The revamped touch-optimized UI is missing from Windows 9 testing builds and will not be part of the preview

Sep 13, 2014 04:52 GMT  ·  By
This is what the Start screen looks like in existing Windows 9 testing builds, so no big change is yet available
   This is what the Start screen looks like in existing Windows 9 testing builds, so no big change is yet available

Now it’s a sure thing that Microsoft is going to significantly improve the desktop in Windows 9, but according to sources that revealed some of the other features to be part of this release, the Metro interface is also expected to get a major overhaul as well.

The existing testing Windows 9 builds that were sent to partners this month do not come with improvements in the Modern UI, with tipsters pointing out that no changes would be part of the preview version aimed at users and due later this month.

It appears that the new Metro UI is not yet ready and Microsoft focused exclusively on the desktop for the very first builds of Windows 9, as this particular side of the operating system received the most complaints in the past two years.

But it appears that before the final version of the operating system comes out, improvements for the Modern UI would be introduced as well, and in the meantime, the company is trying to make sure that it’s getting the desktop right.

Interactive live tiles and new options

Since Microsoft hasn’t yet commented on Windows 9, the only information we have on the revamped Modern UI comes from sources close to the matter, so lots of things could change before the final operating system actually hits the shelves.

And still, it appears that Windows 9 will bring interactive live tiles on the Start screen, a feature that Microsoft Research presented earlier this year and which allows users to access specific features of the apps without actually launching them.

For example, music and video apps will show playback controls right on the Start screen, so if you want to play or pause a song, you won’t have to launch the program, but only tap the buttons in the live tile.

At the same time, Microsoft is also expected to introduce folders that would be very similar to the ones currently available in Windows Phone 8.1, as well as a revamped Charms bar directly implemented into Modern apps.

As far as charms are concerned, Microsoft is still considering removing them completely, but the company is still trying out different implementation to see if it’s worth keeping them or not.

Only available on tablets

Microsoft is working to better separate the desktop and the Modern UI in Windows 9, so the revamped Metro environment will only be available on tablets.

Consumers installing the upcoming operating system on a PC, where a mouse and keyboard are both essential, will directly see the desktop and get a Start menu. Those using a tablet, on the other hand, will still boot to the Start screen and thus be provided with the revamped Metro UI.

The change is needed because Microsoft wants to adapt to customers’ needs and detecting the device they use and offering them appropriate feature is the easiest way to do it.

Word has it that a preview version of Windows 9 for ARM devices could be released in early 2015, so expect more on the revamped Modern UI to be provided at that time.