Review: RetroUI tries to fix Windows 8's usability woes, but only makes them worse

Windows 8 is doing quite a job of alienating longtime Windows users. No more Start button, but a whole Start screen full of distracting live tiles; a double interface (Desktop and "Modern"); low information density on Modern apps; and the list goes on. For many companies, this isn't a disaster but a golden opportunity: The market is full of applications rushing to fix Windows 8, from Stardock's Start8 and Decor8, through open-source Classic Shell, through $5 utility RetroUI. Although RetroUI 3.1.1 does offer an interesting feature for running Modern apps in a window, awkward implementation keeps it from being the cure-all it could be. In fact, the current version brings its own headaches.

Much like Windows 8, RetroUI is bisected into two distinct parts that bear almost no relation to each other: a Start menu replacement, and an innovative feature called Enforce. The Start menu replacement is hardly unique, but Enforce does something I've never seen before: It lets you run Modern apps in a window. If you've used Windows 8 for any length of time, you probably realize how exciting that is.

RetroUI's search is significantly slower than Classic Shell's, and you can't use arrow keys to navigate results.

Enforce couldn't be simpler to use. It actually works like Windows 8 should have worked in the first place, if you ask me. With RetroUI installed, Modern apps just start in a maximized window. You can then resize that window, drag it around, and generally work with it like you would with any other windows.

There are a few caveats and oddities remaining: It won't show up on your taskbar, and you won't be able to have two Modern apps on-screen at the same time. You can have two Modern apps open at the same time and switch between them using Alt+Tab, but you won't see them both on the screen simultaneously. That's sometimes frustrating, because even the default full-screen Modern interface lets you have two applications on-screen concurrently (a primary app taking up most of the space, and a secondary one taking up a vertical on the side). And Modern apps don't show up on the taskbar, even when they're running in a window.

By default, RetroUI takes over several function keys: F3, F4, F7, F8, and F9. This means if you do anything with these keys (such as use F7 to create a new folder in Total Commander), you'll no longer be able to do it, at least until you visit RetroUI's Settings screen and disable this behavior.

By default, RetroUI hijacks F3, F4, F7, F8, F9, F10, and F12 across your system.

RetroUI's Start menu suffers some unfortunate quirks: For example, its find-as-you-type feature is very slow compared to competitor Classic Shell, and you can't use the arrow keys to navigate results.

RetroUI looks good on paper, but in its current form, it fails to deliver a satisfying experience. Rather than soothe Windows 8 frustrations, it only adds to them. If you're looking to use Windows 8 with fewer annoyances, you would do well to save $5 and try the free and effective Classic Shell with its powerful Start menu replacement.

Note: The Download button on the Product Information page takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software appropriate to your system. It comes in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

Endlessly tweaking his workflow for comfort and efficiency, Erez is a freelance writer on a mission to discover the simplest, coolest, and most effective software and websites to make tomorrow happen today.
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Review: RetroUI tries to fix Windows 8's usability woes, but only makes them worse

Windows 8 is doing quite a job of alienating longtime Windows users. No more Start button, but a whole Start screen full of distracting live tiles; a double interface (Desktop and "Modern"); low information density on Modern apps; and the list goes on. For many companies, this isn't a disaster but a golden opportunity: The market is full of applications rushing to fix Windows 8, from Stardock's Start8 and Decor8, through open-source Classic Shell, through $5 utility RetroUI. Although RetroUI 3.1.1 does offer an interesting feature for running Modern apps in a window, awkward implementation keeps it from being the cure-all it could be. In fact, the current version brings its own headaches.

Much like Windows 8, RetroUI is bisected into two distinct parts that bear almost no relation to each other: a Start menu replacement, and an innovative feature called Enforce. The Start menu replacement is hardly unique, but Enforce does something I've never seen before: It lets you run Modern apps in a window. If you've used Windows 8 for any length of time, you probably realize how exciting that is.

RetroUI's search is significantly slower than Classic Shell's, and you can't use arrow keys to navigate results.

Enforce couldn't be simpler to use. It actually works like Windows 8 should have worked in the first place, if you ask me. With RetroUI installed, Modern apps just start in a maximized window. You can then resize that window, drag it around, and generally work with it like you would with any other windows.

There are a few caveats and oddities remaining: It won't show up on your taskbar, and you won't be able to have two Modern apps on-screen at the same time. You can have two Modern apps open at the same time and switch between them using Alt+Tab, but you won't see them both on the screen simultaneously. That's sometimes frustrating, because even the default full-screen Modern interface lets you have two applications on-screen concurrently (a primary app taking up most of the space, and a secondary one taking up a vertical on the side). And Modern apps don't show up on the taskbar, even when they're running in a window.

By default, RetroUI takes over several function keys: F3, F4, F7, F8, and F9. This means if you do anything with these keys (such as use F7 to create a new folder in Total Commander), you'll no longer be able to do it, at least until you visit RetroUI's Settings screen and disable this behavior.

By default, RetroUI hijacks F3, F4, F7, F8, F9, F10, and F12 across your system.

RetroUI's Start menu suffers some unfortunate quirks: For example, its find-as-you-type feature is very slow compared to competitor Classic Shell, and you can't use the arrow keys to navigate results.

RetroUI looks good on paper, but in its current form, it fails to deliver a satisfying experience. Rather than soothe Windows 8 frustrations, it only adds to them. If you're looking to use Windows 8 with fewer annoyances, you would do well to save $5 and try the free and effective Classic Shell with its powerful Start menu replacement.

Note: The Download button on the Product Information page takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software appropriate to your system. It comes in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

Endlessly tweaking his workflow for comfort and efficiency, Erez is a freelance writer on a mission to discover the simplest, coolest, and most effective software and websites to make tomorrow happen today.
More by Erez Zukerman

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Review: Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition serves up the classic RPG better, and worse, than you remember

Bioware made it big riding on the back of Baldur's Gate, and its success became the basis for add-ons, sequels and spin-offs that established Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk as legends in the gaming industry. A mix of undiluted 2nd edition D&D rules along with party combat dynamics, well-paced leveling and a strong, character-driven narrative produced an experience so satisfying, its remains a benchmark other RPGs are measured against. Overhaul Games, fresh off the slick remake of MDK2 HD, aimed its sights considerably higher in the Bioware back catalog and produced a long-requested and highly anticipated update to this crown jewel of gaming. Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition ($20, buy-only) introduces official native high-resolution visuals, new story content, multiplayer support and a gladiator-style combat mode for quick action. It delivers on these promises, but like most translations, something of the original spark is lost in the process.

1) Character creation is a step down memory lane with D&D 2nd edition rules used throughout.

Overhaul Games, who started out life as a division of online game distributer Beamdog, petitioned Bioware for over a year before being given access to the sacred Infinity Engine source code, the lifeblood from which Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale and Planescape flowed. What followed were hundreds of bugs fixes and improvements as the engine was refitted for modern OS and hardware environments along with visual upgrades to the artwork and interface graphics.

The technical improvements are largely successful. The game runs in crisp high resolution without lag and supports widescreen monitors natively, feats the original game can only perform with substantial end-user modification. Engine improvements from later games in the series, such as Shadows of Amn, have been retroactively fitted so additional class kits and subraces are available to round out character creation. The experience cap has also been raised, giving a little headroom for point gobbling multiclass builds.

Combat is a mix of RTS mob management and RPG clickfest.

Gameplay is largely the same, with characters arrayed on the right side of the screen, mode selections to the left, and actions across the bottom. Control is more like an RTS game than a traditional action RPG, focusing on mob attacks using a pause-go command flow to issue orders to your party or relying on AI. Quick slots let you pick preferred weapons or items via function keys and despite its age, the ergonomics of the layout are easy to appreciate. In some ways, they surpass the radial menu paradigm Bioware used for the subsequent Neverwinter Nights series.

Stylistic changes are less on target, however. The redone, 2D overlay cinematics are obviously derived from vastly improved content creation software, but this doesn't render them any more effective than the sparse originals. The rudimentary 3D animation featured in the 1998 version seems more authentic and fits the rest of the game's art style more closely, even to modern eyes.

3) Baldur's Gate leaves plenty of backstory lying around. Be prepared to read.

Content updates are hit and miss. Some new material is welcome, such as the gladiator mode that allows you to level up, try out different combat strategies, and generally master Infinity Engine combat outside of plot-affecting encounters. New side quests are less polished, however, with dialog and creative aspects that don't hold a candle to the original storyline.

Nevertheless, the game remains supremely entertaining and a nice package for the $20 asking price. With more updates planned, remakes of the rest of the Infinity Engine based series in the works and an eventual plan to create Baldur's Gate III, the people at Overhaul deserve a little love and attention. If springing for the PC version irks you because the original, complete with mods, graces your hard disk, consider the iOS or upcoming Android version.

Note: The Download button on the Product Information page takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software.

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Windows 8 Adoption Rate Reportedly Worse Than Vista

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Ice Cream Sandwich Tested on Acer Iconia Tab A200: Better or Worse?

 

Acer recently pushed out the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update to its Iconia Tab A200 tablet, which we just reviewed. We first tested the A200 when it was running Android 3.2.1, and then again after the update, and came away with mixed results. Although ICS seems to demand more of the A200's Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, it also lasted longer on a charge.

Click through to check out our benchmark results.

For the most part, Android 4.0 has negatively impacted the A200. On the Quadrant benchmark, the A200's score dropped by about 400 points, and is now about 1,000 points below average.

Similarly, we also saw the A200's numbers drop in the An3DBench graphics test, though it was still higher than the category average.

One test where we saw an increase was in the multi-threaded section of the Linpack test, which edged the A200 slightly closer to the average.

Still, where it matters most–battery life–the A200 improved by nearly 45 minutes, and now lasts almost 2 hours longer than the tablet average.

The differences in benchmark results were slight enough  that we doubt most users will notice a difference–in fact, when swiping between menus and pages and opening apps, we didn’t detect any change. However, we were pleased to see the boost in battery life, something that will be appreciated by everyone. 

Some–but not all–of ICS’ features have made it over to the A200. While you can’t unlock the tablet using an image of your face (as you can with ICS phones such as the Galaxy Nexus), the Acer Ring on the lock screen has been preserved. Multitasking is also here, and you can still close apps with a swipe to the left, an intuitive and useful feature.

While the camera app provides multiple options to share photos via social networks, it lacks the more robust editing capabilities, which is not such a big deal on the A200, given that it lacks a rear camera.

Overall, consumers should like the improvements that ICS brings to the A200, not just in terms of its endurance, but the additional features, too.

From Laptopmagazine. Visit Amazon Computer and Notebook Center Here