Watch the whole video. It shows both ui's on the same system.

 

[wantedSpidy]

I think this is the beginning of a big push by microsoft. I think this a great move. People will definitely get on Windows 8 (lets face it all of us want 'new' things), and the familiarity between the mobile platform and desktop/tablet platform will help microsoft get more ppl to start adopting their phones.

Perhaps, tightly couple their eco-system a la itunes.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Stolen quote from the Macalope.

"Putting Windows on a tablet is like trying to put on a production of Riverdance in an airplane bathroom."

 

[sandmanwake]

Next step is to integrate Windows with Kinect so you use air gestures to control your computer, open files/applications, etc.

 

[akugami]

Next step is to integrate Windows with Kinect so you use air gestures to control your computer, open files/applications, etc.

What gesture should I use when I get a BSOD? :whiste: