Tag Archives: start menu

Get A Tiled, Option-Stacked & Customizable Start Menu In Windows 8

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Whether you like it or not, the new Start Screen in Windows 8 is here to stay. But if you’re having a hard time getting used to it and prefer to get things done the old way such as accessing applications, shortcuts and files, you just need to install a Start Menu replacement app. We've already covered a handful of Start Menu apps and Start Screen modifiers for our readers, including the likes of Pokki, Classic Shell and Start8. Today, we’re bringing to you yet another similar application called Start Menu Reviver. It’s a great option for those avid Start Menu users who think that the Start Screen simply slows them down. It offers almost all the features of Start Screen and lets you access your programs and favorite websites right from the desktop. Read More

Get Custom Start Menu, Global Hotkeys & Text Expansion With FastKeys

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You might have tried a lot of replicas of Windows Start Menu on Windows 8 by now. Some look extremely slick such as the Pokki, while others like Classic Shell come packaged with a plethora of customization options. If you want to opt for something entirely different than the tried and tested though, give FastKeys a shot. No, it’s not just another Start Menu rip-off, but an intuitive utility that can work as a powerful replacement of Start Menu, along with an apps and a website launcher, user-defined shortcuts opener and a lot more than that. Read More

8StartButton Is A Unique Modern UI Start Menu App For Windows 8

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During the last year, we have seen a large number of free and paid Start Screen modification and replacement tools for Windows 8. Some provide you with a Windows 7-like Start Menu and disable the Start Screen, while others change the way the Start Screen looks. Back in October, Waqas compiled a list of the best Windows 8 Start Screen modifiers and Start Menu applications to get back the old Windows 7 feel. However, several new applications from the same genre have appeared since and if a new tool offers something different, we try to review it for our readers. 8StartButton is one such Start Screen replacement utility that caught our attention. It allows you to replace the Start Screen with a highly customizable Start Menu providing you full control over the system. You can access all the installed programs as well as system options, and pin your favorite programs as tiles inside the Start Menu. You can choose to open Start Menu or the Start Screen as the default function for the button, disable the Start Screen hot corner, and choose to boot Windows directly to the desktop. Read More

Get Classic Start Menu & Disable Start Screen On Windows RT Tablets

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The Start Menu vs. Start Screen menu has been going on endlessly since Windows 8 was first showcased by Microsoft to reveal the lack of a Start menu. Fans of the classic Start Menu have since released several third-party apps to bring it back on Windows 8 devices, and we have brought you several such tools here at AddictiveTips over the past few months, which you can check out in our compilation of best Windows 8 Start Screen modifiers and Start Menu apps. However, all these previously mentioned applications only work for the x86 and x64 versions of Windows, i.e. Windows 8 and if you have a Windows RT tablet that uses ARM architecture, you will not be able to take advantage of these apps. What we have for you today is a port of previously featured Classic Shell for jailbroken Windows RT tablets (like Microsoft Surface RT) that bring the Start Menu back on the device and disables the Start Screen. Read More

Pokki For Windows 8 Gets New Light Theme, Customizable Favorites & More

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The first thing you'll notice missing upon switching to Windows 8 is the familiar Start Menu, which has now been replaced with the Start Screen. Although the new design looks much prettier, many users have found the transition to be fairly unintuitive when compared to the old Start Menu. Back in October 2012, we covered Pokki for Windows 8 that aimed to bring back the start menu while allowing you to install a plethora of Pokki web apps. The application has seen millions of installations, and has now been updated with a few awesome new features, an all new light theme, and the ability to use Windows logo as Start Menu icon. Read More

StartW8 Is A Simple & Elegant Start Menu Replacement For Windows 8

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Ever since the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 came out, we have seen a lot of developers release Start Screen replacement utilities. Some of them just change the outlook of the Start Screen, while others completely bypass the Start Screen and install the Windows 7-style Start Menu in the taskbar. The main problem people are having with Windows 8 is the huge shift in user experience that has been forced upon them by Microsoft. If you have been using Windows for quite a while, it is sure to take a lot of time to get used to the new interface. Till you are comfortable with everything that is Windows 8, you can keep trying your hand at Start Screen replacement applications. Enter StartW8, another free application that replaces the Start Screen with a Windows 7-like Start Menu that does a good job matching the new UI. It lets you launch the menu with the Windows key and sets the OS to sign in directly to the desktop, bypassing the Start Screen entirely. Read More

Run Modern UI Apps Within Windows 8 Desktop With RetroUI Pro

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Up until now, the Start Screen replacement apps we reviewed for Windows 8 – including the ever popular Start8 from Startdock, or the more feature-laden Classic Shell – simply restore the Start Menu in Desktop mode. RetroUI Pro (previously RetroUI) is a similar application that does not merely reinstate the Start Menu, but it also keeps it persistent even in Start Screen mode. After its latest update, it now allows you to run Modern UI (Windows Store) apps in windowed mode, i.e., within the desktop environment. RetroUI packs in a plethora of features that we haven’t seen in other Start Menu alternatives. For instance, it features a TabletView window that provides quick access to some of the frequently used apps and allows you to pin your own apps and webapps of choice there too. Since it’s a paid app, we’d put it up against Stardock’s variant i.e. Start8. Read on to find out if it successfully knocks out the competition. Read More

Best Windows 8 Start Screen Modifiers And Start Menu Apps

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One of the most talked-about UI elements of Windows 8 is its Start Screen. Microsoft believes that Start Screen provides the ideal environment to interact with the latest operating system, but most Windows enthusiasts think otherwise. Needless to say, it’ll take some time for users to adapt to the new interface, but right now, absence of certain features that we've used for so long makes the whole experience a tad awkward for most. One of those features is the Start Menu. Many of us are so attached with it that the abrupt change seems almost like an anomaly. From what the word around the web tells us, users have little or no grudge against the Start Screen itself, but simply want to be given the choice to switch between the Start Screen and Start Menu. If you’re among those folks who miss the Start Menu in Windows 8, here’s a rundown of ten amazing, free third-party Start Screen modifiers and Start Menu apps that may satiate your needs. Read More

New Pokki Adds A Rich Start Menu To Windows 8 With Controls For Start Screen & Hot Corners

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Ever since Microsoft announced Windows 8, the latest OS has been at the helm of discussion. One element that has faced incessant backlash, is the removal of Start Menu and Start Orb. Why Microsoft took such a bold decision is a different story, but it’s been in the spotlight for a while now. We have covered quite a few Windows 8 Start Screen modifiers in the past, Power8, ViStart and Start8, just to name a few. Pokki For Windows 8 is a new addition to the genre. If you’re unfamiliar with Pokki, it is a Windows application that lets you use a multitude of web services such as Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, eBay, Instagram etc., right from your superbar.  It also offers an Apps Store that contains a plethora of absolutely free apps. Pokki For Windows 8, in addition to this, adds its own sleek Start Menu to where the original one should have been in the first place. Although it doesn't allow you to customize the menu, it surely is one of the best looking Windows 8 Start Menu replacement apps available to date. Read More

Add Windows 7 Start Menu & Start Orb To Windows 8 With StartMenu 8

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When I first began using Windows 8, it simply seemed awesome. The Modern UI apps, ribbon-based File Explorer, the snappier user experience, and a brand new Start Screen, all looked great, until I found that groovy Start Screen replaced the more endearing Start Menu, which I've grown used to. With such a high demand of Start Menu for Windows 8, every once in a while, we come across a Start Menu clone for Windows 8. Start8 from Stardock is, hands down, the best Start Menu we found for Windows 8. It comes with a customizable Start Orb and perfectly fits with the new Window 8 Modern UI. Start8 was free when it was first launched, but unfortunately, it's now available as shareware and costs $4.99. If you’re looking for a free Start Menu for Windows 8, give IObit Start Menu 8 a shot. It adds a Windows 7-like start menu to Windows 8. As of now (and seems always will be), the application is available for free and works without any issues. Read More

Power8: Start Menu For Windows 8 That Can Block Metro Features

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We have discussed the absence of Start Menu in Windows 8 in a lot of our previous posts. Replacing the Start Orb with the Start Screen has received mixed reviews from users. Some of them really hate the idea of completely changing the way you interact with the operating system, while others have supported the move, citing it as a step towards the future. However, like everything else, developers have come up with third party applications to get the Windows 8 Start Orb back on to the desktop. It allows users to have the familiar Start Menu back, while enjoying the new features of the Metro interface. You can think of them as tools for making the transition from the Start Menu to the Start Screen easier for you. Previously, we have covered Start8, an application for Windows 8 that adds a Start Orb, which opens up a Metro style Start Menu. Today, we have another application called Power8 that performs the same function, i.e., adding a Start Menu to the Windows 8 Desktop. While the interface of Start8 was based on Metro, Power8 has a Windows 7-styled look. Keep reading to find out more about Power8. Read More

mStartEx: Metro-Style Start Menu Replacement For Windows 7, Vista & XP

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Microsoft has hugely changed the UI of Windows in the latest iterations of the operating system. While all previous versions of Windows were based on the Desktop workspace, Windows 8 has been laid heavily on the Metro looks. In the Metro UI of Windows 8, the Desktop is not the main workspace; instead, it is just left as an app that runs within the operating system. The Metro apps for Windows 8 work somewhat in the same way as the Android or iOS counterparts. Other than the apps, almost every other UI element is also changed to give it a more modernized look. People switching from the previous version of Windows, such as Windows Vista and Windows 7, will surely have a lot of difficulty in getting used to the new Metro Style UI. Even though, the final version has not been released yet, the Consumer Preview and Release Preview have given us a taste of what to expect from the upcoming release. You can download and install Windows 8 following the procedure available here. However, if you don’t want to install the complete operating system and still want to have a feel of the Metro UI, check out mStartEX. It is an application for Windows that works as a Start Menu replacement and displays programs in Metro style tiles. Read More

Classic Shell Updated, Lets You Add Windows 7 Start Menu & XP Explorer Toolbar To Windows 8

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When making the switch from an old program to its newer version requires a significant amount of effort that is needed to learn all the new things and change the way you performed the old ones. This effect is magnified when you upgrade the whole operating system.  Microsoft has recently released a preview of its latest operating system, Windows 8, and by the looks of it, a lot has changed in this version. Classic Shell is a very popular Windows enhancement tool and it has been recently updated to support Windows 8. Previously, when it was only available for Windows Vista and Windows 7, it included a collection of features that were available in the older Windows versions, but were removed from Windows Vista and Windows 7. Now, it performs the same function for Windows 8, i-e, adds all those things that were present in Windows 7, but were, for some reason, removed from the latest Windows release. These features include the greatly missed Windows Start Orb, the old Windows XP style toolbar in Windows Explorer, and a lot of other features. Keep reading after the break to find out more about Classic Shell. Read More

Start8 Adds Metro Start Menu In Windows 8, The Way It Should Have Been

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A while back, Aatif explained why Microsoft took a bold decision of removing the traditional Start Orb and Start Menu from Windows 8, and then Fawad featured a Windows 8 application named ViStart for all those avid Start Menu users who want to bring the classic Start Orb as well as Start Menu back to Windows 8. Even though ViStart requires you to tweak the settings and create a new toolbar to properly adjust the Start Orb, the Start Menu doesn’t support Windows 8 Aero Glass effect, and sometimes fails to add (pin) the folders and programs to the Start Menu. If you aren’t a die hard fan of Windows 7 Start Orb and Start Menu, and also don’t want the fuss of having to access Windows built-in utilities and installed apps from a newly designed Start Screen, then you may want to give Start8 a spin. It’s a freshly developed application for Windows 8 that adds Start Orb, and Metro style Start Menu to Windows 8. Read past the jump to find out what else Start8 has to offer. Read More

Where Is The Start Menu In Windows 8?

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Ever since the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 became available, the complaint that most users daring enough to test the new OS have come up with is that there is no Start Orb (or menu, or button, whichever you prefer). This aspect of the new OS became even more erratic than before, since the Developer builds of Windows 8 did come with a Start Menu of sorts, but with the Consumer Preview (Microsoft’s terminology for a beta), it got stripped out completely. Instead, what you now get is a beautiful, alive and convenient – yes, very convenient – Start Screen that forms a major portion of Windows 8's new look and feel. Read More

Bring Back The Start Orb/ Menu To Windows 8 Using ViStart

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If you have downloaded and started using Windows 8 Consumer Preview, you must have noticed and greatly missed the Start Orb of Windows 7. Microsoft has decided to make the infamous Windows Start Menu a thing of the past and replace it with the flashy and colorful Start Screen. But as they say, old habits die hard, and while using Windows 8, more than once have we longed for the Start Orb. Getting used to the new Start Screen will surely take some time. Till you get used to working with the Start Screen, you can use a useful little tool called ViStart that adds a Start Orb and brings the Start Menu to Windows 8. Originally, this application was meant for Windows 7, so it has some issues on Windows 8. Read on to find out about the pros and cons that ViStart brings to Windows 8. Read More

What’s New In Windows 8 Desktop, Start Search, And Start Screen [Review]

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Windows 8 comes with a huge array of new features, Metro UI-based elements, Metro Full Screen Apps, and many other improvements. Amongst all the UI-related enhancements, native utilities and features, Windows 8 Desktop, Metro Start Screen and Windows 8 Search are the most significant. These Windows UI elements have been totally revamped with new metro look, accompanied by some new and interesting features. In this post, we will excavate deep into features that these major Windows 8 elements have to offer. Read More

Start Menu 7: A Transparent, Customizable, Easy-To-Navigate Start Menu

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With every new release of the Windows operating system, came along a lot of changes in its interface. One of the most important menus, the Windows Start Menu, has also gone through a lot of UI changes over the years. Even after all those changes, it is still a bit difficult to find all the desired items in the Start Menu, and it is even more difficult to add custom folders or categories to the menu to organize your items. By default, the start menu only maintains a list of the most recent applications, and files accessed, and there is no way for you to customize the list, other than a delete option to remove specific items from the history lists. Today, we have a replacement for the Windows Start Menu that lets you customize the menu exactly according to your need. Start Menu 7 is an application that replaces the default Windows Start Menu with a detailed, easy to navigate and customizable Start Menu. Keep reading after the jump to check out the details. Read More

Bypass Windows 8 Start Screen On Startup & Jump Directly To Desktop

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Unlike previous versions of Windows where you are taken to desktop at system startup, Windows 8 welcomes you with Metro Start Screen, providing quick access to applications and system shortcuts, pinned programs, and so on. Apparently, Windows 8 doesn’t allow users to bring the classic Windows Startup behavior back. If you don’t want to click the Desktop metro tile every time after logging into Windows, here’s how to bypass Metro Start Screen and jump to desktop directly. Read More