This is a guide how to chance Zorin 8'suser interface to Metro style

ZORIN OS 8

METRO

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How to make Zorin 8 look and feel like Windows 8.1 using iStart

Zorin os 8 can be chanced to look like Windows 8.1 by installing iStart Metro Style start pageto Crome Web Browser. iStart is a start page application available from Crome Webstore.Here are the steps to be done to get it in use correctly when using Windows 7 outlook.

1. Go to Crome web store and install iStart Metro Style start page application to your browser.

2. Add Crome to System Startup from Zorin Menu. Set your panel behavior from Awn settingssomething else than allways visible to keep the iStart's slide bar visible on the top of yourpanel or alternatively on the bottom of display when a hiding option is used.

3. Start Crome and open the browser settings and set zoom to a position where your iStartpage shows the tiles in best size on the screen. Something between 67- 90 %. Check alsothat iStart page is opened automatically when Crome is started.

4. Your start page should now look like this, having a collection of already installedapplications (tiles). Also those which you have used (installed) before.

5. Following step is to make settings from iStart page by opening the settings menu from rightupper corner of the page. There you can as first step add new tiles and create new links tofavorite web pages selecting Add new link/favorite from Settings menu. You can write a labeland the URL to related boxes and select the color and icon of the tile and then save it. A newtile appears to the start page and you can by clicking it try, if it works. You may have to reopenthe page to get the new tile to the page. If the tile doesn't work, see item 8.

6. As next step, you can look, whether you want to change your iSart background. There is two alternatives, ether to use color selections to get a new sliding background color to iStart, or you can use some picture of your own from your picture folder to be set as a new background. Here is a picture of opened background settings menu.

In the following picture background has been changed to a picture and panel has been changed from Awn settings to be invisible (hiding). The narrow black scroll bar can be seen here more clearly on the bottom of the screen. Panel will appear when arrow(cursor) thatchesthe bottom of the screen. Here you have to be careful not to thatch the bottom when sliding the iStart page's tiles with your mouse cursor. There are also a roll mouse and keyboard arrow navigation support available to slide the tiles in the window.

7. Next you can go to the Crome Web Store to add new applications to your iStart page.There is a tile already installed to iStart page to click it and go to Crome Web Store. Byselecting a new application from web store and installing it, a tile appears to your page whichyou can then use to start that application or open the linked web page.

8. If some link does not open, even if the tile appears on the page or if you want to make some changes to the tile's outlook or remove it, you have to open a tile to edit mode by right clicking it. Then opens a editing panel to make the changes to that specific tile. Edit mode is shown by having gray shadow behind that tile. Here is a picture of opened editing panel using Zorin home tile as an examble. There tile's label, URL, tile's size and color can be changed.

You can get all tiles at the same time to edit mode by clicking the Activate edit mode, then you can select a tile to be edited from tiles left corner or delete that tile from right corner. Edit mode is closed by by clicking Activate edit mode again.

You can also open an additional Icon Menu to select or change an icon to your tile. After that you can either save new settings, cancel your edit or delete the tile. In the Settings you can see here also how to add a new tile.

9. Now you have done all the basic things to apply iStart page to get started. It will work well to get very handy access to all your favorite web pages and web applications. Here you can add direct access ie. to Zorin's home page, forum page or help desk as well as to your net bank's log in page as seen in the previous pictures. This saves time to connect you in few seconds to the right web page, having not need to go though deep access menus.

There are some additional settings in the iStart's Settings menu which are not guided here,like Add active widget, Activate dropbox, Install plug ins, Open help window or making aselection to Activate iStart premium for more advanced use or Removing the use of iStart.

10. Following is guiding how to use iStart page with Zorin applications. Until now it is notpossible to start Zorin applications from iStart page's tiles. You use normal Zorin menu to dothat. You can use an other workspace or the same workspace to start applications from Zorinmenu.

If using same workspace, then it is more safe to minimaze the iStart page before openingapplications from Zorin menu. This avoids unwanted activation of iStart page and also startingaccidentally some application there. By clicking only the Crome icon on the panel you can getback the iStart page to further use if needed.

If you want to use web applications and Zorin applications in the same workspace it is fullypossible by using many windows as shown in the following picture. There you can run ie. avideo from You Tube and follow the cpu load with the monitor application as seen in thispicture.

11. An additional Windows 8.1 outlook change you can make by chancing the background pictures to some of the Windows 8 default wallpapers, which can be downloaded from different Wallpaper web sites.

Using the same background picture in iStart page and in Zorin you get better visual integration to your os. when starting different applications either from iStart page's tiles or from Zorin menu. Selecting a nice picture you get a clean, awesome and up to date UI to yourcustomized operating system.

The purpose and motivation to install and use iStart is not only to get more up to date outlook to your os. The advantage will be, that you improve a lot your os.' performance by using iStarttiles, to connect you to frequently used web pages or applications only in few seconds, instead of searching the right pages spending at least 10 - 20 times more time.