Features new to Windows 8: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:47, 22 December 2020

Revision as of 13:56, 22 December 2020

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Windows 8 features a redesigned user interface built upon the [[Metro (design language)|Metro design language]],<ref name="Pietroforte">{{cite web |url=http://4sysops.com/archives/windows-8-new-features-the-complete-list-updated/ |title=Windows 8 new features – The complete list (updated) |last=Pietroforte |first=Michael |date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=4sysops |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref> with optimizations for [[touchscreen]]s.

[[Metro-style apps]] can either run in a full-screen environment, or be snapped to the side of a screen alongside another app or the desktop; snapping requires a screen resolution of 1366×768 or higher.<ref name=zdnet-smallertab>{{cite news|title=New Windows 8 hardware specs hint at 7-inch tablets and a Microsoft Reader|url=http://www.zdnet.com/new-windows-8-hardware-specs-hint-at-7-inch-tablets-and-a-microsoft-reader-7000013271/|work=ZDNet|accessdate=March 29, 2013}}</ref> Windows 8.1 lowers the snapping requirement to a screen resolution of 1024x768.<ref name="Callaham">{{cite web |url=http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-blue-lowers-modern-app-snap-view-resolution-to-1024x768 |title=Windows 'Blue' lowers Modern app snap view resolution to 1024x768 |last=Callaham |first=John |website=Neowin |date=March 26, 2013 |accessdate=February 22, 2013}}</ref> Users can switch between apps and the desktop by clicking on the top left corner or by swiping the left side of the touchscreen to invoke a sidebar that displays all currently opened Metro-style apps. Right-clicking on the upper left corner provides a context menu with options to switch between open apps. The traditional desktop is accessible from a tile on the Start screen or by launching a desktop app. The {{key press|Alt|Tab}} shortcut cycles through all programs, regardless of type.

[[File:Windows 8 Tutorial.png|thumb|The tutorial that appears after the installation of Windows 8 and when a new user signs in for the first time]]

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* On high-resolution display monitors with sufficiently large physical screen sizes, an option to display additional tiles on the Start screen is available.<ref name="ShowMoreTiles">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-tip-show-more-tiles |title=Windows 8.1 Tip: Show More Tiles |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Thurrott |date=June 29, 2013 |publisher=[[Penton (company)|Penton Media]] |work=Supersite for Windows |accessdate=April 20, 2015}}</ref>

* Start screen tiles can be locked in place to prevent accidental manipulation of tiles.<ref name=PCWorld-Blue-Deep-10>{{cite web|last=Chacos|first=Brad|title=Deep inside Windows Blue: 10 coolest features in Microsoft's leaked OS|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2031946/deep-inside-windows-blue-10-coolest-features-in-microsofts-leaked-os.html|work=[[PC World]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|accessdate=April 23, 2013|date=March 25, 2013}}</ref>

* The uninstall command allows [[Windows Store apps]] to be uninstalled from multiple computers.<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Thurrott |author-link=Paul Thurrott |title=In Blue: Multi-PC App Uninstall |url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/blue-multi-pc-app-uninstall |work=Supersite for Windows |publisher=[[Penton (professional information services)|Penton Media]] |date=April 24, 2013 |access-date=January 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220015237/http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/blue-multi-pc-app-uninstall |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* More size options for live tiles on Start screen: small, medium, wide, and large.<ref name=verge-blueleak>{{cite web|title=Windows Blue: a video preview of what's next for Windows 8|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/3/25/4144618/windows-blue-video-preview-screenshots|work=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|accessdate=March 26, 2013}}</ref> The "small" size is one quarter of the default size in Windows 8.<ref name=ars-wblue /><ref name=infoworld-bluedesktop />

* Expanded color options on the Start screen, which now allows users to customize a color and a shade of one's own choice instead of choosing from limited colors.<ref name=verge-blueleak />

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===Notifications===

[[File:Windows 8 Notification.png|thumb|A Windows 8 toast notification informing the user that a removable drive has been attached. Clicking or tapping the notification brings up the [[AutoPlay]] dialog, allowing users to configure actions that Windows should take after the insertion of a removable media device.]]

Windows 8 introduces new forms of notifications for [[Metro-style apps]] and for certain events in [[File Explorer]].<ref name="NotificationsOverview">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jimoneil/archive/2012/08/02/windows-8-notifications-overview.aspx |title=Windows 8 Notifications: Overview |last=O'Neil |first=Jim |date=August 2, 2015 |publisher=Microsoft |work=MSDN Blogs |accessdate=March 6, 2015}}</ref>

* '''Toast notifications:''' alert the user to specific events, such as the insertion of removable media