Microsoft: No Windows 8 Start Button, But Office For iOS Has A Start Date

Microsoft: No Windows 8 Start Button, But Office For iOS Has A Start Date


One of the more controversial things Microsoft’s done with Windows 8 has been the “removal” of the Start button in favour of the Metro interface. No problems — you’ll just restore it with a software hack, right? Not so fast.

According to Paul Thurrott’s Windows Supersite, Microsoft’s latest iteration of Windows 8 prior to its release has had a specific focus: Removing the legacy code that might make Start-button enabling hacks to work:

“…information I’ve received that Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor. In fact, I’ve seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment. That feature not only isn’t happening, it’s being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8’s stable mate) as well.”

Ouch.

In related Microsoft news, remember the rumours that Office for iOS and Android was due in November? The latest round of rumours have pinned down a release date; if you put credence in them, then November 10th is apparently when you’ll be able to get busy Officin’ (as Herbert Kornfeld might have put it) on your iPad or Android tablet of choice. [WinSuperSite and The Daily]


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