MILFORD, Iowa, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Thinix® has released RetroUI™ Pro, groundbreaking new software that fundamentally improves the user experience of Windows 8 computers. Included with RetroUI Pro is new patent-pending technology called RetroUI Enforce™. Enforce brings back the Windows taskbar and Start button when the Windows 8 Start screen (Metro) is active. Windows Store (Metro) apps are now windowed so you can resize them and reposition them around the desktop. RetroUI Pro also replaces the missing Start menu with a customizable start menu that integrates the Modern UI (Metro) features so you don't have to search for the charms bar or hidden corners anymore. These features dramatically improve the user experience and virtually eliminate the learning curve for anyone new to Windows 8.
Download a full 7 day trial of the new RetroUI today from RetroUI.com.
An introductory product video: RetroUI.com/Video
Background on the Missing Start Menu:
Windows 8 is coming to a desktop, laptop, or tablet near you, and it has some great new features. But did you know that Microsoft has hidden the taskbar and completely removed the Start menu in Windows 8? Windows 8 now relies on hidden features such as hot-corners and the charms bar, which are not necessarily intuitive. These changes have left many traditional Windows users wondering how to use Windows 8.
"We did significant user testing of Windows 8 in a business environment. We identified a number of challenges that may cause some inefficiency," said Anthony Clark, VP of Business Development at Thinix. "Lost access to the taskbar and start menu, a change in the ability to multi-task, and a UI with critical features hidden off the screen were the biggest issues. This drove us to develop the new Enforce technology and other features of RetroUI Pro."
RetroUI Pro – Saves the day:
RetroUI Pro brings revolutionary technologies to Windows 8, enabling it to be used efficiently on every type of PC. RetroUI Enforce allows the Windows 8 Start screen to run while the Windows taskbar remains visible. Enforce also squeezes Windows Store (Metro) apps into resizable windows, and allows users to quickly toggle them in and out of full-screen. RetroUI also brings back the features people are used to in the Start menu and delivers exciting new features that make it even better. The result of all these things is a vastly improved user experience.
RetroUI Pro – Core Features at a Glance:
Brings back the start menu with a modern look and feel
Takes charge of Metro to bring back the taskbar and new RetroUI start menu
Forces Windows Store (Metro) apps to run in resizable and movable windows
Skip Metro and return to the classic desktop at login
Pin classic apps, default Windows Store apps, websites, and more to your Favorites
TabletView™ allows you to organize and access your pinned favorites
New Patent-Pending UI RetroUI™ Enforce™ Technology
Enforce™ significantly improves the user experience of Windows 8 by bringing back the taskbar whenever the Windows 8 Start screen is running. This allows you to return to the classic desktop by just clicking on the taskbar or switch to a running classic desktop program by clicking it in the taskbar. Enforce technology also allows users to run Windows Store (Metro) apps to in a window. This means you can resize these Metro applications and move them around, similar to classic Windows applications.
"Because tablets and desktops are so different, and the things you do on them is so different, some of the trade-offs designed into Windows 8 to make it tablet compatible have sacrificed usability on normal PCs." said Don Van Oort, CTO of Thinix. "RetroUI Pro corrects these issues and makes using Windows 8 dramatically better, easier, and more fun on desktops and laptops."
User-Friendly Front-End / Enterprise Back-End:
RetroUI is first and foremost built around providing a great user experience. The new RetroUI start menu does everything you think a start menu should do, plus integrates the new Windows 8 features. It's designed for end-users, and makes it simple to 'pin' your favorite things organize them just the way you want. Users can open nearly anything ranging from classic Windows applications, documents, default Windows Store apps, and websites. Users can easily access new Windows 8 features like the Task switcher, Charms bar, Metro and Search. The shutdown options menu are also now back in the start menu.
RetroUI is also designed for the enterprise with a true multi-user architecture, inheritance, and security that make enterprise deployment easy to manage. RetroUI also works on VMware virtual machines, and over Remote Desktop, Citrix, and other remote protocols. With these tools, you can do things like connect iPads to Windows 8 machines over RDP.
Something New – TabletView™
TabletView is a new concept which allows users to organize pinned favorites and launch them with a single touch. TabletView can be integrated into the start menu for desktop and laptop users, or can run full-screen for tablet PC users. TabletView features state-of-the art drag-and-drop technology to allow users to organize and arrange their favorite apps, websites, and much more.
Skip over the Windows 8 (Metro) Start Screen:
Some people may want to bypass the new Modern UI altogether. For these users, RetroUI can skip the Start screen and automatically return to the classic Windows desktop after login. An advanced option can completely block all the new Modern UI features.
Software you can Trust:
RetroUI is designed and built entirely in the United States by Thinix and doesn't violate the security of your device. RetroUI is digitally signed and fully supported and contains no spyware, adware, or viruses. RetroUI Pro is compatible with the current RTM version of Windows 8, and not Windows RT or the consumer/developer preview versions.
Multilanguage:
RetroUI Pro is currently available in 19 languages: Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
Availability and Pricing
RetroUI Pro is immediately available for purchase starting at $4.95 /PC or $9.95 for a 3-PC license for personal computers. Business and Education Licenses with options for long-term support are available. Visit RetroUI.com for more information.
About Thinix
Thinix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of R & D Industries, Inc. a 28 year old technology research, development and engineering firm with market focuses on engineering, software development, OEM software and hardware solutions, user interface technology, embedded systems architecture, cryptography, network and PC security architecture, cloud computing, and virtualization solutions. Thinix technology is installed worldwide in consumer, military, hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and agricultural applications.
Thinix®, RetroUI™, Thinix RetroUI™, and Thinix Enforce™ are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Thinix / R & D Industries, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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