Start8 Beta 3 Update Available Now

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 (0.98 Beta 3 update):

  • Added Facebook link for promotion and 10% off coupon.
  • Search responds more quickly when you press enter
  • Modern app searches now show modern apps without having to type their entire name
  • Improvements to the boot to desktop featureAdded website entry to search
  • Added hibertnate as an option to the shutdown menu
  • Added back the option for fullscreen Modern start menu
  • Extended control panel search to show custom entries
  • Fixed issue with custom start button images being resized down
  • Fixed search using lots of cpu/memory if the Windows search service was disabled
  • Fixed pinned items on the taskbar stopping jump lists from working on pinned start menu items
  • Fix for the start button now always loading the graphic on bootup when you used the flag option
  • Fix for issues with some of the right hand links not showing / hiding based on the config settings
  • Fix to move the user picture when taskbar is at the top of the screen to avoid overlap
  • Fix to enlarge start menu if additional right hand options are enabled

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
3,293 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Searching is still a little bit slow (compare to Windows 7 start menu) and always bring uninstall shortcut on top.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

We have tweaked search a little for the next update and uninstall shortcuts should no longer be shown top of the list.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

But it's still not prioritized like Classic Shell. If I search for WordPad and start it two times, it should show up on top and not Word.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

We have made some changes to make it take into account the frequency of use when sorting the programs in the search.

This will certainly be available to people who have purchased the software later this week, and hopefully in trial form too.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

 

I bought the program and its good but there is a lot of bug still, sometimes the icons shows wrong or dissapear, when you configure it allways changed to the default template even if you selected rounded theme, shutdown button is in english.

When i search something they appeared on "control panel" section, if you click on them shows a explorer error...

 

The width of the menu need to be a little more bigger or add option to make it bigger because for some reason text (spanish) that was showed perfectly on win7 here not fit.

 

Today when i started my computer i so a really strange thing, all the icons dissapeared only shows text even with the folder tabs on "all programs" rebooting the computer fixed it.

 

Please add an option to remove the hand that appear on the top of the desktop when you move the mouse that option for closing or moving desktop its really stupid.

 

Thanks for your time, waiting the new update