Windows 8′s real Metro UI is “immersive” tablet experience

By Tom Warren, on 1st Apr 11 12:35 pm with 25 Comments

New references to an “Immersive Shell” inside Windows 8 were revealed on Friday.

The references point towards Microsoft’s secondary interface for Windows 8. The second interface will be used as the primary interaction point for touch based hardware. Geeksmack posted a number of references from Windows 8 build 7959. The existences of Internet Explorer integration, tiles, dock and a notification system have all been confirmed.

The “immersive” experience will include a Metro based user interface according to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans. Microsoft will include a new application model codenamed “Jupiter” that will allow developers to create Silverlight based applications, deployed as AppX packages (.appx). The packages will be part of a new Windows application store, pre-installed with Windows 8. WinRumors understands the company will be looking to provide an easy way for existing Windows Phone developers to scale their applications for use with Jupiter.

Separately, Winreview also posted a number of “Immersive” traces on Friday. The resources appear to confirm some of the Metro UI elements that will make their way into Microsoft’s Tablet experience.

Windows 8 "Immersive" UI for Tablets

Eug

I wonder if you’ll be able to switch between the two interfaces on the same device. For exaple you take your win8 tablet and use it while your out with the tablet interface and when you get home set it up with a keyboard and mouse and switch to the other interface.
Eug

I wonder if you’ll be able to switch between the two interfaces on the same device. For exaple you take your win8 tablet and use it while your out with the tablet interface and when you get home set it up with a keyboard and mouse and switch to the other interface.
- Anonymous
  
  I hope that’s the case.
- http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut
  
  In that case, it’s a killer!
- GP007
  
  It should be possible, all they’d have to do is reload the DWM with the shell that fits, no different from going in and out of a game for example.
- Anonymous
  
  There has to be.
  
  But with Windows 9 I hope we just have a small USBmemory sized device that contains Windows.
  
  Put it in your phone chassis and you get a phone UI
  Put it in a tablet chassis and you get a tablet UI
  Put it in a laptop/desktop and you get the full Windows experience.
- http://twitter.com/shsoftware Sebastian Halbig
  
  Hopefully it will be so!
http://twitter.com/rd3d Ian Walker

Wonder if there will be a marketplace for Apps in this new space. (Sign me up if there is please)
- http://thommck.wordpress.com Thom McKiernan
  
  That is a definite AFAIK
Martyn Lee

They need XNA as well as Silverlight, really hope they include it.
- GP007
  
  I think those are a safe bet. I’m thinking SL5 and xna 4.x or 5 as well.
Guest

WAIT! LOOK AT THE STATUS BAR OF EXPLORER !!
FILE COUNT AND TOTAL SIZE INFO COMES BACK !!!
SINGLE MOST USEFUL IMPROVEMENT FROM WIN 7 !!!!
- http://w1ngnut.myopenid.com/ w1ngnut
  
  lol!
- guest
  
  now if they can bring disk free space info back windows 8 will rock !
- anonymous
  
  Install Classic Shell to get back the free disk space.
- anonymous
  
  Install Classic Shell to get back the free disk space.
cparker

If they can pull off what it sounds like they’re trying to pull off here, this could be a pretty compelling story. To be able to bring the best parts of an OS to the major form factors (desktop, tablet, mobile, etc) while being able to keep the best aspects of each individual platform would be great.
I know there was some initial backlash about putting Windows 8 on the phone, but if the Metro UI-style of Windows Phone 7 is indeed one supported UI in Windows 8, I don’t see a huge downside…assuming migrating developed applications is trivial as well. It should be interesting to see how this unfolds as time goes on and if they can deliver what it sounds like they’re trying to.
Anonymous

PLEASE MICROSOFT PLEASE!!!

ROCK MY SOCKS!!!
Anonymous

This is getting exciting
Tom Warren

“Immersive is nothing new or relevant to post about.”
- species zero
  
  Who are you quoting?
Alex

Same wasted interface of W7. The evolution of Windows have been a disappointment. I could use today a W2K without almost any difference from W7 10 years later.
- Timiteh
  
  And it is surprised you how ?
  Even today i keep hearing complaining about the UI changes from Office 2003 to Office 2007.
  Thus if Microsoft changes too much the U.I without giving people a way to use the older U.I this could be a serious problem for many people !
- http://twitter.com/chentiangemalc Malcolm McCaffery
  
  i guess either you haven’t used windows 2000 recently or you’ve never used windows 7 or have not spent any time exploring the Windows 7 UI features. there are significant differences between the operating systems and the user interfaces. are they completely different. no? is windows 7 significantly enhanced … yes. i cannot go back to 2000/XP from Win7, i hate the interface in comparison to win7.
Anonymous

Honestly, who cares?
Apple has the Mac App Store – today.
iPhones, iPads, and Macs all run the same operating system with different UI shells – today.
Is Microsoft capable of doing anything other than blatantly copying Apple?
Come to think of it, WinRumors.com is a copy of MacRumors.com.
Even the fan sites are knockoffs? WTF!?