What’s new in Microsoft Windows 8 (Developers Review)
Metro-interface and updated desktop, improved copy functions and restoring the system to the starting point, built-in backup features and an updated task manager. On these and other innovations Windows 8 read more in our detailed review
A week ago at the Conference, Microsoft unveiled the first BUILD a public version of Windows 8. Interestingly, when the company first showed Windows 7 to the Conference of the Professional Developers Conference (PDC) in October 2008, a pre-release OS was available only to visitors and public beta then promised only to next year. However, after a few hours after the official Windows 7 Preview show has been on sharing services.
Well, this time pirates were left without work. Windows 8 Developer Preview is now available for download from the site Windows Dev Center. System is offered in three versions: 32-bit (2.8 GB), 64-bit (3.6 Gb) and 64-bit with tools for developers (4.8 GB), including SDK for applications with an interface of Metro, a pre-release version of Microsoft Visual Studio Express 11, etc. All editions are available in the form of ISO images.
Release status is pre-beta and aimed primarily at developers who can now build applications for the new OS, using the proposed instruments. Such applications can be written in languages such as C #, XAML and Silverlight, or to HTML 5, CSS, and JavaScript. They will be able to use the new APIs to share content with other applications, search within applications, GPS data transfer and access to the file system.
However, Windows 8 Developer Preview is certainly interesting and for normal users. This is an excellent opportunity to look at what produces Corporation, not on someone else’s screenshots and video clips with presentations, and with my own eyes. Of course, we too could not resist the temptation and installed a new system, despite warnings from Microsoft: “the software is supplied” as is “, and you run the risk of using it. It may be unstable, working correctly and is not the case, as will be the ultimate version.
First, you need to be prepared, starting Discover Windows 8 — it is not like any of the systems released by Microsoft for the past 25 years. Of course, there is a control panel, Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and other common components, but the very concept of the OS has changed completely. Windows 8 is oriented not only on computers and laptops, but also on netbooks and Tablet PCs. And it should work fast. Focuses on devices with touch screens, a new Metro-interface, as well as many other UI elements, sharpened just beneath them. This means that you can now access many familiar features much faster.
This implies one important feature of the new OS — unlike predecessors, Windows 8 is not too demanding on system resources. In particular, it will work well on all computers where Windows is installed 7. To install Windows 8 Developer Preview will require only 1 GB of RAM (32-bit) or 2 Gb (64-bit version), as well as 16 Gb (32-bit) or 20 Gb (64-bit) of free disk space.
Windows 8 more than 300 innovations, so tell all in a single review is not possible. Oh and don’t forget that the information provided by the Windows version 8 Developer Preview is just a preview release and pretty much can still be changed before the release of the final version. It is therefore hardly now focus on small things, we will try to describe the major improvements in terms of the user.
The new interface
Download new OS much faster than its predecessors — it takes less time than booting Windows 7. However, it is fair to say that such a beautiful “u-u-x!”, that demonstrated in the famous movie we have seen.
After downloading you can see the Welcome screen, where you can enter information to log on to your account. This window is very similar to the lock screen of mobile devices is huge clock, date, status of the battery, you have a connection to the Internet.
After you log in to your account, you can see what a shocking conservatives and pleases an epic holiday season? — a new phenomenon in interface Metro, Zune and Windows of Windows Phone 7. It replaces the start menu, familiar to users of previous versions of Windows. And despite the fact that it was developed primarily for devices with touch screens, it is used by default in versions of Windows for conventional PCs.
Instead of the start menu to start screen, which displays a mosaic of installed applications, and other elements (for example, moving to the desktop or control panel). Tiles that do not fit on the screen, carried to the next page. Mosaic is the easiest way to navigate through the touch of a finger, but you can also click the arrows on your keyboard or by turning the mouse wheel.
The main difference of tiles from familiar icons — to display dynamic information on them without having to run the application. For example, the Windows Live Mail can display information about the unread messages, the programs to work with social networks-notification of various events on a mosaic weather application is forecast for the next few days.
Tiles can be of various sizes. To change the size by clicking on the icon, right-click, and then at the bottom of the screen menu is displayed. With its help it is possible to resize the icon to remove a tile or even uninstall the application.
Mosaic elements can be managed, in its sole discretion: add new, change their places by simply dragging your finger or the mouse to another location.
At the top right of the screen is user icon. Clicking on it, you can change the name of the user, as well as withdraw from the account.
Unfortunately, Metro interface only supports applications created for him. In the operating system will be built a Windows shop Store so far, and from it you can download the application. All applications hosted in the store, will be tested for stability and compatibility.
However, don’t think applications for Windows 8 will need to search only in the Windows Store. The new system supports all programs written for Windows 7, but work with them through mosaic startup screen fail — you want to switch to the desktop.
Desktop
Despite the fact that, at first glance, the desktop appearance, compared to Windows 7, not changed, this impression is misleading.
When users move the cursor to the left and bottom-right corner of the screen, you will receive information about the date, time, battery level, as well as shortcuts to access the new system management tools, charms, which replaced the start menu. Charms that are patented Microsoft technology, allow you to quickly configure individual applications, as well as change the General settings of the system, such as volume or brightness of the screen.
In total there are five sets of options: Start, Search, Share, Devices and Settings. Start button does not open the start menu, as some might think, and gives you the opportunity to return to the starting screen.
Clicking on Devices, you can see a list of connected devices. Share element provides access to applications that enable you to share content across the network, and a Search allows you to go to the window to search for files, applications, and system settings. It is expected that the new metro-applications will harness the power of charms. For example, a developer can embed the program click on automatic indexing of its content, and then using the Search you can find.
Element Settings opens up access to the most important system settings. You can quickly change the desktop settings, notifications, Internet connection, as well as change the volume and the keyboard, turn off your computer or send it to restart.
By the way, there is a much faster way to shut down the computer from the Windows 7 — remember the Alt + F4. Pressing the keyboard shortcut displays the familiar window where you can select one of the options for the shutdown.
Icons in the notification area similar to the ones that are already accustomed to users of Windows 7. However, if you, say, on the icon to the status of network connections, you can see a completely new window style technology charms holding half of the screen.
When you insert removable media also appears in the updated window, although no new options there.
Windows Explorer
One of the most commonly used Windows-based programs — — Explorer has been redesigned, making file operations can be performed much faster. No, the Explorer had not yet become a two-pane — the developers of alternative file managers can not worry. Instead, a built-in application to work with the files received a tape of MS Office-style interface. This ensures that all commands for working with files on sight, they no longer need to search for on the shortcut menu or somewhere. As in Office applications, a set of commands on the Ribbon changes, depending on what user is doing in the program. The advantages of tape interface especially noticeable when you work with touch screens.
By default, the Ribbon Conductor three tabs — Home, Share and View. The first contains all basic commands for working with files: copy, paste, move, delete, copy, rename, select all files, inverting the selection, viewing properties, create a shortcut.
On the Share tab of the commands related to file transfer to other people. You can send by mail or fax, back up, burn it to disk, print, open access to particular users or groups. A separate ignition button is designed for rapid closure of file access.
View tab contains different tools to change the display of files in Windows Explorer, as well as to customize the appearance of the window as a whole. You can hide or display the navigation pane, preview, displaying detailed information about the files, change the sort order for files, turn on the display of extensions, as well as hidden files.
When you click Computer view tabs are completely resizable — there are commands for working with the network to access the system properties control panel item to uninstall the application.
Disk tools tab, which also becomes active when you select any drive allows you to perform formatting, disk defragmentation, optimization, offers access to tools, Bitlocker, and if the selected drive is a DVD, you can start it playing and even get old content (if DVD-rewritable).
When you select a graphic file in Windows Explorer Image Tools tab appears, and it is possible to set the image as your desktop background, rotate it, or run your files in a folder as a slide show.
And if you select the application executable file, you can check its compatibility with Windows 8, run this program as administrator and on the taskbar.
As in MS Office, over the tape there is a place to consolidate commands, access to which a user would like to be kept. On the Quick Access toolbar, you can make any command from the tape. It is also worth noting the existence of the File menu, which enables you to run a command line, open an additional copy of Explorer as a separate process.
Tape interface is not the only improvement in Windows Explorer. Microsoft developers have also improved the process of copying files. Firstly, now all of the copy operation is displayed in a single window, where you can manage the process, suspending or cancelling again since each operation.
The process can be monitored in real time: for each copy operation displays information about the data transfer speed, about how much data was transferred and how long copy. However, as you can see in the screenshot, so far everything is working quite as it should.
Task Manager
Honestly, you need to recognize that the Task Manager in all versions of Windows, including “seven”, indefensible. Perhaps, if not the only thing he can do is stop hanging applications and processes. And here’s to get extended information about running programs, most of us are accustomed to use various additional utilities, say, the same Process Explorer. Well, in Windows 8 Finally we get a fully integrated tool to manage processes and applications.
Task Manager in Windows 8 has two views — a concise and complete. In the summary shows only a list of running programs (for illustration purposes, there are next to each icon) and there is a button to quickly finish the job.
But worth the click More details, and a new Task Manager appears in all magnificence.
Advanced Task Manager, Task Manager, as in earlier versions, there are several tabs. Processes tab, the processes and applications are shown separately. Next to each of them has a Visual icon for each of them you can see information about the memory consumption, CPU, disk space, and network resources. Total consumption is displayed at the top of the window.
The Performance tab completely revised as compared with the same in Windows 7. Graphics performance has become much more, all information on the mind.
New tab App history contains information about the history of the use of applications since the installation of the system. Statistics can be reset at any time.
Finally, the main innovation is the Startup tab of Task Manager, which displays a list of applications that download together with Windows. In previous versions of Windows as we remember this information was completely elsewhere, startup list now integrated into the Task Manager, which is very logical and convenient.
System Restore and other control panel options
However, Task Manager has been updated is another important component of the system control panel. Its appearance once again changed — now the default is to display only the most popular features, and to return to the habitual mind, where all options are available, click on the link More Settings. Below we’ll look at some of the most interesting, in our view, the new features that are available in Control Panel.
For example, by using the Personalize section you will configure the starting screen, adding elements such as calendar, music, e-mail, etc., Provided that the elements in the group.
One of the most interesting innovations in the General section. New feature Refresh and Reset the PC make it possible to bring the system to its original state without having to reinstall. The value of both functions is obvious: you can now get a clean and stable system without having to reinstall.
The Refresh function PC allows you to reset all settings for the system to its original state and remove all third-party applications. All user files, as well as metro-application downloaded from the store Windows remain intact. Thus, using this function you will be able to get rid of malicious applications from Add-ins for IE and other programs.
Function Reset PC is even more dramatic way to clean your system. After its trigger Windows 8 will be exactly the same as after the initial installation. Bear in mind that when you use the function Reset PC are deleted not only all applications, but all user files, therefore its use should be back up to removable media.
Finally, one other cool feature of the Windows Control Panel 8 for creating passwords based on images. Instead of the default password in the new operating system, you can use gestures on the screen, drawing lines, circles and just touching it in certain places. As you might guess, a new feature that is intended primarily for those who will use Windows 8 on devices with touch screens, although the usual mouse might apply for such a password.
Feature Picture Password is located under the Users. For its engaging, first need to enter the current password, and then select any image file, which serves for orientation. The graphical password consists of three gestures. You can use any combination of lines, circles, and touches with them in different parts of the screen. You must remember the size of the graphic elements, their screen location, direction, and the order of creation. As with creating a plain text password, there will need to again draw a shape so that the system will remember your password, and made it active.
Built-in capabilities for data backup
Probably after Windows 8 will be released and to settle down on users ‘ computers, many third-party software developers have to be hard to think about what additional features empower their applications. The fact is that very many features available previously only in alternative solutions, now implemented in Windows by default.
This also applies to the backup. Instead of paying for a program to create a backup, you can use the new built-in function File History, which enables you to create a backup copy of the libraries, Favorites, contacts, and desktop. By default it is turned off, and for its utilization need to connect your removable media on which the copies will be created, and then go to System and Security Control Panel and select it there. This section is only available in an expanded version of the control panel.
After you enable the File History function you can choose where to save the files (except for removable drives, you can use a network drive), as well as specify folders to exclude, specify the frequency of backups and copies of the Save options files. After the backups will be automatically generated.
Improved support for multiple monitors
Another welcome improvement Windows 8 — enhanced support for two or more monitors. Features that were previously available only with the use of alternative applications that are available in new Windows by default. For example, you can now display the taskbar on the second monitor, stretch wallpapers across two monitors, display on a single screen, start menu and the other desktop.
In addition, easier switching between monitors. On the primary monitor is the Start button, and at the secondary-button Switcher. Click on the button will turn it into a Switcher, click Start, and at the same time, the secondary monitor will become the main.
Updated on-screen keyboard
Virtual keyboard just needed for touch screen devices. 8 on-screen keyboard in Windows has been completely revised and now recruit can be much faster. First, it works AutoComplete input in the recruitment process. Real-time displays options for completing the word. To insert the correct words simply touch to it.
In addition, virtual keyboard has a built-in system for proofing tools to help you avoid mistakes when typing. When you start the keyboard automatically adapts to the language that is selected in Windows settings.
Conclusion
So, what kind of future awaits Windows 8? Whether it will be adopted by users as well as Windows 7? It is already clear that regardless of whether the majority wanted to update its desktop operating system with the “g” to “g,” operating system necessarily will become popular with netbooks, tablets and other devices with touch screens. To contribute to the growth in popularity of Windows 8, a standard user will not need to install the system on your computer, it will be enough to buy a tablet based on the new OS.
But in all fairness, it should be noted that, despite the clear orientation towards devices with touch screens, Windows 8 has something to offer and those who continue to sit behind the screen desktop and enjoy good old mouse and keyboard. However, to think about switching to a new OS too early. According to the latest figures, exit Windows 8 is scheduled for the end of next year. And then let’s talk.