Immersive Explorer: A Metro Style Explorer Replacement for Windows 8

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One element in Windows 8 that remains untouched and still hasn’t received the much talked about Metro touch UI is the Windows Explorer. Many third-party developers have got into the act of creating programs that can be used as an alternative to Windows 8 Explorer, and that adopt the same look as the Windows 8 Metro Start Screen. Some have succeeded too!

Windows 8 explorer alternative

Immersive Explorer1 600x375 Immersive Explorer: A Metro Style Explorer Replacement for Windows 8

The latest to show up is Immersive Explorer, a program whose interface in many ways represents Metro style interface of Windows 8 applications. The program is compatible with Windows 7 too.

The program is simple and does not require you to use any administrative privileges for running it. The interface of Windows 8 explorer alternative has been mainly optimized for touch-based gestures but it is capable of supporting all the keyboard and mouse functions as well.

When you start Immersive Explorer, it will run in full-screen mode and display its Metro-styled interface. At present, it supports picture viewing, MD5 and SHA1 hash calculation plus, some other basic functions such as:

  • Cut
  • Copy
  • Paste
  • Renaming
  • Viewing properties
  • Creating new folders
  • Viewing images using built-in photo application
Immersive Explorer2 600x447 Immersive Explorer: A Metro Style Explorer Replacement for Windows 8

The future version of the program is expected to feature:

  • Audio and Video playback support
  • Sorting options
  • Advanced view filters
  • File system operations and more.

What scores a plus point for Immersive Explorer is its image viewing application. It avoids a user from having to open different applications and navigate between multiple windows. For example, when you want to view an image, instead of opening Windows Photo Viewer in a new window, the image is displayed directly in the Immersive Explorer window.

System Requirements for Immersive Explorer:

  1. Windows 7 or Windows 8
  2. A Core 2 Duo processor or better
  3. At least 1 GB of ram
  4.  .NET Framework 4 (present by default in Windows 8, but not on Windows 7)

On final note, Immersive Explorer comes up with goods where Windows 8 fail to offer Metro style, i.e. Windows Explorer.

Immersive Explorer download

The application, developed by a Neowin member, is still under development therefore may contain some bugs but, if you love introducing changes to your daily experience download this program from here.

Posted by on , in Category Downloads with Tags ,
The author Hemant Saxena is a post-graduate in bio-technology and has an immense interest in following Windows, Office and other technology developments. Quiet by nature, he is an avid Lacrosse player.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000168244986 Bayu Murti

    I’ve been waiting this metro application, no way use a tablet PC with default Explorer :D
    #bad english :(

  • Sam@India trip

    Now it’s depend upon you what you how you will learn something new.

  • Aroundtheblockatimeortwo

    OK, so I’m an old timer … in the sense that I’ve been using/tinkering with Windows in most of it’s iterations since Windows 3.1 was, by gosh, the newest thing down the pike.

    I have no issue with M$ wanting to develop a new desktop/main window/interface … call it what you will … as an ALTERNATIVE to the classic. It does make a lot of sense for the touch-pad users..

    I’m not stuck in my ways, but the unmitigated gall of M$ dropping the classic interface is a bit disturbing. I’ve made a large portion of my income by doing troubleshooting/repairs on their software over the years, each iteration becomes a little less pleasant to deal with. THIS “oh so modern” interface is going to be a pain in the a** to work with.

    I’m just pleased that, as usual, some enterprising folks out there have already written a hack to replace this abomination with a classic, easily used, interface.