14 DAY TRIAL // Even though it finally made its comeback in Windows 10, the Start menu continues to be a very controversial Windows feature. Some say it’s awesome, others hate it and want the Start screen back, so offering users the power to choose between the two, as it happens in Windows 10, is probably the best choice Microsoft has made in the new OS.
But despite the criticism, it turns out that the design of the Windows 10 Start menu isn’t bad at all, as a designer organization has recently decided to give Microsoft its own “Digital Design 2015” award for the new OS feature.
Similar Start menu and Start screen look and feel
In a description on their website, IDSA (Industry Designers Society of America) explains that the design of the new Start menu makes it easy to access files across platforms, as it brings together PCs, tablets, and phones. More, the Start screen and the Start menu look more similar now, so it’s easier to adapt the interface you need to your device.
“Since its inception more than 20 years ago, the Windows Start menu has been the anchor point for launching apps and getting users to the content they care about. With Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7, Microsoft continued the evolution of the Start screen by adding live tiles which surface relevant and personal information to the user from apps and services,” the group said in their announcement.
“With the Windows 10 Start design, the experience of launching and switching apps is unified across the familiar and learned legacy of the Start menu on desktop PCs - and the modern capabilities of the Start screen on phones and tablets. The design allows users to leverage what they know from one device and apply that knowledge to using a different device in a contextually appropriate manner.”
The Windows 10 Start menu sure comes with many useful improvements, but it’s no secret that many wanted a more Windows 7-like approach, with a cleaner layout and without the live tiles.
On the bright side, there are plenty of Windows 10 Start menu customization options, and if you have a look at the Settings screen, you might find plenty of tweaks there to tweak the default look and feel. Live tiles can be removed completely as well, but Microsoft hopes you’ll stick to them because they can provide you with information without the need to open the apps.
