
If a user hadn't been on the computer, they would have missed the message.
When the app was downloaded and installed, Windows briefly flashed a message that the app was installed. This is one area where Windows 8 scores partially over Ubuntu.įor example, while Windows was busy downloading an app using the Windows Store Metro app, users switched to other Metro apps. Since both OSes now run apps in full-screen windows, they've had to devise ways of alerting users when an app in the background requires their attention. They'd rather sacrifice a sliver of the screen, and have the global menu with the window controls and the familiar file menu. All our testers preferred Unity's way of giving apps maximum screen real estate. Unity in Ubuntu 12.04 also hides the window control, but testers who were used to the global menus in Mac and previous Ubuntu versions were able to find them with relative ease.Īlso, while Unity now doesn't auto hide the launcher by default, this behaviour can be tweaked easily enough from within the system settings. They tried the Alt+F4 key combo and, thankfully, it still worked. This is something none of our users could figure out intuitively on their own.
To close Metro apps, users need to grab them from the top and drag them towards the bottom of the screen, before releasing them into oblivion.
Alternatively drag in the left-hand edge of the screen slightly and release the thumbnail to open the list of thumbnails of current apps.One of the main ideas behind both Metro and Unity is to best utilise the available screen real estate - which is why the Metro apps in Windows 8 run full-screen with no window controls. Swipe the left-hand edge of the screen inwards and cycle through currently running apps. If you are using Windows 8 on a touch enabled device, use any of the following methods to switch or jump between apps: Move between apps in Touch user interface: Alternatively press the Windows key + Tab key to open the Switch List and scroll through the current programs/apps. Thumbnails of currently running apps or programs will appear. Move the cursor to the left-hand edge of the screen to view apps list panel (Switch List). If you are using mouse as an input device, you can jump between Windows 8 apps by using any of the following methods: Read on for more details or instructions on how to switch or jump between Windows 8 apps. But if you are new to Windows 8, you may find the switch a little confusing. All you need to do is use right shortcuts or actions. Switching or moving between Windows 8 apps is easy. But there may be multiple apps running in background. On Windows 8, only one or two apps can be opened at the same time.