Eight things you should know about windows 8

Eight things you should know about windows 8 …

The highly anticipated new Windows OS will

feature a number of radical improvements.

Here are eight features to look

forward to when it comes out this year.

Windows 8 represents the most radical change to Microsoft’s operating

system in quite a long time--perhaps ever. The OS features a number of new

additions and improvements, ranging from a fresh “Metro” interface that was

heavily inspired by Redmond’s Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, to

one of the most talked about changes: Compatibility with non-Intel-powered

architectures. This change makes it capable of running on ARM-based computing

devices.

For the most part, Microsoft has been tight-lipped regarding when Windows

8 will ship, how much the operating system will cost, or if it will come in several

different editions similar to Windows 7. The general consensus, however,

is that Windows 8 will launch in fall 2012, which is a timeframe based on offthe-

cuff executive statements and leaked schedules. In addition, Windows 7

launched about a year after its 2008 PDC debut, so a fall 2012 timetable isn’t

Unreasonable.

At the BUILD convention in Anaheim, California, several weeks ago, we

were able to get our hands on Windows 8’s developer’s build, and unboxed a

Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC. Here are the eight most noteworthy

new additions to Windows in Windows 8.

1]It Runs On ARM Chips

Perhaps the biggest Windows change is word that Redmond’s new operating system will now also run on machines other than those using Intel-compatible processors. Windows 8 will be able to run on devices powered by ARM-based architectures. This will enable the OS to run on a wide range of computing devices from desktops to tablets.

2]it Has a New Interface

Windows comes with several design changes, the most notable being the new Metro interface, which co-exists with a more traditional Windows 7-like desktop design. You switch to Metro my clicking the “Start” button, and switch back by clicking the “Computer” tile. In a similar fashion as Mac OS X Lion borrowed heavily from Apple’s iOS, Windows 8 borrows heavily from Windows Phone 7. The new operating

system features “live tiles,” which lets users access apps and view updated live information (such as notifications). In addition, Windows 8 will offer both full and partial screen views of apps, a snap feature that puts one app in a sidebar, a Word-like ribbon comes to Windows Explorer, and the File Manager has been streamlined.

3] It Has a Tablet -

           Centric Multitouch Interface

Touch gestures have become a vital part of our day-to-day experiences—you bring a finger to the screens on your smart phones, tablets, monitors, and other devices. Microsoft has showcased touch navigation in Windows 8 with side-to-side swipes between apps (as you can in OS X Lion), a snap gesture that brings a running background app into a sidebar next to your main app, and a split-touch keyboard that makes for easier thumb input when you’re holding a tablet.

4]Its Developer’s Preview Is Available Now

Microsoft recently released a developer preview, which you can sample if you wish to get the early jump on Windows 8. (We did; see our hands-on look by clicking here.) The download, which includes a 64-bit (x64) build with development tools to build apps and a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) build without development tools, is available in the Windows Dev Center. Warning: There’s no support hotline available should you

encounter a problem, but Microsoft will push out fixes for major issues that may arise.

5]It Has Xbox Live Support

Microsoft plans to unify its PC gaming and console gaming experience—hopefully—

by bringing Xbox Live to the desktop. Scarce details are know about what this

union entails, but Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb, the director of programming for Xbox, wrote in a blog post that “Bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with

the people you care about, made easy.”

6]It Has Built -In

         Cloud Features

Windows 8 features tight integration with Microsoft’s cloud-based services. Every Windows 8 user will have a SkyDrive account (using either a previously created

account, or a new one), in which they can access files stored on Skydrive just as on the

local machine. Windows 8 will also let users connect to another system on which they’ve linked Skydrive, giving them access to files on that system—even across firewalls.

7]It Has an

        App Store

Similar to Mac OS X’s desktop Mac App Store, Microsoft has a Windows Store

in Windows 8. The Windows Store differs from the Mac App Store in that it allows users to sample software in trial periods. It includes a Spotlight section of curated apps

recommended by Microsoft, as well as several categories such as Games, Productivity,

and Photography (you can also search by name). Non-Metro style desktop apps will

also be sold in the Windows Apps Store.

8]It Has Enhanced

         Security

We know, we know....each version of Windows touts enhanced security. But Windows

8 ups the security ante by checking at boot time that only trusted components are

loaded, expanding Windows Defender to include full antivirus protection, and an App

Reputation protection that prevents you from installing dubious apps.