Start button fans, rejoice: Microsoft really seems to have heard your pleas. In addition to the new information we learned today about how Microsoft might implement the Start button in its upcoming Windows 8.1 release, we now have a leaked screenshot of the new operating system that clearly shows the Start button in its traditional home in the lower left-hand corner of the desktop mode screen. Paul Thurrott’s Supersite for Windows posted the screen grab on Wednesday that showed a Windows 8 logo placed on the left side of the task bar, just as ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley had reported earlier. Thurrott also confirms that Windows 8.1 will allow users to boot directly to desktop mode, although he says that Microsoft has turned off that option by default. Thurrott’s Windows 8.1 screenshot is posted below.



Prior to joining BGR as News Editor, Brad Reed spent five years covering the wireless industry for Network World. His first smartphone was a BlackBerry but he has since become a loyal Android user.