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Features new to Windows 8

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Development platform

Windows 8 has a new developer platform according to Microsoft Vice President Julie Larson-Green, who called it "our new developer platform, which is...based on HTML5 and JavaScript."[1] The new applications developed for Windows 8 could be easily ported as a Metro (design language) style application and developers could use any existing Windows Application Development language to port applications as a Metro style app (by adding minimal amount of code). This is possible because of the architectural changes done to the Windows platform. All applications developed whether using C#, MFC or HTML5/JavaScript will translate into WinRT (Windows RunTime) API's, which sits above the Windows Kernel directly. The new applications run in full-screen, but two of them can be displayed side-by-side using "Snap". Examples of new applications that were demoed include a Twitter client, a weather application, a stock-tracking application, an RSS news feeder, and a virtual piano.

Shell and user interface

Windows 8 features an extensively redesigned "Metro-style" user interface, optimized for touchscreens as well as mice and keyboards. A new "Start screen", similar to the one in Windows Phone 7, includes live application tiles. The start screen replaces the Start menu, being triggered by the Start button or Windows key, and is also the first screen shown on startup. The user can go to the regular desktop by choosing the "Desktop" tile or a traditional desktop-based application. The Start screen also displays the user's name and picture.

The new interface is primarily designed for 16:9 screen resolutions, with 1366×768 and larger screens able to display two Windows 8 "Metro-style" applications side-by-side by "snapping". 1024×768 screens can display one application in full-screen, and 1024×600 screens can only use the traditional Windows desktop.[2]

Windows 8 provides a configurable taskbar in the tradditional Windows desktop that spans multiple monitors. The Multiple Monitor Taskbar can be turned on and off and is used to display the minimized windows.

Windows Explorer

Similar to Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows Live Essentials, the re-designed Windows Explorer will use the Ribbon interface to enhance discoverability of commands and bring relevant commands to users depending on their file selection. For example, selecting photos in a folder brings up tools to rotate the photos and to start a slide show. The interface was selected to bring forward the most commonly-used commands for easy access.[3]

Additionally, Windows Explorer features a redesigned preview pane that takes advantage of widescreen layouts and the "Up" button removed from Windows Explorer in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is now included in the interface.[3]

Windows Explorer will feature a new user interface for copying and moving files, offering both a simplified interface and an advanced interface for users to monitor the speed of the operations. Users now view all simultaneuos file operations in one consolidated window, and can pause file operations in progress.[4] A new interface has also been introduced for managing file name collisions in a file operation, allowing users to easily control which conflicted files are copied.[5]

Windows Explorer can now mount ISO and VHD files as virtual drives.[6]

Other features

Mike Angiulo confirmed at Computex 2011 that Windows 8 will use OEM Activation 3.0 instead of OEM Activation 2.1 (used by Windows 7), which supposedly makes it less prone to cracks. Windows 8 features a new lock screen that shows the date and time and notifications, along with a customisable background.

Windows 8 will also include Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization software. Previously only offered in Windows Server, Hyper-V will now be available in client versions of Windows for the first time. The system requirements for Hyper-V are a 64-bit processor, a 64-bit version of Windows 8, and a minimum of 4 GB of RAM. Hyper-V also requires a 64-bit system that has Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), a feature that helps with memory management. Many of Intel's and AMD's recent processors support this feature, including many of Intel's i-Series processors (with Extended Page Table) and AMD's 10h family processors.[7] On September 8, 2011, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 has short boot times, because it saves the kernel's memory to the hard disk on shutdown (similar to the existing Hibernate option) and reloads it on startup.[8]

Windows To Go

Windows To Go is an upcoming Windows 8 feature that will allow users to create a bootable USB Flash drive with Windows 8 in it, including the user's programs, settings, and files, effectively making it a Live USB.[9][10][11][12] It is reported to work on both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, and on legacy BIOS and UEFI firmware.[13] In addition to that, the system will freeze if the USB drive is removed, and will continue to operate if the USB drive is inserted in the next 60 seconds of removal.[13][14]

Protogon Filesystem

Windows 8 will supposedly support a new filesystem called Protogon. Not much is known about the new filesystem. The Developer Preview of Windows 8 harbors registry references regarding Protogon. Certain builds of Windows 8 supposedly allow users to format a partition with the Protogon filesystem.[15]

Devices

Windows 8 will support USB 3.0.[16]

References

  1. ^ Peter Bright (2011-06-13). "Why Microsoft has made developers horrified about coding for Windows 8". Arstechnica. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  2. ^ "Microsoft Demos Windows 8 at First Public Event". Infopackets.com. 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
  3. ^ a b "Improvements in Windows Explorer". Building Windows 8. Microsoft.
  4. ^ "Improving our file management basics: copy, move, rename and delete". Building Windows 8.
  5. ^ "Designing the Windows 8 file name collision experience". Building Windows 8.
  6. ^ "Accessing data in [[ISO image|ISO]] and [[VHD (file format)|VHD]] files". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  7. ^ "Microsoft announces Hyper-V in Windows 8". cnet.com. 2011-09-08.
  8. ^ "Microsoft Touts Incredible Windows 8 Boot Times". Retrieved September 09, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ Gregg Keizer. "Windows 8 will run from USB thumb drive". Computerworld. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  10. ^ "Windows 8 fits on a thumb drive - Technology - GMA News Online - Latest Philippine News". Gmanews.tv. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  11. ^ "Windows 8 Running on a USB – Windows To Go - Softpedia". News.softpedia.com. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  12. ^ "Windows 8 to feature USB-runnable Portable Workspaces, sales of 16GB thumb drives set to soar". Engadget. 2011-04-15. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  13. ^ a b "[Videos] Microsoft Demonstrates Windows To Go (Run Windows 8 From USB On Any PC)". Techie-buzz.com. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  14. ^ "What Happens When You Remove A Windows To Go USB drive (Windows 8)". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-09-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  15. ^ "Windows 8: New "Protogon" filesystem could be the next big thing". Neowin.net. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  16. ^ Microsoft to provide USB 3.0 support for better battery life in Windows 8
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