Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Did A Google Earth Mistake Cause A Couple's Brutal Murder?
Windows 8 Explorer to feature Ribbon UI, SkyDrive and Mesh integration?
The Ribbon, like in Microsoft Word and Excel, is context-aware, adding tabs for specific tasks which apply to the folder you're viewing -- such as library or picture management. You can also make out two new buttons in the status bar, which allow you to change the current folder's view style.
It's clear from all the placeholder images and repeated elements that this is very much a work in progress, but featuring the Ribbon more prominently in Windows 8 would certainly be a logical progression for Microsoft. It's slowly become more ubiquitous, moving beyond Office and into Wordpad, Paint, and several of the Windows Live Essentials applications.
There's more to the screenshots than the Ribbon UI, however. Our friend Long Zheng has noted two interesting elements in the images: Web sharing and sync (image after the break). That would likely mean users will be able to quickly upload files to SkyDrive and synchronize using Live Mesh right from Explorer in Windows 8. That's not a total surprise considering many of the earliest leaked images of Windows 8 showed Windows Live integration on the desktop.
Comments
29
Subscribe to commentsAvenApr 3rd 2011 8:52AM
I really hope they keep the good old explorer look. This "Office 2007" style is terrible!
zeusvn88Apr 3rd 2011 9:25AM
I personally think the ribbon style is one of the greatest UI inventions (besides tab browsing by Opera and multiple workspaces by Linux).
Avid Linux supporter but now I'm hooked by Win 7. MS is really doing great.
Lee MathewsApr 3rd 2011 9:28AM
@zeusvn88 Just to stave off additional comments, Opera was not the first browser with tabs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabbed_Browsing.
XenoApr 3rd 2011 2:32PM
@zeusvn88 - lol, imagine that tabbed file browsing.
Chuck NorrisApr 3rd 2011 9:26AM
Though I'm a devoted Windows user, I can't help but think that OS-X still has the edge, aesthetically speaking; Even now at version 8, as it appears, Windows still looks like a toy for kids, with these lively pastel colours, bright windows and a cheap, plastic-like appearance. I feel like a 7yo toddler sometimes, when I use it.
The OS-X, on the other hand, feels like piece of serious hardware for aesthetically conscious adults, which I must say I rather prefer.
At least Win XP was noticeably more flexible in regards to skinning and customizing; since version 7, and now 8, Windows became considerably more uniform, yet still remained childish and dated looking, which is actually annoying considering the times we live in and all the aesthetical milestones that have transpired already, but sadly remain ignored by Microsoft's GUI design team.
King AntoniusApr 3rd 2011 9:46AM
@Chuck Norris You have a bit of a point there, but the first thing most people do when they install an OS is customize every possible aspect of it they can (or at least what they want). That's one of the great things with Windows and Linux, you can customize almost everything with little effort. On a Mac, you are fairly limited unless you want to mess with command lines and do a little basic hacking, but Macs are aimed toward a completely different (more artistic and/or wealthy) demographic, so of course the UI is going to represent that to some extent.
On a relative note (and I swear I'm not being snarky or anything), if you like the look of the Mac UI so much, just install the Snow Leopard transformation pack.
http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/08/16/snow-transformation-pack-makes-your-windows-7-pc-look-like-OS-X-snow-leopard/
zeusvn88Apr 3rd 2011 9:51AM
@Chuck Norris Just different in taste. I hate every bit of OS X. But love KDE4 and Win 7+Ribbon style very much.
It is judgmental of you to say Windows UI is for kids while OS X is for adults.
MarkoApr 3rd 2011 1:25PM
@Chuck Norris: The only thing that annoys me about Win7 is the light blue color used for menus and certain toolbars in apps using classic Windows look. However, in Windows 7, it is still fairly easy to customize and change themes. One of the nice themes is Elune:
http://minhtrimatrix.deviantart.com/art/Elune-199350232
I really like the neutral light gray color in most elements of Windows that this theme uses. Very pleasant on the eyes IMO. Lifehacker had a post on this theme a week ago or so.
k7of9Apr 3rd 2011 12:04PM
@Lee Mathews Opera being the first browser with tabbed browsing is an extremely hard to kill tech myth :)
about the ribbon explorer: i think the ribbon is great in applications where it makes sense. Explorer is not one of those applications though. Tabs in Explorer, now that would be a great addition!
XenoApr 3rd 2011 2:47PM
@Lee Mathews - I agree with k7of9 about Opera being the first web browser to implement tabbed web browsing being a myth.
MatiasApr 3rd 2011 9:50AM
I think that ribbon menu is a waste of space. Look at the picture in this post. From top to botom of the entire window, the ribbon tooks almost 1/4 of the space of the whole window.
I think OSX is smarter in this putting one menu bar at the top for all the applications, changing the menu when you switch apps. That's clever because you don't need the menu of an application in the background but you do with the application you are working on.
Regards
dave.flApr 3rd 2011 10:49AM
@Matias I half-agree.. the ribbon is taking up more vertical space and with most monitors being widescreen that's a very limited thing. They should provide a small-medium-large option for the bar while they're at it.
Also, Expose in Win8 would be very nice.. the third party programs that try to do it generally are too buggy to take seriously. Expose has to be the best window management-alt-tab-thinger I've ever used and I would love to see it put in Win8. Flip 3-d, win+t, alt-tab.. they're trash compared to expose.
gawicksApr 4th 2011 8:12AM
@Matias
You can autohide it so it's not too different from a menubar.
moneeApr 3rd 2011 9:55AM
@Chuck Norris I respect that, but its totally subjective. What you consider an "adult look", its an "pretty old look" too me. But these kind of thoughts are just subjective. Some ppl will like it and some won't and none can do anything about it. Anyway I don't it's usefull to compare win 8 "rumor milestone pics" with OS-X.
rells009Apr 3rd 2011 10:10AM
The only thing I hope is greater consistency in the UI. If they want to give Explorer a more Metro-like interface, they need to at least bring it in step with IE9. The Aero features are nice, but the Aero aesthetic is pretty unappealing for me.
As it stands IE9 looks different from Zune looks different from WMP looks different from Messenger looks different from Office.
Also, they really should just retire WMP. Place any missing features into Zune and call it a day.
SilverWaveApr 3rd 2011 10:15AM
Late April Fool?
motangApr 3rd 2011 11:52AM
I liked the Ribbon UI till I used it. It takes up too much screen real estate, and seems to just get in the way.
Troy GatesApr 3rd 2011 12:22PM
The ribbon ui is probably being integrated for touch. The buttons are big enough.
TonyApr 3rd 2011 11:35PM
@Marko wow i too hate that color scheme. how do i change it!
DeoWulfApr 3rd 2011 3:29PM
I don't see how they can rectify the Ribbon UI with Metro UI. I was really hoping to see the latter overtake the former in Microsoft general. Just look at how much more attractive this could be: http://boneyardbrew.deviantart.com/art/Metro-Desktop-Concept-161916957?q=gallery%3Amicrosoftmetrolovers%2F26087461&qo=8