I just noticed something interesting about Windows 8

[Virginityrocks]

The Aero Flip 3D keyboard key (see image)



It's a common key on most modern microsoft keyboards. In Windows 8, because Aero Flip 3D was removed from the OS, it does not have a function.

However, I noticed in Windows 8.1, it does. Has anyone else tried this yet? It opens all Windows in a grid similar to Expose for Mac or Ubuntu. I've tried googling this feature, but no one seems to be aware it exists. Check out the screenshot and try it now if you have Windows 8.1 preview:

If you don't have 8.1, you can download it here.

[iNjUST]

Does Win+Tab (the previous shortcut for Aero Flip) produce the same result?

[Virginityrocks]

No it does not. Only the Aero Flip 3D key itself. Although you can bind it to any key with autohotkey: (Bound to F8 in this example)

Code: Select all

F8::
DetectHiddenWindows, On
	
PostMessage, 0x052C, 0x8019F, 0x1, ,ahk_class DPGHntCmdSrvWnd
PostMessage, 0x052C, 0x8019F, 0x2, ,ahk_class DPGHntCmdSrvWnd

Return

If you have an extra thumb button on your mouse, it's an excellent tool to have bound to a mouse button.

[moshi]

i don't think this has something to do with Windows 8, but rather is an update for your keyboard driver (newer MS keyboards do not even have that key).
this feature is called Instant Viewer and is available for MS mice since Vista.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-ie/help/windows-8/how-to/mouse/use-instantviewer-mouse

[Virginityrocks]

Oh well. It should be a built-in feature for all Windows users. Way easier for me than Alt+Tab to find the window I'm looking for. You can use the autohotkey script to create the key, even if your keyboard doesn't have it.

The key launched Flip 3D in Vista/7.

[moshi]

when i tried this a few years ago you still needed the hardware (as it was not part of windows but the mouse driver). maybe this has changed, i doubt it.
would be nice to have though. the third-party solutions are a little slow on my computer.

[bobgrosh]

Way Cool. I love it.
BTW - on a dual monitor system it puts them all on one monitor. If you do it and have the start menu active, all your windows will shrink, tile and HIDE UNDER THE START MENU.

You can control which monitor the tiles display on by simply moving your mouse pointer to the monitor you want to have them on and then pressing the 3d key.

Great tip. Thanks