14 DAY TRIAL // The Start menu will finally make its public return in Windows 9, and Microsoft is working not only on a fresh design, but also on new settings that would give users more customization options for their desktops.
Microsoft hasn’t discussed its plans for Windows 9 until now, but the company intends to do so in a private press event scheduled for September 30, when it’s expected not only to share more details on this project, but also demonstrate an early build of the operating system for the first time.
One of the key features of Windows 9 is obviously the new Start menu, which will incorporate lots of new features, including support for the live tiles that were previously available exclusively on the Start screen.
These live tiles will give users even more options when switching to the Start menu, including information about the music they are listening to.
“Now playing” details shown in a live tile
By default, the Start menu will come with several live tiles, including those for the Windows Store, Food and Drink, and Music. If you’re one of the many users relying on Music to listen to your favorite songs, the Start menu will really come in handy.
The Music live tile will play the key role as on the Start screen and will thus display information about the music you’re listening to, including artist, song name, and album cover.
The same behavior could be available for other Metro apps as well, including music and video players, but also for weather apps, which could display the forecast and weather information for a configured location right in the Start menu.
The Start menu will be turned on by default on PCs
According to people close to the matter, the Start menu will be enabled by default on PCs, so those who are still relying on a mouse and keyboard to work on their computers will boot to a more familiar desktop, with a look that resembles the one of Windows 7.
While live tiles will obviously play a really important role since they can keep Start menu users up to date with select information, just like it happened on the Start screen, Windows 9 adopters will still be allowed to remove all of them and stick to a layout that reminds of the Windows 7 Start menu.
At the same time, Windows 9 will include dedicated options to disable the Start menu altogether and switch to the Start screen, just in case you like the original configuration more.