Review: ModernMix

Now that customizability of the start screen with Decor8 is possible and you can add start menu with Start8 Stardock has released another application that tackles another one of the so called “annoyances”.

ModernMix

Stardock has released ModernMix to allow you to run modern apps to run in windowed mode which is a great compliment to Start8 which I covered in an older review. While the concept is quite simple the app is great for those for want the Windows 7 feel on 8.

Settings wise it’s quite basic but with what little you can configure it is quite simple. First off you can configure how apps are handled when launched from start screen vs desktop In addition to remembering state. You can also enable a overlay for switching mode, hot key for switching mode and the ability to disabling the flip effect when launching full screen applications. Lastly you can manage the state of full screen apps on the App Settings page.

ModernMix costs $5 and is a must if you like the ModernUI apps but don’t want them full screen.

You can buy your copy @ http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/

Review: Decor8

While there is many that aren’t a fan of the new start screen on Windows 8 there is still a large fan base that does like it and Stardock has them covered too on the customization base. While Start8 adds the start menu back with many customization’s Decor8 allows you choose from a wider selection of backgrounds in addition to custom background.

Start Screen with bars visible

Starting off with background settings after you choose your background from the pre included list or your computer you can set a wide variety of settings including what effects are applied to it, how it fills the screen and option to do a slideshow of multiple images just like on the desktop. On the next setting screen you can set the color but what makes this different than windows is that you have choice to use the generic color picker instead of the modern app color set after which you got option to create color scheme based on your color choice. Now the fun comes in with the options section where you can configure the parallax, how many rows are displayed and even have it change the charms bar color based on your selections on previous screens (OH and you can add a clock to start screen). The Lock screen section does look very much like the windows one but it does let you do the slideshow feature just like the start screen section.

Decor8 costs $5 and is well worth your money if you like the Modern UI start screen but wish you could customize it further.

You can buy your copy @ http://www.stardock.com/products/decor8/

Android Launcher Fun

One key feature of Google’s Android that many over look is the ability to change launcher. There is many of them out there that provide many variations of options that likely will fill the needs for nearly any user.

The customizations can range from modified/enhanced stock to extreme fringe feature/style wise. Usually the tweaks are practical and provide good usability but sometimes the end result only gets a niche set of users which is not bad but can limit its profitability. The extreme fringe can be anything from simplified to complex reinventing how the platform should look.

For this post I choose three launchers that cover the general areas… customizable but stock style, stock with a twist, and extreme fringe… The launchers are: Nova Launcher (Prime), Action Launcher Pro, and Smart Launcher Pro. Each of them has free versions but some features may be limited or non existent.

Nova Launcher (Prime unlock key) – CA$4.00
First off is Nova Launcher which started off as a fork of the stock Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) launcher and now is based on the latest Jelly Bean (Android 4.2) launcher. The features have been developed rather fast yet well implemented and the developer was fast to update the core as Google updated Android’s launcher through out the android versions.

This launcher comes in free and paid prime unlocker with the prime version unlocking many things such as new transitions, features and  much more making prime worth it.

Pros: Fast, Clean pure look, Customizable
Cons: None that i know of

Action Launcher Pro – CA$3.99
Next is Action Launcher Pro which is another fork of the stock Android launcher but with a interesting twist.. it is designed around getting you to where you need to go faster while still being close to Google’s ideals. Instead of a four icon dock with item for drawer you got a 5 icon drawer with action bar on top for triggering slide out app list, search, Play store, and menu. This model does feel more speedy especially since you can quickly get to app list by pressing home again or swiping right. Based on how items on the home screen move around it appears to be based on the latest Jelly Bean (Android 4.2) launcher. How you add items to your home screen is quite different here as you can’t drag apps from the app list you got to add them via tap and hold or menu then customize and drag them from the apps list there. Over all not a bad app plenty of room for improvement though.

Pros: Fast, quick access to apps
Cons: Minor useability issues, lack of customization options

Smart Launcher Pro – CA$3.49
Now for Smart Launcher Pro which has one main goal simplicity on install it asks you what apps you prefer for browser and such and it sets what the developer calls the “Flower” to have icons to go to your preferred apps. You can add other apps to the flower if you want tho it wasn’t obvious how (tap and hold one icon to get edit mode and add is in center). The app list is accessed by larger but recognizable app drawer icon in lower left and is presorted in preset categorizes with access to search, Play Store and menu in upper right.

This launcher comes in free and pro variant with the pro unlocking a woefully incomplete widget mode that should be a fully versatile home screen mode with widget resizeablity making the pro not really worth it unless you want to support the developer is worth it tho since he is actively working on it.

Pros: Fast, Extremely simple
Cons: The woefully incomplete “widget mode” makes pro not worth it

Over all the launcher landscape for Android is quite diverse and this barely scratches the surface of it.

iPhone apps on iPad: Stock 2x mode, FullForce, Retinapad

Default 2X ModeOne of the biggest issues for iPad is how iPhone apps are handled. Despite how much push there has been on for developers to make native iPad apps  there is still many mainstream apps that haven’t updated theirs.

Apple built in the 2x mode to make up for it but its key issue is that it upscales lowres 320×480 to the iPad native resolution leaving you with a blurry undesired app. In the jailbroken world there has been two fixes to this.

FullForce - Price: Free
FullForce for iPad Cydia tweakThis  mod allows you to force iPhone apps to run full screen like native iPhone apps but it has one major issue. The mod only works with certain app designs thus often breaks badly on apps that are designed based on fixed size designs.

 

Retinapad - Price:  $2.99
Retinapad for iPad Cydia tweak

This Mod rather than force scaling which breaks many apps forces iOS to use the iPhone 4 Retina graphics for 2x mode rather than the legacy 320×480 iphone images. Over all this method gives a far more desired outcome for most uses provided the app developer has updated their app for iPhone 4 and above.

As it is now those are the only options for iPhone apps on iPad but give the modders time perhaps they will find a new way that is best of both worlds.

What is your preferred method? Leave a comment below.

First Impressions: Start8

As stated in the previous article the new interface may be a sticking issue for some and due to that there have been efforts to restore the start menu. Stardock’s Sart8 is one of the many solutions and that is the one that will be covered this time.
7 Style StartStart8 restores the start menu you know and love back into 8 but with some extra options. Once installed first thing you notice is a white 8 logo that brings 8 desktop styled start menu. Everything you loved about the menu in 7 is here including the ability traverse through folders using the search box (a must for me). Also if you still want the win8 full screen apps you can still get to them via shortcut that is pinned to the top of the menu by default.

The comfort of being like the 7 start don’t stop there tho since its just as configurable with the same classic options in addition to new stuff. Style wise you can choose the theme for the 7 style or use a 8 style also transparency and color is a option in addition to setting different/custom start button image. Next up in configuration you can enable small icons, highlight new applications, choose what shortcuts that are shown and what style they use and of course whats a 7 style start without ability to set what the default shut down option is (default to Shut Down). Now you can choose what  start style shows up when you click button and key, Either right click or ctrl click of start button can be configured to open 8 start, now the biggest plus in this section is ability disable the hot corners and fully hide the new interface even as far as automatically booting into windows.

If the new Windows 8 changes bother you perhaps Start8 can help you. You can grab your copy for $5 @ http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

 

 

Start Panel

First Impressions: Windows 8

Now with Windows 7 just hitting mature status it is time for a the next stage in Windows evolution. This time around there is some controversial changes that make some see this as more of a downgrade than a upgrade.

First off lets start with the change that has upset many.. the start menu you know and love in 7 is gone and has been replaced by the new start panel. This change is the start of a while new style of applications known as “Windows 8 Style” that run full screen tablet style.

While this is great for tablets it does leave a fair bit to be desired for classic computer use. Many of the legacy control panels are now  ”Windows 8 Style” but you can still get to most of the legacy ones via desktop. Despite being designed for tablet use it has enhancements that make it fully usable for desktop computers. The extensive use of hot corners allow for accessing stuff that tablets get via swipe gestures. Such hot corners are Lower left for triggering start screen, Upper left then move down triggers Windows 8 Style task switcher, going from top or bottom right will trigger the charms bar, and right click will trigger context sensitive bottom bar. For the power users if you go into lower left and right click you get a menu with extra goodies.

Of course Microsoft couldn’t kill

legacy so you will see a desktop tile that launches the classic legacy desktop sans the Start Menu. Not to be left out of the party the desktop is also gotten its own fair share of changes. Most noticeably the ribbon invasion continuing into explorer.

 

Another noticeable change is the new enhanced task manager but of course the changes are more than skin deep since the core system has been updated for latest systems. One of these core changes is that boot loader is now graphical so if you got multiple oses installed and you select 8 it will let you in instantly but if you select any other os it will reboot system into that os.

Now the question is is it worth getting or not.. it all depends on your needs. If you got a computer on or after June 5th you can register to get your upgrade to 8 Pro for only $15. Tho for computers before that date the upgrade price is $40 for digital  and $70 for dvd copy. The ultimate question of upgrading is all up to you.