14 DAY TRIAL // Long-time Windows users certainly remember the controversy created around the Start menu when Microsoft launched Windows 8.
Back in 2012, for a reason that doesn’t make any sense, the software giant decided to pull the plug on the Start menu and the Start button, instead goes for a super-simplified desktop.
Following public backlash, Microsoft made the logical choice of bringing back the Start button with the release of Windows 8.1, but the Start menu was still nowhere to be seen.
Needless to say, this new desktop made a substantial number of users feel lost on the desktop, especially because the Start screen, which was Microsoft’s proposed Start menu replacement, was more appropriate for devices with touchscreens.
Many turned to third-party Start menu apps, like Classic Shell, in an attempt to restore the Start menu and make the desktop feel like home once again. The look of the Windows 7 Start menu was super-appreciated, so most users just wanted their desktops to be similar to the one in the previous Windows version.
Microsoft has brought back the Start menu with the release of Windows 10, yet the new version came with an approach that not everyone liked at first. Live tiles made it to the Start menu, along with an improved modern design to align with the rest of the operating system.
Start menu in October 2018 Update
Since then, the Start menu has gradually improved with new features implemented with each Windows 10 feature update.
And the debut of the October 2018 Update will also bring some new refinements to the Start menu, though they’re not as substantial as the ones in the previous updates.
First and foremost, it’s important to note that visually speaking, the Start menu won’t be too different from the older versions.
But Microsoft has implemented one highly-requested feature: support for live folder names. As said, live tiles haven’t been everyone’s cup of tea in the early Windows 10 versions, but the more the Start menu evolved, the more the love for live tiles increased.
At this point, they are an essential Start menu feature, and nearly everyone running Microsoft Store apps regularly uses them for things like getting quick weather info or reading email previews. Grouping live tiles in folders has been around for a while, but only the October 2018 Update brings support for names.
Additionally, live tiles are also getting support for Microsoft Edge books. As you might have heard, despite being the default browser in Windows 10, Edge is also marketed as the number one PDF and eBook reader for this OS version. So Edge comes with a large feature arsenal for handling files like documents.
With the October 2018 Update, you can pin books directly to the Start menu, and a live tile will display the current completion progress, along with the book cover. This is certainly a nice touch, and you can pin multiple tiles for different books and even group them in folders to track your reading.
The Start menu has also received a new option, namely the game bar, which can be directly launched without having to go to a different section first. This makes the Start menu even more useful for gamers.
As you can see, Windows 10 October 2018 Update doesn’t bring too many changes to the Start menu, but it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is still looking into ways to refine the experience with this essential desktop feature. The good thing is that Microsoft appears to be listening to feedback, and the live folder naming support is living proof in this regard.
The October 2018 Update will go live for everyone next month, while the RTM build should be signed off sometime this week. Insiders may receive it before the end of September.