News - Windows 9 notification centre and virtual desktops demonstrated

[HEXUS]

Some useful new additions to Windows are shown off in video demos.

Read more.

[Tabbykatze]

I've always found having multi-desktop when using Linux very useful and glad Microsoft are plopping it in now.

[TheAnimus]

glad Microsoft are plopping it in now.

Well it was there 10 years ago....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerToys

It's funny I've never really gotten on with virtual desktops, slight lie, on a Solaris mainframe I found it handy, but that was so I could switch 'sessions' between terminals. I just wonder how this will work with multiple monitors and the like.

I tend to have apps either full screen, or half n half. I have never wanted to simultaneously switch two half n halfs

[Corky34]

I do hope this new notifications can be disabled.
I don't want to be reminded all the time that Windows update isn't set to automatically check, or that i don't have virus protection because Microsoft doesn't recognise other virus programs, that i haven't done a backup, turned off system restore, etc, etc.

[RT-XD]

Han Solo?

[crossy]

It's funny I've never really gotten on with virtual desktops, slight lie, on a Solaris mainframe I found it handy, but that was so I could switch 'sessions' between terminals. I just wonder how this will work with multiple monitors and the like.

I tend to have apps either full screen, or half n half. I have never wanted to simultaneously switch two half n halfs

Agree with this. I've had Linux virtual desktops for years, but have never found a use for more than two.

By the way, "Solaris mainframe" - that wouldn't have been one of the SuperDragons (CS6400) if you don't mind the nerd-nosiness?

Big-iron fandom aside, and returning to the article, notifications centre looks like a good idea, especially if the access to this is going to be easily/widely available. It'd be nice to have the notifications area as a kind of task status list - e.g. "portable disk attached"; "backup complete"; "email sent"; etc.

[MrRockliffe]

This new virtual desktop is a help in Mac OS X when multi tasking - I imagine it'll prove the same for windows.

[Hicks12]

I always use multiple workspaces while working on ubuntu in work as I have it setup for development and server management so it would be nice this finally arrives on windows (in a standard form, not an addon for xp ).

[Jonj1611]

Han Solo looks a little pushy.

[LSG501]

I know that ms is kind of going through a design transition etc but seriously this just looks disjointed. I know people didn't like win8 but it at least kept the same feel with notifications etc to the 'modern' ui, they were all 'dark tones'.

The unified notification panel is white, the new notifications can be any colour the app likes by the looks of it yet the core 'modern' ui is dark tones like win8, it just looks like MS have thought we better add this on...

Then you have icons, couldn't they have update the core windows programs, like explorer/control panel and ie to have a 'modern' tile icon or is this the new way of defining a 'desktop' versus 'modern' app

Now I like some of the features, the virtual desktops could come in handy but the notification panel seems a bit pointless to me unless they're bringing in their own version of built in os sync software like google/apple, its likely on the cards at some point.

[tomthum]

hope this new notifications can be disabled.
I don't want to be reminded all the time that Windows update isn't set to automatically check

The can add what they want but I want to be able to switch it OFF OFF???
Tom G

[Brewster0101]

hope this new notifications can be disabled.
I don't want to be reminded all the time that Windows update isn't set to automatically check

The can add what they want but I want to be able to switch it OFF OFF???
Tom G

Well based on the fact you've always been able to turn notifications off, I would assume Microsoft will continue that trend.

For all the slander Microsoft get, they do learn and improve - albeit slowly and quite often making things worse first. But at least they are trying to improve and innovate as they move.

[Saracen]

What do HEXUS readers think of the above pair of new features, very probably destined for Windows 9?

Well, virtual desktops looks to be useful to those that want it, and I can see uses, but unobtrusive to those that don't. Do, so far, so good.

As for notifications, it depends how it's implemented. If, say, an icon changes colour in the tray hinting at something new, and IF the user can control what notifications get notified, then fine. If the OS determines what notifications get sent and I keep notifications I don't want and have to clear, then bad.

And if that Window keeps popping up unsolicited, when I'm busy doing something else, it'll drive me absolutely nuts.

Essentially, my concern is fundamentally EXACTLY the same as it was over Start menu, etc.

If MS have written this so that it works to facilitate me working how I want to, by providing adequate user configuration, then I see no problem. If, on the other hand, MS expect me to adapt my working practices and/or regime to suit how they want their OS UI to work, then we're going to fall out over it. Again. And this time, permanently.

I just hope they understood what the Start menu issue was actually about (ramming working changes down our throats) and don't make some UI decisions that amount to a reprise of the whole farce.

[Fraz]

I've just given up on Windows. They just can't seem to come up with a coherent UI story, and I doubt these additions will be integrated in a satisfactory way. Aside from the fact that I've always been baffled that Windows hasn't had proper multiple desktop support, especially given that PowerToy addon previously referred to in the thread, I'm just not interested in taking part in their seemingly random walk towards a well-thought out and tightly integrated UI. And let's not even talk about how awful the console/terminal emulator is, which means that doing anything genuinely useful (for me, at any rate) is like pulling your own teeth out whilst getting poked in the eye.

Literally the only reason I'd bother with it these days is to play games, and tbh, it's becoming too much hassle even for that. I'm probably just going to get a console. I'll stick with OS X or one of any number of tolerable flavours of Linux.

[johnniedoo]

I have tried to use virtual desktops on multiple monitors for years and never been able to manage more than 2 or 3 max. Maybe it is a feature I have never really needed much; though i often wonder just what kinds of people actually benefit and use these features successfully.
I havent bothered with Windows8/8.1 so far. seems as if i will survive passing it by. I use Linux MInt17-MATE-64 and Win7 x64 Pro and Ultimate still and like them all.

[wwinter86]

Mac has had a notification centre since Mountain Lion, but still a welcome addition to Windows.