- Salice Thomas
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- May 9, 2013
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Windows 8 is an upcoming version of Microsoft Windows operating system. This much awaited operating system is scheduled to release by the end of 2012 by unofficial sources. Microsoft has designed Windows 8 with Windows 7 in mind, everything that runs on Windows 7 runs on Windows 8. Microsoft launched the first Consumer preview version on February 29, 2012 and has now reached over 1 million download. An almost complete release preview is scheduled for the first week of June 2012. The Windows 8 is designed in such a way that it can support both desktops and mobile devices. Developers Preview mode, version already contains more than 300 new features. At its Build developer’s conference, Microsoft pointed to plans to keep adding more new capabilities until Windows 8 evolves into a shipping product. Professional digest brings you few features which differentiate Windows 8 from it predecessors based on user experience.
Microsoft’s Windows 8 Store
Microsoft has confirmed the introduction of a Windows Store on Windows 8, similar to the Apple App store, Android Google Play and Ubuntu Software Center. The Windows Store will also allow developers to publish their Win32 or “traditional desktop” applications; however, the store will only provide links to such applications on their websites. Windows Store will be the only means of distributing Metro-style apps to users to allow Microsoft to scan apps for security flaws and malware.
The Store on boarding process establishes a consistent baseline for app quality and reliability. The technical conformance tests help you know that you meet the expected standards before you submit your app. As r developers continue to deliver apps that meet these standards, customers will be excited to discover and try out new apps, creating a stronger app ecosystem for all of us. The Store also makes it easy for customers to provide ratings and reviews. Prior to installing a new app, customers can see what permissions the app has once it is installed. After installing an app if the customer has concerns about app content or behavior, they can easily report their concern.
Microsoft Account integration
User accounts do not have to be local-only anymore, but can be linked up to one’s Microsoft Account. This has the advantage that users will not lose their settings and files, as they move from their home computer to their work laptop or to any other computer also using Windows 8, and signing in via their Microsoft account.
Metro UI
Windows 8 features an extensively redesigned ”Metro style” user interface, optimized for touchscreens as well as mice and keyboard. The Metro environment will feature a new tile-based Start screen similar to the windows phone operating system. . The start screen replaces the Start menu. Each tile will represent an application, and will be able to display relevant information such as the number of unread messages on the tile for an e-mail app or the current temperature on a weather application. Metro-style applications run in full-screen, and are able to share information between each other. They will be available only through windows store.
Start up Performance
Microsoft announced that Windows 8 has short boot times, because it saves the kernel’s memory to the hard disk on shutdown (similar to the existing hibernate option) and reloads it on start up. As per the reports, the system started up at least 35 percent faster than Windows 7. Under Windows 7, our average startup time was 56.2 seconds. Under Windows 8, that time dropped to 36.8 seconds.
Touch-centric, Tiles-based User Interface
Windows 8 will give a different user experience. The Windows 8 Start Menu is customizable through a mosaic of tiles, which differ from traditional desktop icons by letting you view live information from Windows 8 Metro style apps without actually accessing the apps. Microsoft is layering a new animation-enabled user interface (UI) on top of an upgraded Windows 7. For example, a tile for Windows Live Mail will show you your latest message, while a tile for a social networking app will show you notifications. The Metro apps are full-screen and they’re designed for touch, but of course, they work great with a mouse and keyboard as well.
Touch Keyboards
Windows 8 contains two soft keyboards: an “enhanced” traditional keyboard, plus a new thumbs keyboard for non-touch typists. The keyboards will automatically adjust to selected language, this language settings will automatically apply to the entire computer, instead of only to specific apps The keyboard suggests words on the screen as you type. You can then tap to select a suggested word. Microsoft also provides a spellcheck-like feature designed to automatically correct mistyped words – although like any other spellchecker.
User friendly Copy Experience
Windows 8 introduces the ability to perform all current copy operations into a single dialog box, instead of requiring you to perform file copying in separate dialog boxes for each app. The new dialog box for file copying lets you pause, resume, and stop each copy operation currently under way. Microsoft has also added a real-time throughput graph. Each copy job shows the speed of data transfer, the transfer rate trend, and how much data is left to transfer.
Hardware
Windows 8 supports both x86 PCs and ARM tablets. Windows 8 is the first edition of Windows to operate on both ARM based tablets and traditional x86 PCs based on ARM processors from Intel and AMD. Support for ARM-based chipsets, touch, and sensors makes Windows 8 work beautifully on your choice of a full spectrum of devices, such as 10-inch slates, ultra-lightweight laptops, and powerful all-in-ones with 27-inch high-definition screens. In order to run Metro applications, a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher is required to run one app at a time, and a resolution of 1366×768 is required to run two apps side-by-side using snap.
Microsoft says that the Consumer Preview works well on hardware suitable for Windows7.These system requirements may change in the final release. To use touch input features, touch enabled hardware is required.
New Logon Methods
Pin: Instead of typing a password, users can create a 4-digit PIN for easy logon to the computer. This feature is optimized for tablet PCs, but it is also available to desktop and laptop users.
Picture Password:This allows users to use a set of gestures in the selected picture to login. These gestures will take into account the shape, the start and end points, as well as the directionality. However, the shapes and gestures are limited to tapping and tracing a line or circle.
Flexible language options
In some countries, people can purchase PCs with a variety of languages preinstalled. With Windows 8, users will be able install additional display languages beyond those preinstalled languages. That means the language of the PC no longer needs to be a major consideration when deciding on which model to buy. If the language you want is not preinstalled on the PC you like, you can now install the one you want. The new Language preferences section in Control Panel is the new one-stop place to find all Windows display languages in Windows 8. Users can add or change display languages, input language, and other functionality from the Language preference section. Microsoft support with an additional 14 new display languages for Windows 8, bringing the total to 109.
Charms
Charms are a new implementation of the traditional Windows start bar. Charms can be used to quickly configure settings for individual apps. The charms sidebar offers five sets of options, supporting both app-specific settings and system settings such as volume and brightness. The options include Start, Search, Share, Devices, and Settings. The Start option returns the user to the home screen. The Devices option presents a list of connected devices. Under the Share option, users can see social network sharing apps. Charms support desktops as well as tablets.
Windows To Go
‘Windows to Go’ feature will allow users to create a bootable USB Flash drive with Windows 8 in it, including the user’s programs, settings, and files. This is designed to work on both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, and both on legacy BIOS and UEFI firmware. The system will freeze if the USB drive is removed, and will continue to operate if the USB drive is inserted in the next 60 seconds after removal.
Family safety
Family Safety will allow parents to protect their children on internet, as well as monitor and control their PC and internet activities and usage.
Microsoft confirmed that in Windows 8 the Windows logo will be significantly updated to reflect the new Metro design language. The formerly flag-shaped logo has been transformed into four window panes, perspective was added, and the entire logo will be rendered in a single solid color, which will depend on the user’s personalization changes.
New easy restore
The Developer Preview comes with two new recovery functions, namely Refresh and Reset, both of which make a complete restore easier than a re-installation. The ‘Refresh’ keeps all settings & files of the user intact and only reverses all changes to Windows files to its original state and removes all installed programs and apps. The ‘Reset’ deletes all files and effectively re-installs Windows, but without any additional user input such as agreeing to license agreements or selecting a hard disk required.
Native USB 3.0 Support
Microsoft support Windows 8 with native USB 3.0 drivers. The USB 3.0 ports operate at speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0.
New Application Model
Microsoft’s new APIs will let developers share their app data in a secure and managed environment to fellow applications and the operating system as a whole. Microsoft is introducing the idea of “contracts” that app developers virtually sign-up to. The contracts allow developers to take advantage of some of the new features inside Microsoft’s metro interface. Developers from C++ to C# or HTML/CSS and JavaScript will be able to code Windows 8 Metro applications using Windows RunTime APIs (WinRT).
