Windows 9 is going to strip out even more of Windows 8 than we thought: It will kill the Charms Bar. Considering that it will also add back the Start menu, and allow Metro apps to run as windows apps on the desktop, when it’s done it may be an operating system you can love. WinBeta reports that in Windows 9, currently code-named Threshold, the Charms Bar is going to be killed, as least on traditional PCs. That’s good news. Although Charms works fine on tablets, on traditional PCs it’s always been confusing and awkward to use. It’s one more sign that Microsoft will be aiming Windows 9 more at desktops and laptops rather than at tablets.
Windows Threshold is shaping up to be an operating system very different from its predecessor, with the desktop taking front and center again for desktop users, the Modern UI is in the rear-view mirror for devices that never needed it in the first place. As Threshold is putting the desktop back in first place for desktop users, a question still remains. If Microsoft is allowing Modern UI apps to run in desktop mode, how will the Charms bar work? Before we begin, we must stress that we’re talking about the Charms for the desktop only. We haven’t heard too much about the Charms bar for tablets, however we believe the way they are accessed won’t be changing from its current form. Today, WinBeta can exclusively reveal that the Charms bar is going away for desktop users. No longer will Charms be accessible by navigating to either the top or bottom right of your screen. You may be wondering how this will work, considering some Modern UI apps are dependent on the charms. Another idea Microsoft have been toying with is removing the Charms completely. While it’s possible, we’re not entirely sure how that would work. A number of Modern UI apps depend on the Charms for certain features, apps require the Settings button within the Charms to access app settings, and some apps require the Search charm to search within the apps. Microsoft could just tell developers to update their apps, but that seem unlikely.
