Worked out something in 8 today that had been driving me crazy.

I've started using a few Metro apps (the new Plex one is nice, and quite cheap at only $3) and was always stuck using Metro apps on my main screen, which meant the main desktop taskbar was obscured, which drove me a bit crazy. Winkey+arrow did nothing.

SO I took the time to look it up and found a blog that mentions proper multi-monitor support in Metro. Turns out you can move a Metro app to any monitor if you move the mouse to the top of the window and drag it when it turns into a 'hand'.

Anyone else have any tricks? Seems like there's a fair bit of secret sauce here.

Posted on Gizmodo a couple weeks ago:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/01/six-hidden-windows-8-features-you-cant-live-without/

There are some new shortcut keys: start+x is one which is handy++

2nd time I've posted this - it's my go-to video for Win 8 newbies..

^ No trick in this post.

Not liking Win8. Fucking changes. Luckily the dude that made my system put the task bar and start menu and stuff but i hate it when that overlay pops up or appears for shit like PDF, AVI etc. Got the file allocations sorted with adobe reader, VLC player etc.

Also, windows seems to often crash when browsing random folders. Screen goes blank then appears a moment later with everything as it was but all windows explorer tabs gone.

Are there any tips not relating to Metro?

I don't really use Metro - I can see it would be useful for a class of users, but i am not one of them. I basically never see the Metro interface.

Aside from that I'm finding W8 basically the same as W7 (which I am new to as well at the same time on my home PC). Still adapting from XP.

When you're in the native PDF/Image viewer, go to the top right with your mouse, then devices and there is where you CAN FUCKING PRINT. Nothing normal like pressing CTRL-P or expecting a Print option when you right click.

Fark TicMAn is that where it is. I'd go back to Win 7 but Win 8 is heaps faster :(

Modern UI will still be there, hopefully they fix it up a bit, but it isn't that hard to get used to.

Are there any tips not relating to Metro?

Not that haven't already been covered by the vids listed I'm afraid.

The only other 'tips' I have are to do almost exlusively with the 'Metro' interface (not that I use it often, but there are a few quirks I've found useful).

Someone mentioned the 'drag and drop' nature of Metro when being used in Multiple monitor setups (that is, if you have a 'metro-app' (if that is the term) up, by clicking and holding the mouse where traditionally the 'title bar' would be, you can switch it between screens (be aware that it'll relocate the entirety of the 'Metro interface' to recurr on that monitor.
Also, to 'close' a metro app (without Alt-F4ing) simply 'grab' where the title bar would be and drag the app to the bottom of the screen. (and then there's the 'right-click' for more options in any 'Metro-app'.)

Other Metro features I've noticed is you can easily 'switch apps' by 'throwing' the mouse cursor into the top right corner of the screen and clicking (aim high, because if you've got a multiple panel desktop setup, you'll simply scroll to the next screen).
Similarly once you find that little gem, you can 'flick' to the top right, and then bring the cursor down to show an 'interactive' App-switching interface.

One 'quirk' I've noticed is that there isn't a straight forward way to 'shut down' in Win8.
The two quickest ways I've found are straight-up 'Alt-F4'ing once all apps are closed (or you 'select the desktop' before doing so);
and the other is to 'lock' the screen (WIN+L) and then select 'shutdown' from there.


There are a lot of Win8 haters ITT, whilst for the most part I can't say I'm stoked at having a 'touch screen interface' jammed down my throat where I'd prefer a more conventional desktop approach, if everyone stopped crying about what MS considers 'progress' and just passed on info about how to use the interface we could all move on.
The sad part is that I think MS have done a stellar job (for a change) at correcting the screwups they've had previously by creating 10 'Windows products' where you only really need 1 (ok, in this case they still have '4' (pro and non-pro, x32 and x64) but there's no more 'Windows mobile' which has gotta be a good thing right?). I'm not fond of MS' retail packaging options or the concept of even remotely trying to use a 'touch screen interface in a desktop setting'.
I kind of envisage that last part as a pseudo 'Minority Report' type way, sitting at my desk and swiping furiously at the 24" monitors I have ~1 metre away from me on my desk looking like more of a 'window licker' than a 'windows user'.

I'm LOVING how quick Win8 is, and both the file transfer and task manager interfaces have had an EPIC overhaul!

Kinda my point exactly Ticman.

If nothing else it suggests how single mindedly MS has pursued this as a 'tablet solution'.

Yeah my trick is I got some app to disable metro and add a start menu. I never use any of the 'apps' either. Save that nonsense for your polyphonic ringtone phone.

I like it except of the fucking 6 mouse movements to shut down.

Seriously it's freaking annoying.

Gotta be arsed making a batch file I guess.

The biggest thing I liked about Windows 8 was that I only paid 15 bucks for it.. oh and that it was easy to reinstall Windows 7. With my super fast SSD I find that Windows 7 loads no slower Windows 8. The only thing I'd like from Windows 8 in 7 is the File Explorer/file copy dialog.

Looking forward to the version of Windows that is next designed for desktop PCs and keyboard and mouse.

I really doubt they'll bring the start menu back, best you can hope for is minor improvements.

I just noticed that you can get an upgrade for $39 until the end of January: http://windows.microsoft.com/EN-AU/windows/buy?ocid=WL_r_january13_na_hero_1_1

I'm considering buying it so that I can whinge about everything wrong with it.

I installed Pokki so when I pressed the windows button I didn't get taken back to the stupid metro page, instead I have a start menu!!

Skype on win8 keeps crashing for me even after I updated to latest version.

www.classicshell.net/

This.

also is that what that hand thing is for. I found that out by accident but only have one monitor so I always wondered just what the hell the purpose of it was.

Skype on win8 keeps crashing for me even after I updated to latest version.

metrosexual version or desktop version? I deleted the metrosexual version and installed the standalone client, not that I have anyone to talk to :(

I installed Pokki so when I pressed the windows button I didn't get taken back to the stupid metro page, instead I have a start menu!!

Classicshell does this too but also enables you to have hotkeys in case you DO want to get back to the metrosexual menu. I've got it set for win key = start menu and shift + win = metrosexual.

Not a fan of classic shell (but its good that its there for those that need it).

Had to work with the classic menu on a couple of workstations for a week or so recently and hated it now that I've gotten used to Metro.

also is that what that hand thing is for. I found that out by accident but only have one monitor so I always wondered just what the hell the purpose of it was.

Yeh the hand thing allows you to drag the ... Window .. around. Stupidly though after so much gushing about the winkey+arrow snapping stuff in Windows 7 that doesn't work lolol

I think that having one app in the leftinised spot is the only way to show 2 apps on one screen at the same time in metro. Which is stupid I must admit and makes it not appealing for a keyboard / mouse productivity environment. Maybe if/when when they decide to make Metro the Desktop environment it will be less clunky.

I will happy if they do that tspec. I like Windows 8's snappyness it runs quite well for me and my games work well with it too. So I put up with some things, like the stupid app screen and no start button.

I always use skype like that Hoggy. The most annoying thing and somewhat surprising is how much functionality has been stripped from the Win8 version of Skype, can't transfer files, share screens etc. Not sure when they plan to fix this.

I just manually downloaded skype from the site and installed it so it runs on the desktop instead of that metro bullshit. Works like the good old days.