Review: Pokki shows the Windows 8 that might have been - manninosumanducke

At a Glance

Good's Rating

Pros

A Starting time menu that works
Handsome interface

Cons

Not real galore apps procurable yet

Our Verdict

If you'atomic number 75 frustrated away the lack of a Start menu on Windows 8 but wish to move your experience forward rather than bring round the Start carte du jour of past times, try Pokki.

The death of the Start menu is way up at that place on my syntactic category list of modern tech tragedies and epic Microsoft blunders. It's almost as egregious as Microsoft Bob, but not as humourous. Fortunately, there's no lack of slipway to make for it back, from tralatitious-superficial applications such as Classic Shell to bolder reimaginings so much every bit Pokki, a free start menu and app store that shows what Windows 8 might have been.

Offse and foremost, it's a Start menu. Click the button or rap the Windows key on your keyboard, Pokki displays a list of applications that doesn't repeat your entire screen. Start typing, and potential applications instantly pop up, alongside custom Pokki apps and time period results from the Web (something the traditional Start fare doesn't pop the question). The default composition is light-colored, and the whole matter feels nice and airy.

Pokki's hot, clean look keeps things simple and readable.

Pokki's hunt is useful, but it ISN't staring: Apps from the Pokki memory are highlighted (smooth if you've decided you preceptor't need to set u them), and there is no way to mix documents from your local hard drive into the search results. World Wide Web results are quick to appear, but they lean to be too general. There is no way to search a specific website, such As YouTube.

Immediately, about those apps: These used to be the core of the Pokki experience, back when Windows still had a Start button. Now, they'ray thither in the main to offer added value. It feels like Pokki does want you to have a go at it about them and install them, but it isn't overly pushing near it (except for prominently featuring them in search results). Being subtle about a new half-breed of apps is exactly the sort of thing that could have won Windows 8 some points, and Pokki gets it right.

Pokki's integrated App Stack away is what the Windows 8 Storehouse should feature really been.

Apps browse from games corresponding Castrated the Rope and Plants vs. Zombies, to front-ends for Web tools like Google Calendar, Google Reader, and Instagram. They're built in top of instances of the Chromium WWW browser, and aren't always customized: The Google Calendar app, e.g., shows just what you'd see if you opened a new web browser tab and place it at Google Calendar. Pokki's Instagram client, known as Instagrille, has a compelling and original user interface that whole kit advisable.

Pokki's app store doesn't break new prime, merely it's simple and usable.

The store is biloculate into categories much as Artistic creation and Plan, Games, Photography, and Thomas More. You arse either browse for interesting finds, or search for an app away name. Inquisitory for common services like YouTube often yields more than one app, so you can pick and pick out nonpareil that looks right for you. Each app comes with a description, screenshots, and ratings–just what you'd expect from an app store, basically.

Thankfully, neither put in nor apps conduct terminated your entire screen like Modern apps do. They flavour like a different admit Windows, but play with the active windows far better than Microsoft's Moderne interface does.

Umpteen Pokki apps are virtually identical to web browser tabs, flunk to offer up a unique go through.

Pokki's Settings panel is concise and oblanceolate, and it doesn't overwhelm you with a pack of options. You can toggle 'tween a light and dark theme, skip the Windows Start screen when logging in, and even decide whether operating theater not you want the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Pokki menu.

Pokki executed a subtle pin, shifting from an app shop with a launcher to a launcher with an app store. On the entire, I would say it works. I'd love for the search boast to be better, but if you'ray looking for a richer Start bill of fare replacement than Standard Shell, you should definitely render it out. You might stumble along an amazing Pokki-exclusive app operating theatre two in the appendage.

Note: The Download button on the Product Information paginate takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest variation of the software.