Microsoft’s Metro UI doesn’t seem to be successful among Windows 8 users

May 23, 2013 07:19 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft continues to bet big on the Metro UI of Windows 8, so future versions of the operating system will continue to improve this new working environment.

A report released by Soluto and based on data collected from computers running its software across the world indicates that, on average, a Windows 8 user launches a Metro app 1.52 times a day.

The Metro UI seems to be a bit more successful among tablet owners, as they open Modern apps 2.71 times per day, while the percentage of touch-capable laptop owners drops to 2.22 percent.

More than 60 percent of desktop users, on the other hand, launch Metro apps less than once a day, the report states.

At this point, Microsoft’s Windows communication apps, including Skype, are among the most popular on Windows 8, with 4.40 average uses per week. Windows photos apps, readers, camera and Bing Weather come next with 1.59, 1.27, 0.61 and 0.70 average uses per 7 days, respectively.

“The data shows that while most people try the Windows Communications Apps, on average they are used less than once a day. Note that launching ANY of the 4 apps (Mail, People, Messaging and Calendar) counts as a use. Therefore, the 4.4 uses per week (on average) of these Apps reflects the aggregated use of all 4 apps,” Soluto explains.

Yahoo Mail has been labeled “the most engaging Metro app” with 26.91 average uses per week, while Social Jogger from CyberLink comes second with 25.98.

“Yahoo! Mail is an extremely engaging app showing that Yahoo! Mail users 1) love Yahoo! Mail and 2) get along with the Metro interface,” the company explained.

“In all 4 form factors (desktop, laptop, laptop with touch-screen, and tablet) Yahoo! Mail is the No1 most engaging Metro app. What’s surprising is that its highest engagement is on desktops, and it gets lower the more mobile the device is.”