Introduction
Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems and Microsoft faces the challenge of impressing the users whenever it designs the next version of Windows.
Since its launch, Windows 7 has performed exceptionally well. Microsoft has tried to improve the existing features and present an even better operating system to its users. Windows 8 has got a very stunning user interface and some new features have also been added to the new operating system (OS).
The Windows 8 early version was launched a few days back by Microsoft on a prototype tablet. You can get the experience and taste of the new Windows 8 by downloading its developer preview. The preview is available in the pre-beta version. You can also get to know about the current stage of the OS by this version. Three different kinds of packages of this version are available and can be downloaded free of cost. These are:
1. The 64 bit version including only the OS
2. The 32 bit version, also with the OS only
3. The 64 bit version with developer tools along with OS.
Windows 8 features
Windows 8 has many new features like the window app store and the new user interface. The security features of the new operating system have also been improvised. Windows 8 will have the following features.
1. Support for ARM tablets and x86 PCs
Windows 8 is going to be the first OS by Windows that can work on ARM tablets and the traditional x86, along with x64 and x 32 PCs that are based on the ARM processors of AMD and Intel.
With the support for ARM-based chip sets, sensors and touch, Windows 8 can work in a beautiful manner on a wide range of devices, like the 10 inch slates having enormous battery life for the whole day, the ultra light weight laptops and the more powerful all-in-ones that have a 27 inch screens of high definition. This was contended by Microsoft in the Windows 8 guide that was distributed along with the Windows Developer Preview.
2. Windows to go
By using the exciting feature of ‘Windows to go’ the Windows 8 operating system can be booted from a USB device. The design of the feature enables it to work with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 and also on the UDFI firmware and NIOS legacy. But it eliminates the ‘Hibernate’ option for the user, according to Microsoft.
What makes the feature more interesting is that Windows freezes on removal of the USB drive but starts to operate again if the USB drive is inserted back into the system within 60 seconds of its removal.
3. Windows store
The Windows OS users can browse through the Windows applications on the newly introduced Windows store. The store is similar to the Mac App Store and has been designed by Windows to compete with Apple. The Windows 8 devices can get the metro-style applications that have been developed and published by the developers on the Windows store. A strategic view of this application store was provided by Microsoft a few days back and a quick demo of its working was revealed. According to Microsoft, the Windows app store is going to be the only place where the users will be able to access the metro styled applications.
4. Windows 8 user interface
The user interface provided to Windows 8 is highly interactive. The UI has been redesigned so that it gets a metro styled design. The metro style designs allows the user to have a greater control over the operating system, is more simple and also provides all the information that is important to the user. While navigating using the mouse, keyboard or touch, the UI is able to provide a more intuitive and fluid interaction because of its designing.
You can unlock the screen by only tapping on the right side areas of the screen. The screen can group all your applications together and you can add , drag or drop things in an easy manner.
Minimum system requirements for Windows 8
Windows 8 operating system can be run on the machines that run the Windows 7 operating system. The minimum system requirements for running the Windows 8 operating system are given below:
HD space: 16 GB for 32-bit (or 20 GB for 64 bit)
RAM: 1 GB (32 bit) or 2GB (64 bit)
Processor: 1 GHZ or faster 32 bit or 64 bit processor
Cloud computing and Windows 8
The official Microsoft blog has reported that the Windows 8 operating system will be tied to the SkyDrive of Microsoft. This will enable the users to use Windows 8 and access the data that has been stored in a digital form in their laptops, computers and mobile devices.
Windows 8 bringing Kinect to the laptops
Microsoft has planned to build the Kinect sensors into the laptops. Prototypes have been released already and it has been confirmed that they are official. The current position of the webcam has been decided to be the position of the sensors and the bottom of the screen will have the the IR LED. The sensors can become a standard feature if the techs from Microsoft manage to lower its price. The miniaturized Kinect hardware that can be used for notebooks is also being talked about.
Release date of Windows 8
The launch of Windows 8 is expected to be somewhere around in mid and late 2012. The operating system is still being developed and therefore, such predictions can be too early. According to Julie Larson Green, the Corporate Vice President of Windows, the great features of Windows 7 have got even better in Windows 8. However, it is still to be seen whether the Windows 8 operating system will help Microsoft to win back the battle that it has lost to Apple some time back.
