In case you missed it, Rafael and I co-posted today about a coming change to the Windows 8 Welcome screen that will, not surprisingly, very closely resemble the lock screen in Windows Phone 7. Here’s a shot:
We’ll have further Windows 8 revelations in the days ahead, but many of the coming changes we’ve seen so far are in fact inspired by Windows Phone, including an “immersive” tiles-based UI that looks and works an awful lot like Metro and is clearly aimed at a coming generation of tablet-type devices.
More soon, but I think it’s fair to say that Windows 8 will see the merging of Windows Phone 7 and traditional desktop versions of Windows from a user experience standpoint. This Welcome screen is just the tip of the iceberg.
Gorgeous.
A similar lockscreen is already built in the samsung sliding pc 7 hybrid tablet (partially developed with microsoft), even with the same swiping mechanism as windows phone.
Paul, you said before that typography doesn’t necessarily make a UI Metro-inspired. However, if you’ve listened to Windows Phone designers talk (which I’m sure you have), you would know that typography is one of the most powerful and striking elements of Metro that is used all throughout the design language.
Regardless, I’m incredibly excited and happy to see that Microsoft is getting it. That they cant just depend on the Aero UI for different form factors, and also happy the Windows team have decided to adopt the best design language for modern User interfaces/experiences.
What I’m saying is using the Segoe WP font in a window doesn’t equate to Metro. That is still the case.
April Fools?
I prefer the current version, personally. Or maybe the background here just looks bad, idk. But I’m checking the date right now, so don’t mind me if I take this with a grain of salt ;).
It’s real.
Ah. Is the background user-changeable? Vista and 7 made changing the account selector background nonobvious.
It’d be cool if laptops could use gesture unlock based on touchpad finger manipulation.
Yes.
And I do believe that gesture unlock is coming in Windows 8 too based on what we’ve seen.
Paul, i am foward for this series.
Does the initial impressions of Windows 8 on tablet form convince you?
No, but we haven’t seen the full meal deal yet.
I hope that icon on the bottom-left is temporary. One of the things that annoy me on my computer (I’m running Vista) are these little inconsistencies.
For example, when I want to change a folder icon, say, I am greeted with this history of Windows icons. Vista-style, XP-style, and older–it’s a nightmare. And then there are programs. Most of the stuff is Aero, fine. But you get the Zune player, and it’s Metro, you get Office 2010, and it’s Metro-ish.
If Windows 8 is going Metro (and thank God for that), I hope they go all-Metro.
That same icon appears on the Welcome screen today; it’s for people who can’t use traditional input methods, often because of a physical handicap.
As for the Metro thing, please, stay tuned.
Oh, I don’t mind that it’s there…I just wish it was Metro-style.
April Fools? if not then you picked a really bad day to post it…
I think it added to the mystique. Fear not, we have a lot more to post.
Paul, you wrote on your WinSupersite article about pattern login feature: “For example, on tablet-type devices, you’ll apparently be able to logon using a pattern, which we assume is similar to what’s available on Android devices today.”
But Android didn’t invent this first, Microsoft introduced it in the UMPC with Origami Experience 2.0 released about 5 years ago! http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/umpc/demo.mspx
You could then use points pattern on a picture as login cues in the included Picture Password Login included. This is what Android copied.
Lord, I hate when Microsoft me-first becomes Microsoft me-too! I hate to count how many technologies are pioneerd by MS, made popular my third parties, then have MS play catch-up to. It is simply mind boggling!
Didn’t suggest they invented it. I just said that we assume it would work the way Android logon works. No one has used Origami. Millions of people use Android.
But thanks. Forgetting about this stuff is a sign of both my old age and Microsoft’s increasing irrelevance, both of which are of course sad. :)
“similar to what’s available on Android devices today.”
Sorry for the confusion. Similar here meaning, exactly the same.
We don’t actually know that what’s in Windows 8 is identical to what’s in Android. We assume it’s similar.
That’s very interesting. For once, Windows is moving towards being more mobile instead of mobile becoming more like Windows.
Can’t wait! Ballmer did say Windows 8 will be their biggest risk yet… Though I think it will be a success, as after the whole Windows Vista debacle, they seemed to fix that.
This is indeed very risky for Microsoft as Steve Ballmer said. It’s not that the current interface was something rushed together in one single version but it could evolve over many years. I’m curious how much they will change the desktop UI. Windows 7 already showed the influence of Metro in the Aero design, especially in Windows Explorer where they removed the icons in the Command Bar and changed the column headers to only be simple text.
Very exciting! I’m looking forward to your next revelations.
We should have a feature a day for a while.
Let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t find a way to prevent that.
So why are you guys no subject to all the take down notices that Microsoft are reportingly sending out???
No one has been asked to take down anything, actually.
Paul, I have a feeling you are being coy with us. :) You seem to be containing some inner excitement on this whole subject of windows 8 or maybe I’m just reading into things. I just have one question. Do you still think that windows 8 is not the right OS for a tablet and that it should be windows phone 7?
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So TomsHardware is now up to blatantly stealing your stories and not quoting you or offering credit….nice
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows8-win8-welcome-lock-screen,12507.html
This is sadly typical. Info theft without attribution is the way of the Internet. thanks.
love it
love all the articles you and Rafael have posted over the past few days in regards to windows 8! I find myself checking all your sites every morning before heading out the door to work. And love your Windows Weekly podcast with leo… i have to get up around 5:30am every friday to watch it live here in Australia….
I read a comment today about the possibility of windows 8 being inconsistent in terms of styling. You’ve got the ribbon UI, windows 7 more generic look and feel, and then metro, and I think he’s got a point. What I hope to see is everything entertainment and multimedia related to be developed with metro in mind and everything productivity oriented with the ribbon and more classic styling.
Since no one really knows what Windows 8 is really going to look like, this isn’t something to stress over quite yet. These guys did Windows 7. They’re going to get it right.