Flashback a decade – smartphones were concept devices, desktops (which ruled the market) were business-oriented products, and Windows (XP at that point) held 90% of the market. Return to 2015, and we find that even though Microsoft leads Google by about $300 million in terms of software products sold, and boats of an impressive $90 billion of cash in hand, its share of the computer market (including both desktops and smartphones) is a mere 15%. Matters have not been helped by the poor showing of Windows Phone and lacklustre of Windows 8. From such past experience, we’ve compiled a list of features Microsoft would do well to avoid, just in case they are still a bit deluded.
Charms Menu – One of the big bloopers of Windows 8, the evanescent menu that appeared on the right edge of the screen was anything but intuitive and/or useful. In fact, its range of functions is so limited that almost all of them can be carried out using the taskbar in Desktop mode. We’d like to see Charms disposed off, and perhaps a more advanced controls menu integrated into the still Windows XP-esque taskbar.
Fragmented search functions – Try to carry out a simple Google Now type search on any Windows variant, and you’ll have to either use the URL bar in Desktop or Bing search in the Start screen. We’d like to see both features disposed off (or made even more inconspicuous) to make way for an integrated search function that looks up stuff on the internet as well as apps and files on the computer.
The Start menu – If the Windows 10 Technical Preview is anything to go by, the Start menu from Windows XP/7 is set to make a comeback. From what we can make out, the menu will integrate the list-type programs menu with the tiles from Windows 8. Whatever this synthesis be worth, we earnestly hope it supplants the Start screen that has been the newest – and most irritating – of major additions to UI design.
Mouse Gestures – Having turned the Start screen into a quagmire for mouse and keyboard users, Microsoft tried to introduce mouse gestures to make up for lack of touch on most desktops. What it failed to realize is that it is far easier to bring one’s finger to one end of the screen than to turn the mousepad threadbare running the cursor across the screen. We sincerely hope mouse gestures goes the way of trackball mice, forever.
Windows RT – A Chrome OS like offering (before Chrome OS made its mark) that would be made especially for lower end ARM processors sounded like a good idea. Problem was that this stripped-down variant provided nothing more than legacy utilities, a basic variant of Office and some file management tools. In other words, the majority of joys and sorrows of Windows 8 never came to Windows RT. Quite naturally, the sales of devices running this OS have never been noteworthy. With Windows 10 seeking to carry out seamless integration of various features across mobile and PC, Windows RT would become an anachronism.
Over-commercialization of core apps – While the original Windows Media Player was submerged, Windows 8 introduced a Music app that acted as a virtual display window for Microsoft’s music and media offerings. The performance of the Music – and other over-commercialized offerings –was exceedingly mediocre, and so users were often forced to use third party alternatives or simply avoid playing music or accessing Windows games (Xbox games to be precise) on their PCs. We hope Microsoft takes a leaf out of iOS/Android’s ecosystem and banish the sales pitches to the margins.
Given the speed at which Microsoft learns from its faux pas, we wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of the above were neglected (to be deleted) , thereby reducing our enjoyment of the new buffet of features. Still, given that Microsoft’s shareholders aren’t exactly seeing sunny days on the horizon in the remainder of the 2014/15 financial year, Nadella &Co. could surprise us, in a pleasant manner for once!
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THANKS FOR YOU MESSAGES!!!!!