We all know that Microsoft's upcoming OS "Windows 8" is currently under testing and Microsoft has released Windows 8 Developer Preview build to public which can be downloaded using following link:
Download Windows 8 Developer Preview Build NOW
We are regularly posting about new features and tips-n-tricks found in Windows 8 in our exclusive "Windows 8" section but there are people who have some confusions in mind, so today in this topic we are going to clarify all these confusions and list all facts and secrets about Windows 8.
We have divided this article into 2 parts:
- Things We Know about Windows 8
- Things We Need to Know about Windows 8
So lets start our guide:
Things We Know about Windows 8
1. Windows 8 is the upcoming OS from Microsoft and is also known as Windows vNext.
2. Windows 8 will RTM in 2012:
- Windows 8 RTM in April 2012?
- Ballmer Says “Windows 8″ (vNext) Will be Released in 2012
- Microsoft’s Next OS “Windows 8″ (Major Release) Coming in 2012
- Windows 8 Coming in 2012
3. Windows 8 will also support Tablet PCs just like Google Android does.
4. Microsoft has added "Up" button in Windows 8 Explorer after receiving lots of complaints from Windows Vista and 7 users:
5. Windows 8 will allow you to integrate your Windows Live ID with the OS.
Windows 8 Milestone 3 Build 7910 Screenshots Leaked, Windows Live ID Integration
Although it would be optional.
6. Windows 8 will provide an improved version of Windows Basic theme "Aero Lite" for low-end machines.
Leaked Windows 8 Build Features “Aero Lite” Metro UI and Language Explorer
7. Windows 8 will come with Internet Explorer 10:
[Rumor] Windows 8 Will Come with Internet Explorer 10
Its confirmed now.
8. Windows 8 will come with an excellent "System Restore" feature which will help you in restoring the whole OS easily and quickly:
Windows 8 “System Reset” Image Leaked, Restore to Original Factory Settings
9. Windows 8 will feature "History Vault" which allows you to backup your important files to another drive.
New Feature “History Vault” Revealed in Windows 8
10. Windows 8 Explorer will provide Office 2010 like Ribbon UI:
- Secret Ribbon UI Revealed in Windows 8 Explorer
- Microsoft Talks About Windows Explorer Improvements in Windows 8, Addition of Ribbon UI and Up Button
Don't worry, you will be able to minimize the ribbon to get more space in window.
11. Windows 8 will feature "Aero Auto-Colorization" which is the ability to automatically configure the color of Aero elements, like the Start Menu, Windows Explorer windows, and the taskbar based on the desktop wallpaper.
Windows 8 to Feature Aero Automatic Colorization
12. Windows 8 will also provide SmartScreen File Checking which will serve two purposes – to reactively check the file system and proactively prevent any downloaded applications from running that are unknown to the filter.
Windows 8 to Feature SmartScreen File Checking
13. You'll be able to run Windows 8 from a USB storage device using "Portable Workspace" feature in Windows 8.
Windows 8 “Portable Workspace” Revealed, Run Windows from USB Device
14. Windows 8 will feature a new Start Screen which is similar to Windows Phone 7 home screen. It basically shows live tiles of the installed programs in Windows 8.
[Windows 8 Start Screen] How to Pin, Unpin, Resize, Move and Search Tiles
15. Windows 8 will feature an improved file management dialog box:
Microsoft Official Video Shows Improved File Management UI (Copy, Move, Rename, Delete) in Windows 8
16. Windows 8 will support USB 3.0 standard:
Windows 8 Will Come With Support for USB 3.0, Microsoft Confirms
17. Windows 8 will come with native Explorer support for mounting ISO and VHD files:
Microsoft Details Native Explorer Support for Mounting ISO and VHD Files in Windows 8
Things We Need to Know about Windows 8
Because of various new features introduced in Windows 8 like Aero Lite theme, Start Screen, etc, many people get confused and start thinking that Windows 8 will not be suitable for normal Desktop PCs and will only support Tablets. That's not correct.
Following points will clear all your confusions and doubts:
1. Many people think that Windows 8 will only provide interface optimized for tablets. That's not true!
Windows 8 will come as a traditional Desktop OS (like Windows Vista and 7) as well as an OS for touch based tablets. So it can be considered as a 2-in-1 OS.
Microsoft Talks About Windows 8 Metro UI and Desktop, Two Interfaces in One OS
Anyway even if the UI is locked by Microsoft, people will find a way to unlock the locked UI. ;)
2. Many people don't like new "Aero Lite" theme and complain about it. Actually "Aero Lite" is a revised version of "Windows Basic" theme present in Windows Vista and 7.
Windows 8 will come with a refreshing Aero glass theme just like Windows Vista and 7 but will also provide Aero Lite theme for low-end machines which can't support Aero theme.
3. When Microsoft introduced "Start Screen" in Windows 8, people complained about replacing start menu with Start Screen. That's not going to happen.
"Start Screen" will not replace Windows Start menu. You would be able to use Start menu as you currently do in Windows Vista and 7. Microsoft has disabled Start menu in Windows 8 Developer Preview build to force developers to get used to new Metro UI.
"Start Screen" has been developed for tablets actually but Desktops and Laptops will also have it.
That's all for now. We'll update this topic as soon as a new features is added to Windows 8 or people get confused again about something.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 8.
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Vikram
Great post, lot of new good changes. I am excited to use the Wind 8 hope it won't take too long next year :)
Kwame
im waitin...
BetaID
I think Microsoft has dug itself into a hole. They want all users to get off of XP and go to Win 7. Now with the new Windows 8 OS on its way, XP, Vista and Windows 7 Users are left scratching their heads as if all these upgrades are free.
With all the upgrade fees and possible new computer costs, what's stopping Windows user to just save up and go for a Mac?
IanG
5. Windows 8 will allow you to integrate your Windows Live ID with the OS.
Wonder if there will be a nag screen if you don't use Windows Live...?
@ BetaID
lol,we might be crazy! But we're not stupid...
Aaron
@BetaID because no matter how many windows upgrades we buy, it's still nothing compared to the cost of a mac.
And if you think it's dumb that Microsoft keeps encouraging people to upgrade, consider this:
the only thing preventing you from upgrading easily to windows 7 from XP is that it may be too complicated for some users, plus you need to do a clean installation.
microsoft releases a new major OS every 4 years, meaning xp users have had 4 years to upgrade, and its their own fault if they haven't.
If an xp user upgrades to 7, I can imagine that windows 8 will be much cheaper to just upgrade windows 7 than to install it on a machine with anything other than windows 7, thus making it much more affordable.
Finally, support for windows xp ends REALLY soon, so an upgrade is very smart.
SCBright
For everyone discussing about the unfortunately dead WindowsXP, take a look on this:
windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/lifecycle
It will be an undead or dead-alive Operating System until April 8, 2014. Till there...
About Win8: My impression is that MS is very concerned with developing interfaces for mobile systems disregarding desktops or, as usual, leading us to this technology, like it or not. Our desktops might be as large Smartphones \ o /
Hackerpunk1
@VG When will Microsoft release a Beta version to the public?
raamee
Hello,
Will it support VB6 binaries?
Swapnil
@Hackerpunk1,
Beta : September 2011.
Windows 8 RTM - April 2012.
Windows 8 Retail Public - July 2012 or later.
Information provided by Ghacks and the author is Martin Brinkmann.
VG
^^ Actually these dates are not official just speculations based on Windows 7 release dates. Lets wait for some time and we would be able to know the real release dates.