Start8 0.95 Beta Now Available

from Stardock Forums

Stardock heard the cries from Windows® 8 users when they found out the start menu had been removed from Windows 8. We accurately recreated the most used desktop feature billions of users depend on every day, packed it with additional functionality, and named it Start8™.

FEATURES

  • Adds a Windows 7-style Start menu with Windows 8 enhancements
  • Search for Windows 8-style (Modern UI) apps
  • Pin desktop and Modern UI apps
  • Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
  • Fast access to shut down, devices, music, documents, videos
  • Skinnable Start button
  • Windows 8 Start screen accessible from the Start menu
  • Configurable Start menu size

NEW IN THIS BETA (version 0.95)

  • New User Interface
    • o Start button and Winkey can be configured to go to the Start menu or the Modern UI
    • o Customize what appears in the right menu pane, icon size, number of icons, power options (including quick startup)
  • Jump Lists now support pinning
  • New default theme
    • o Options to change the Start menu color
    • o Toggle to enable and disable translucency (defaults to disabled)
  • New start button
    • o Users can change the start button
  • Modern UI apps have their own "Modern UI Applications" folder under All Programs
  • Search
    • o Now searches Control Panel items
    • o Now adds directory and UNC path browsing
  • App Launching
    • o Shift + right-click shows Run As option
    • o Ctrl + shift when launching an app will launch elevated
  • Fix: Tree mode in the All Programs menu closes the tree when you launch something
  • Fixed issue for auto-hide taskbar
  • Fixes for some elements that were not translating properly

HOW TO GET IT

Start8 Beta is available as a free 30-day trial and can be purchased for only $4.99.

Purchase Start8 today to get access to the Beta now and receive a free update to the final version when it releases this Fall. https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

  • Windows 8

start8
6,485 views 6 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Whew, i thought you removed the windows start button. If you were using the old version and want the original windows looking start button choose custom. It's in there. Sad to see you go trial and want $4 for it but it's just $4. Thanks for the start button, why microsoft removed it is beyond me. The metro UI is horrific!

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Looks good and works nice but is the limits for the licence? (Eg how many installs), if limited how would one licence for multiple machines?

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Very nice set of improvements. One thing I've noticed is with searching: certain Control Panel items do not show up, at least here. Examples: Flash, Indexing (ironically), Sync Center, and some others.

I'm wondering about the lack of an Exit button. Is there a reason for that?  I'm guessing that Start8 is too low-level to be exited. Even Setup doesn't seem to be able to do it, since it needs a reboot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting kibmcz2, reply 3
Looks good and works nice but is the limits for the licence? (Eg how many installs), if limited how would one licence for multiple machines?

I'm also interested on this information. I run several test Virtual Machines which I recycle from time to time so I can have up to 4-5 Windows 8 test machines running. Most will be deleted after a month or so and replaced with a new copy.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting rseiler2002, reply 5
Very nice set of improvements. One thing I've noticed is with searching: certain Control Panel items do not show up, at least here. Examples: Flash, Indexing (ironically), Sync Center, and some others.

I'm wondering about the lack of an Exit button. Is there a reason for that?  I'm guessing that Start8 is too low-level to be exited. Even Setup doesn't seem to be able to do it, since it needs a reboot.
 

You can unload by running Start8 UNLOAD

To restart run start8 again.