Stardock Announces Start11 v2
New Start Menu Designs, Taskbar Enhancements and Enterprise Features Now in Release Preview
Stardock announced Start11 v2 and the release preview of the industry's most advanced Start menu, today. This program allows users to fully customize the Windows 10 and 11 Start menu experience with unique features, designs, and restore classic functionality from previous versions of Windows.
New with Start11 v2 are three new Start menu styles that seamlessly blend with Windows 10 and 11. Each new style is centered around a different theme: Apps, Professional, and Launcher, and are fully customizable from top to bottom.
Start11 v2 is also enhancing the taskbar with new functionality that makes it faster to access your files and folders. With this release, you can now pin a file or folder directly to the taskbar without having to open File Explorer. And if you want to build your own quick access menu, you can turn a folder into a popup menu for quick access to frequently used files directly from the taskbar.
"This is a significant update and ships with more than two dozen new features” said Brad Sams, General Manager of Stardock Software. “And we are also introducing new enterprise features as well, including the ability to load a Start menu configuration on login, kiosk functionality that lets you lock components of the Start menu, and improved tooling for advanced deployments.”
Also new with Start11 v2 is an updated search experience with native integration with the Everything search engine. Additionally, Start11 v2 introduces the ability to backup and restore your settings from a file, improved animations when navigating within the Start menus, tinting for a unified icon experience, options for removing folders from the ‘all apps list’, and many more.
Start11 v2 is available today for a discounted price of $5.99 (reg. $6.99) during the release preview period and is also included in the award-winning Object Desktop suite. For more information, visit the Start11 v2 website here.
Your existing product continues to work there is just an optional upgrade available with a massive number of enhancements available for a small upgrade fee if you want. If you are not interested in it then simply ignore it exists and you are in the same situation you were in before.
How generous of you’ll. <= that’s sarcasm FYI.
Thanks for making a Version 2, Be fantastic if there was a video that showed the changes made and how they looked before and after and what you can do with V2 on Win 10 and 11. Easier perhaps for folks like me to understand if it suits them to upgrade. I am a firm proponent of your software especially the Start series.
Thank you, Peter
I don't mind paying for an upgrade, this is a quality product and much better IMHO than Start11 who doesn't even offer tech support because that single guy who develops it ignores customers' emails.
I have a 5 user license, how can I pay to upgrade them all?
That was quick.
I'm not able to have the Windowblinds skin start icon anymore when start menu is centered.
This is Daily.. and in case you were wondering ( i know you can't see much of it but some of the old timers may recognize it anyway) the wall is one of my all time fav's "Dichroic"
NEVERMIND:
The let Start 11 enhance the taskbar got unchecked
The size and scope of what is being offered in start 11 version 2 really is like another version rather then a simple update though. Once you dig in and see things like the tabs and all the new customization's that are in it you realize that its aim was to be a new version. StartAllBack wont have an update like this, I dont think they are updating very much at all. I mean start 11 version one had many updates offered while startAllBack sat around doing nothing. At least Stardock is innovating
Downloaded and installed but after the rebooot I get the message "this email address not valid for this product key".
I know I entered the information correctly. Any ideas?
I have an Object Desktop license.
Update: I reinstalled the old Start 11, then reinstalled version2 amnd this time I was able to activate it. Strange! But good news anyway.
not to mention StartAllBack relies on the old win10 taskbar which WILL eventually be removed by MSFT. Thereby completely breaking StartAllBacl.
Really, the way I see it is to ask what you want from the app. I use explorerpatcher on a widows 10 machine to get what I really want... menu and icon centering and a native 64-bit program with a tiny foot print.
All you have to do is answer what you really want, and then choose SIB, SAB, ep or start 10/start 11 to suit your needs. But do not get upset over what amounts to pennies in the software world.
A release that could just be an upgrade of the old version without charging and that still has a lot of new features, but they can't make the option to hide the start button on the other screens...
If it were a free upgrade it wouldn't exist as software development costs money and this is a massive update. The development time would have been allocated to other new products instead.
With regards to the start button hiding, this is a feature on Windows 10 and has been since Start8. It isn't possible on Windows 11 right now, but there it the possibility of it coming back if you have enhanced taskbar on (but not without). Further taskbar changes are coming in a future beta update as this one was mostly about new start menu features plus the taskbar pins.
I just realized that I have to pay again for the v2.
Thanks for your hard work but I am going to skip this time.
The software support life span from Stardock is too short.
Still, you guys did a good job and way better than those in Microsoft.
Start11 v1 was released 2 years ago. I think thats pretty reasonable for a $6 product but I understand if you are not interested in the new upgrades.
You are free to use the existing version and do not have to upgrade as it is purely optional. The product you purchased continues to work on the existing versions of Windows so if you are not interested in the new features then you can continue using what you were.
My purchases were from the early days, so where can I see the discounted upgrade prices please?
Hello,
Please refer to this thread: https://forums.stardock.com/523474/start11-v2-upgrade-faq
ThanksBasj,Stardock Community Assistant.
Hello,Please refer to this thread: https://forums.stardock.com/523474/start11-v2-upgrade-faq ThanksBasj,Stardock Community Assistant.
Hi,
Thanks for that.
Start11 5-Pack upgrade (coming soon).
Do you know when (and how much) that will be please?
TIA,
Paul
I am sorry, but its unknown to me on both of your questions. Hopefully soon it will be known to everyone.
Thank you,
Basj,Stardock Community Assistant
Working GREAT so far! Only bug I've found is I can't delete files via a "Pin Folder Menu". I created a folder for Desktop in Window 10x64 19045 then when I right click on a file (which is correctly shown from the desktop) and right click -> menu -> delete nothing happens. Everything else in this right click menu seems to work fine for individual files.
Fantastic work, Team! Happy long-time Object Desktop subscriber. Love these new updates.
Why can't we use Start11 product key with this new version? It's the same app, just a new version.
Because this is a Major update not a Minor one. Major updates are not free and will require an upgrade purchase.
I think i see were some of the confusion ls.
In plenty of other topics Products were connected by a Number, ie, Start 10, Start 11. The mods even described things to users in this way by saying things like Start 10 is Win 10 and Start 11 is Win 11, even other things were put this way when members were confused about what edition goes with what Windows edition, seeing as Win 12 is not too far away, maybe this should have had the 12 Label. V2 is proving, if judging by this topic, as massively confusing to many members. Start 12 would have been much clearer, as V2 makes users think its just an update to Start 11, plus using V2 contradicts previous Moderators replies to many topics about What Stardock Edition is compatible with what Windows edition.
I do not want any member to think i am having a Go here, as i am NOT, i am sure Start 11 V2 is packed with more features beneficial to many, and agree that the low cost is worth the Journey for the things it can do.
I know Brad has explained why V2 was chosen in an earlier reply, but right now, it does not seem to be working as many just see an update they need to pay for, Start 12 would, even if not perfect right now, would have been much clearer than V2.
As i use Both Start 11 and StartAllBack on a multi booting system, i know what i like best, they both offer great customising tools depending on a user using Themes or WBs, for me right now its Themes so StartAllback is my go to choice and is updated almost weekly. I still own a copy of Start 11 (V1) as i like my customisation in Both Flavours, but V2 is in my opinion, causing too much confusion.
My God can all the whiners shut the hell up. It's $7 and for a great app to boot! If you can't afford that then you have BIGGER issues.
So when Windows 12 releases next year (as several sites seem to infer could be coming), most likely there will be a "Start 12" that will require *yet* another purchase. So thanks, but I'm saying no to v2.
Can't wait to upgrade. "Everything integration" already has me sold. At the same time, I understand why some V1 users would be upset about this, esp. those who just bought V1. (I feel sorry for the guy who bought it just days before V2's announcement.) I'd suggest a bit bigger discount for the upgrade, but not sure if that's reasonable. I'd also suggest announcing V2 (as a separate product from V1) on Start11's Steam page to avoid more angry new buyers. I hope V1 still gets updated for bug fixes and stability.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
Sign in or Create Account
