For anyone still unsatisfied with the Metro-tinged Start menu in Windows 10, Stardock is back with another alternative.
Much like the existing Start8 menu for Windows 8, Start10 will completely replace the Start menu in Windows 10. Most notably, it’ll let users mimic the Windows 7 layout, with pinned and recent programs on the left and shortcuts on the right for libraries, File Explorer, Control Panel, and shut down options.
Users who want access to modern apps and Live Tiles can also pin them to the right side of menu, similar to the default Windows 10 Start menu. The difference is that Start10 will offer a scrolling list of Live Tiles instead of an ever-expanding menu pane.
Stardock Instead of hogging the screen with Live Tiles, Start10 will offer a scrolling menu.
According to Neowin, Start10 will also support dragging and dropping of items, and its search bar will include features like context menus, jump lists, and directory shortcuts. More features unique to Windows 10 will be added over time.
Stardock is currently offering a beta of Start10 as part of Object Desktop, the company’s subscription-based suite of customization tools. A standalone version of Start10 will be available this fall for $5.
Why this matters: It’s unlikely that Start menu replacements will be as popular in Windows 10 as they were in Windows 8, given Microsoft’s efforts to make the default seem more familiar. But as long as Microsoft leaves out certain legacy features, there’s an opening for programs like Start10 to make the menu behave the way it used to.