Metro7

Metro7 is a simple application that brings the Windows 8 Start screen to Windows 7, enabling users to perform several actions. It comes in handy for all users who have not yet decided on upgrading to Windows 8 or sticking to Windows 7.

The installation procedure is done in no time and without effort. The Start screen appears on the desktop once you run the executable.

Just like in Windows 8, it is possible to view the date and time on the whole screen, access Google Calendar and weather information, as well as go to the classical desktop, among others.

You can pin apps and websites to the screen, chat with friends on Facebook, hide the menu button, customize the background color or image, disable background picture scrolling when scrolling Metro8 and adjust the opacity, as well as switch to another language for the UI.

Other options of Metro7 let you disable full screen mode and widget animations, hide the startup animation and Windows taskbar in full screen mode, as well as set Metro7 to automatically run at system boot until further notice.

The application does not put a strain on computer resources, since it runs on a very low quantity of CPU and RAM. It has a good response time and did not cause the operating system to hang, crash or pop up error dialogs in our testing. However, it has some issues when it comes to switching to other windows when Metro7 is selected. It is also difficult to exit it.

Metro7 delivers a simple solution to all users who want to get a glimpse of the Start screen in Windows 7, without having to install a whole new OS to do so.