If you aren't familiar with the Metro interface, the biggest change you'll need to get used to is seeing apps take over the entire screen. While you can run multiple apps at once in the background, and even run apps off to the side in a Snap screen, the focus is on one app at a time. And it really is all app. There are no top side menu bar buttons in Metro. There is no application chrome (the borders and bars and buttons that surround an application's window) whatsoever, for that matter. You can pull up an App Bar by dragging up your finger from the bottom of the display, or by right-clicking with a mouse to access many of the controls that would typically be found in a menu bar. But they are absent until you want them to appear. And that is quite nice.
This is an example of a Metro App (Weather) notice there are no borders or bars or buttons that surround an application's window whatsoever.
Again, you can pull up an App Bar by dragging up your finger from the bottom of the display, or by right-clicking with a mouse to access many of the controls that would typically be found in a menu bar. But they are absent until you want them to appear.
Microsoft has bundled several of its own Metro apps with Windows 8 consumer preview, and you'll be able to download more from the built-in Store. It still feels pretty barren, but let's look at what comes with it.
Internet Explorer 10 has been greatly enhanced and is simply delightful in Metro. The full screen version is incredibly responsive, it moves with a natural momentum when you scroll quickly, and slows down as if by friction or gravity. Zooming and panning are great. And using gestures, swiping left or right, to go forward and back just makes sense. It makes navigation very seamless, too. Tap or click the address bar, for example, and your frequently visited and pinned sites appear at the top of the screen. If you tend to visit the same places over and over again, this makes for a great way to get around the Web.
One downside is that browser plug-ins do not work in IE 10 for Metro. Go to Hulu, and where you should see Flash video instead there's just a gaping black box. Yet Microsoft is trying out a relatively clever way to have its cake and eat it too. Clicking on an icon in the IE 10 App Bar launches IE 10 in the Desktop mode, where everything is supported. Sure it's a mere two-click operation, but it's a little weird. It's unproductive. While it makes sense for people using Windows 8 on a touchscreen, if you are only using it on a laptop or desktop computer that isn't touch capable, this is a chore.Internet Explorer 10 has been greatly enhanced and is simply delightful in Metro. The full screen version is incredibly responsive, it moves with a natural momentum when you scroll quickly, and slows down as if by friction or gravity. Zooming and panning are great. And using gestures, swiping left or right, to go forward and back just makes sense. It makes navigation very seamless, too. Tap the address bar, for example, and your frequently visited and pinned sites appear at the top of the screen. If you tend to visit the same places over and over again, this makes for a great way to get around the Web.
We'll start with the People app next time.
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