Innovation is fine, but I'm extremely frustrated with too many changes that are needless and don't add value to my experience...in fact, diminish my experience as I am forced to struggle with a new interface. The number one factor in innovation should be usability. Unfortunately, usability is often pushed down below "cool" and "pretty".

Case in point: Some themes try to look pretty by having a color gradient behind text, such as on tabs. Often the gradient was too strong, and the text became difficult to read.

Case in point: Office 2010 has it's own chrome for active windows instead of using the Windows theme. Since the Window title in Office 2010 looks different, I have a hard time identifying the active window.

Asa, do you really believe as much in Metro?

While some of it at application level probably makes sense and would be readily acceptable, the very basic part of it, and that is live tiles is extremely flawed. I must say that I haven't tested it, but from what I have seen, her are my impressions:

1. it is obtrusive interface. it takes away your attention with what it thinks is important at the moment. That is why it doesn't work on phone. If something is really important, people should get alarm. If it is not, you shouldn't steal their attention as soon as they unlock the screen. It might work for consumers on tablet. People like procrastination in leisure time (btw, I have no clue why Mozilla haven't put such procrastination tools in new tab, most people would like it, not me but most people). It might also work for people using keyboard shortcuts.

2. most of the time it is not even innovative - having number overlay over icon is not really something breathtaking, and that's what is live most of the time.

3. there is nothing that will stop applications from having bigger and shiner tile, and if you learn from history like installing shortcuts in taskbar or notification bar, they will. if you install custom applications, it is going to end being ugly.

4. Microsoft insisting that you can only change background color of tiles (on phones) is a little bit crazy

"Asa, do you really believe as much in Metro?"

Yes. I do. I've used it on Windows Phone and now for about 4 months on a touch-screen PC and I think it's pretty amazing. The app selection is still small, but I definitely believe in the Metro experience. Every time I go back and play with PCs, Macs, iOS or Android, they feel really dated -- might as well be windows 3.1 with their lifeless square icons on a desktop.

- A

Well, I've got some beliefs when it was launched, but now I think that it just won't work at least on the phone.

After Nokia launched Lumia and failed to do much better than with any of its own smartphone models in Europe, I think that there must be something wrong. It could be even that on posters it doesn't look visually attractive (and this is so damn important for consumer buying the phone). But Nokia had everything - it didn't do this as side project and betting on something else, it has really strong distribution in Europe, and even many loyal followers in Europe. It had huge advertising. Its hardware style looked fresh and interesting.

The only turning point for Windows phone I can now perceive is Windows 8 at desktop, but at this point I bet against it as huge push forward.

Oh, I guess it was already in plan when I wrote that on this page, but new tab tools really appeared in Firefox now :D.

Well, then I'll give myself right for first impression: it is OK, but if you can't do anything smarter with context menus, disable them. They look so out of place like this.

Iunderstand what you are saying and I agree with you

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The Federal Govt. is operating so far outside of its design parameters that this type of discussion is now futile. IMO the place to begin is eliminating income tax which would force massive reductions in power and programs, bringing the govt. more in line with the founders structure. Only then can a discussion vis-a-vis federal and state govts. become worthwhile.

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When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

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