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Windows 8 users can currently bring back the Start button with third-party apps such as Start 8, seen above.

Rumors circulating for the past week indicate Microsoft is preparing to bring back the Start button in Windows 8.1, and now yet another report corroborates those claims.

Unnamed sources inside Microsoft allegedly told The Verge that the Start button will return in the new Microsoft operating system, although the Start menu will not be returning along with it. Instead, the button will redirect users to the Start screen, similar to how the physical Start button on a keyboard currently works for computers running windows 8. The button reportedly looks "near-identical to the existing Windows flag used in the Charm bar."

Microsoft executives reportedly told the Windows development team to bring back the Start button, overruling the team's decision to keep the button out of the next Windows operating system.  Currently, Windows 8 users wishing to bring back the Start button have to use third-party apps such as Start 8, seen at top.

In addition to bringing back the Start button, Microsoft may be considering including a boot-to-desktop feature in Windows 8.1. That feature may merely return for a "kiosk mode" that would be used in stores and public locations. A leaked screenshot of kiosk mode shows Windows 8-powered devices can automatically launch an app when a user logs in.

Source: The Verge | Image via Stardock

just scrape windows 8 off and focus on windows 9 :P

Too soon?

No, too late :P

Windows 8 should be used as an interview tool to measure peoples aptitude and adaptability at the workplace.

I'd hate to hire someone who can't or doesn't want to figure out how to use Windows 8 without a start button. You would immediatly know they would resist change and be dead weight at the work place once their probation passes.

Bonus points if they figure out how to add a start button to Windows 8.

what 6 months? even Android and iOS are only updated properly once a year

I never use the start button...well, only if I can't find certain program I rarely use.

I'm only talking about the start button and the new start screen. The start button should have been included right away, after just about about everyone was pissed about it in the beta. The new start screen was never properly integrated for the Mouse+KB users. Some analysts even suggest the new start menu+missing start button were a reason for the stalling Win8 sales. Microsoft should just have included the option to keep the start button and boot to the desktop from the start and everyone would have been happy. Now it is too late.