Tabworks: customized Windows interfaces are nothing new.[/caption]
Custom Tweaks and Shells are Nothing New for Windows
Custom UI and shells existed during the Windows 95 transition as well. I knew several people with 3rd party tools like TabWorks for Windows 95 or even those that ran the old Windows 3.x-style manager as the default in Windows 95. These temporary alterations clearly didn’t stick. Can you even imagine someone running the old Windows 3.1 manager interface as a custom shell over Windows 7? The very idea makes me shudder. The purpose of these tweaks were to help consumers get used to the changes heading their way. Once everyone was used to the new Windows 95 interface, the alternatives were dropped and everyone moved on. Microsoft is allowing these changes not because they feel that the Modern UI is inadequate. I believe that allowing companies like Samsung to use their own custom launchers is just a part of the transition phase. In time, consumers will fully understand the new UI and won’t want these customized launchers. What do you think? Is allowing the freedom to use 3rd party tools and customizations a double-edged sword? Should Microsoft stop these types of customizations from working, or would doing so be against the very things that Windows stands for?]]>
They are already going against the openness of Windows by locking down WinRT apps. You can’t sideload WinRT apps easily. Yes, desktop apps are still “open”, but that’s because MS wants to retain compatibility with Windows 7 apps. The desktop is old, and can be phased out. The new stuff are locked down, and that’s what worries me: MS will, starting now, make Windows a closed platform.
I think locking it down a bit more is a good thing. Maybe there would be less viruses if they did.