14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 9 is pretty much an enigma for each and every one of us since Microsoft doesn’t wish to break the news on this OS version yet, but the plethora of rumors out there at least helps us figure out the number of changes that could be part of this release.
Judging by the number of features that sources close to the matter revealed until now, it turns out that Windows 9’s changelog is going to be huge, including options such as a Start menu and settings to run Metro apps on the desktop in separate windows.
While Microsoft is indeed working to bring Modern apps on the desktop, the company is also planning to go the other way around and remove all Metro traces from the desktop and thus restore full Windows 7 desktop functionality in its new operating system.
A new report coming from ZDNet says that Microsoft is considering removing the Charms bar from the desktop in Windows 9, which would pretty much makes sense since the company is trying to make a bigger difference between SKUs that are optimized for the touch and for the traditional mouse plus keyboard input method.
While initial reports indicated that the Charms bar would go away only on Windows 9 SKUs supposed to be installed on PCs, it appears that Microsoft actually plans to remove this feature completely from the desktop, no matter if the operating system is installed on PCs, laptops, or tablets.
And it does make sense. The Charms bar was supposed to provide quick access to a number of features in the Modern UI, but if Microsoft wants to better separate the touch and the non-touch environments in its operating system, this option must go.
And still, Microsoft has a plan B in case the Charms bar is eliminated. Metro apps running on the desktop might come with a revised title bar that would include some of the Charms as well, thus allowing users to access specific options by simply clicking on these icons.
Modern apps developers will be allowed to choose which options they wish to add to their software, so if a share button for example is needed in a specific program, the dev can decide whether they want to implement such a feature or not.
Users might be allowed to try out all these improvements later this year when the very first Windows 9 Preview is expected to see daylight, but things could very well change until the final product sees daylight.