Microsoft Announces Windows Phone 8 But Only For New Devices [Updates]

The eagerly awaited next version of Microsoft’s flagship mobile OS, Windows Phone 8, was announced on Wednesday morning in San Francisco. The new release will borrow heavily from its desktop namesake Windows 8, but won’t be available to those who already own Windows Phone devices that are already on the market.
Microsoft announced that the next version of Windows Phone shares more than a passing resemblance Windows 8, providing comparable support for networking, security, media, web browsing and a common file system. On the surface the release comes with a redesigned Start screen, featuring three sizes of Microsoft’s live tiles and an all-new colour palette for even more customisation.

Under the bonnet are a plethora of new additions including all-new multi-core processor support and maximum resolutions of 1280×720 and 1280×768 for HD viewing. Storage and sharing have both been improved with the addition of NFC (near-field communications) for the sharing of documents between devices with a tap. Similarly, Windows Phone 8 will support removable storage in the form of MicroSD cards.

NFC technology will also be put to use with the new Wallet app which allows users to store credit and debit cards, and purchase goods at compatible points of sale. As predicted, Internet Explorer 10 will debut in Windows Phone 8 sharing the same rendering engine as that found in its desktop sibling.
Devices running Windows Phone 7.5 won’t be completely left in the dust, as a coming update dubbed “Windows Phone 7.8″ will add the revised Start screen seen in the screenshots above. Manager of the Windows Phone Team, Joe Belfiore explained:

“Some of you have been wondering, “Will we also get Windows Phone 8 as an update?” The answer, unfortunately, is no.
Windows Phone 8 is a generation shift in technology, which means that it will not run on existing hardware. BUT we care deeply about our existing customers and want to keep their phones fresh, so we’re providing the new Start screen in this new update.”

Windows Phone 8 is expected to land in the fall, around the same time Microsoft is set to unleash Windows 8 and the newly announced Surface tablets. You can read even more about the upcoming release on the Windows Team Blog including how business environments will benefit and details regarding long-awaited upcoming apps from PayPal, Zynga and more.
What do you think of the announcement? Do you own a current Windows Phone device? Will you buy one in the future? Let us know what you think about the news in the comments below.
Source: Windows Team Blog

Will Windows 8 Succeed Or Fail? [Opinion]

Microsoft is trying to make Windows 8 be all things to all people. Or at least all operating systems to all devices. A risky strategy that has rarely, if ever, worked. This is Microsoft reaching for the future with one hand, while trying to drag the old-school stylings of its Windows operating system from the past along for the ride. Can this possibly work?
Love it or hate it, Apple has changed the whole tech industry. The genie cannot ever be put back in the bottle. Is Microsoft doing enough to catch up? Or is it, alternatively, doing too much, trying to change the operating system which remains its main source of revenue when millions of people are happy with their non-touch way of working and non-tiled user interface?

Windows 8

Windows 8 is going to arrive some time during 2012. It’s just a matter of which quarter Microsoft decides to launch it. It’ll ship around three years after Windows 7. Three years during which Apple and Google have both affected the way we interact with our devices on a fundamental level.

Consider for a moment the world in 2009, when the iPad was still being forged at Apple under Steve Jobs’ controlling eye and Android 2.0 had just been released. At that time Windows did everything required of it, offering an accessible way of using computers with a keyboard and mouse. The iPad changed that, with its dismissal of all external inputs other than your fingers, and Android then exacerbated the trend. Windows was suddenly looking like a dinosaur waiting for the end of the world to arrive.

Microsoft knew it had to do something radical, and the company’s answer was to port the Metro UI from Windows Phone 7 over to Windows 8.

Metro UI

Microsoft faced a huge dilemma when it came to developing Windows 8. Windows 7 enjoyed a near-perfect launch, managing to move the operating system on from the Vista debacle in the minds of all but the most vehement Windows haters. Windows was set to carry on unhindered and unchanged for many years to come. And then the iPad arrived, and everything changed.
Microsoft itself was the architect of the push to get us all using tablet devices. But its efforts at the turn of the century (dubbed TabletPC) failed to move from being a niche to a mainstream product. Apple got it right first time, producing a truly great product which has eaten into the PC market ever since, and virtually wiped out netbooks as a form factor.
The Metro UI is Microsoft looking to the future, to the post-PC era that Apple is developing. It’s far from perfect, and it has been argued Microsoft has erred by trying to mutate it to its main OS. You can see for yourself by trying it in VirtualBox, with Windows 8 Beta Simulator, or with Instant Beautiful Browsing.

Windows 7 With a Glossy New Front-End?

The basic structure of Windows 8 is built on top of the current iteration of Windows, Windows 7. As has been true of all versions of Windows that have gone before. As with most operating systems, Windows is in constant evolutionary flux, with each new version meant to improve the UI while providing the tools needed for the present time.
To be fair to Microsoft, Windows 8 is the biggest evolutionary step up since Windows 95. But at least back then it was a battle being fought in just one, rather than multiple, arena(s).
The problem is that the whole computer industry is now changing at a rate of knots. Not in terms of hardware, as was the case for the whole of the 1990s, but in terms of how we relate to the technology and use it merely to access the Internet and all the services it provides. In some respects then, operating systems are becoming irrelevant. Or at the very least not as necessary to impress as was once the case.

Do People Still Want Windows?

The big question is whether people still want Windows. It has spent decades as the first choice operating system for the majority of people, but times are changing, and fast. As mentioned previously we’re now entering into the post-PC era, where mobile devices are becoming the default choice for most people, and capable of doing everything a notebook or desktop can do.
In this scenario, Windows in its present form looks set to lose much of its appeal. If Microsoft doesn’t alter Windows in a radical way then it risks becoming a niche product used by enterprise customers and professionals, but not by the mainstream. It cannot afford to let this happen or it faces a bleak future. With the exception of Office and Xbox, Microsoft hasn’t got much else beyond Windows to fall back on. Unless Windows Phone can grow beyond the expectations of most analysts.
The question then is whether Microsoft has done too much, too little, or just about the right amount of tinkering in building Windows 8 to go another round.

Looking To The Future

Will Windows 8 succeed or Fail? I think we need a third option of “do mildly well but will hardly set the world alight.” Because that’s my honest assessment of how Windows 8 will perform.
Microsoft has done just about enough to stop Windows from becoming completely irrelevant by trying to please everyone, all of the time, but the two-tier way Windows 8 operates risks pleasing no one, none of the time. To stop the rot Microsoft is going to need to exhibit a willingness to change and be fluid in its approach to developing future versions of its key products. In other words, take a leaf out of Apple’s book.
Do you think Windows 8 will be a huge success? Or a massive failure? Or, like me, do you feel Windows 8 is just about good enough to keep Microsoft in the game while the industry changes around it? Personally I’m already looking towards Windows 9.
Image Credits: mynetx, Ceo1O17, backofthenapkin, Esparta, Titanas

How Does Windows Phone 8 Improve On Windows Phone 7?

Since its release in October 2010, Windows Phone 7 has improved considerably, entering a market dominated by Apple and Android while doing its best to overcome the shrinking market share left by its precursor, Windows Mobile.
The initial launch wasn’t perfect; certain vital aspects were omitted, such as copy and paste and threaded message conversations, but within 12 months these issues and others had been resolved, resulting in a robust and slick operating system for which thousands of new apps are becoming available every month.
This year we will see the launch of a replacement platform, Windows Phone 8. Also known as Windows Phone Apollo, this new release is designed to improve on the previous version, and will be launched alongside (or very close to) Windows 8, heralding the beginning of Microsoft’s attempts to unify their operating system across all device types.
We can expect much from Windows Phone 8 – after all, Microsoft were working on it before they started on Windows Phone 7!

The Strengths of Windows Phone 7

Due in part to its incomplete initial release and also to the unfashionable legacy of Windows Mobile (which the platform is still confused with, two years later) Windows Phone has sadly failed to make the level of impact that Microsoft hoped.

This is disappointing, not just for Redmond but for those of us that own Windows Phones and know what a pleasure it is to use a device that isn’t reliant on a 5 year old user interface, that offers native integration with all of the popular social networks, portable Microsoft Office, SkyDrive integration, mobile access to Xbox Live and much more.

The real strength of Windows Phone 7 is that it is fast. Photos snapped and uploaded to social networks are published in a fraction of the time that they take on Android and iPhone, while fewer steps are required to perform common mobile phone tasks such as messaging, calling, etc.
We shouldn’t forget the Metro UI; the popularity of the user interface among designers and reviewers has led to its wider adoption on the Xbox 360 and it is of course a key aspect of the new Windows 8.

Where Windows Phone 7 Needs Improvement

Naturally, of course, there are some shortcomings with Windows Phone 7. After all, what would be the point of Windows Phone 8 otherwise?
Probably the single worst aspect of Windows Phone is the use of the Zune desktop client as a sync agent. While the application itself is generally pleasant to use it is a little on the slow side. As a replacement for Windows Media Player it is more than suitable; as an alternative to iTunes, however, Zune is only just adequate. All of this makes Zune a little difficult to use, particularly for syncing and applying updates to Windows Phone.
It might also be argued that forcing users to share their contacts to a cloud (whether Exchange or SkyDrive) is a little unfair, but the majority of shortcomings to the platform come at a more technical level. Things like a limit to the 800×480 px resolution, support of only 16 GB of storage, no microSD support, limited Bluetooth, an inability to email documents, limited customization options, lack of Flash and Java support, and various other quirks and foibles exist. The omission of enterprise support and true multi-tasking has also proved problematic for some users.
Finally, Windows Phone 7 simply isn’t as popular as it should be. By releasing Windows Phone 8 alongside Windows 8 and promoting the effortless integration between the two platforms, Microsoft will be hoping to shift a lot more WP8 devices over the next couple of years.

What’s New in Windows Phone 8?

So, what can we look forward to in Windows Phone 8 that improves on the previous release?
Well, how do you fancy improved Bluetooth support and the presence of NFC (near-field communication)? Designed for file transfer and perhaps even making payments, NFC is a technology that is appearing across all mobile phone platforms.

Meanwhile, the limits on the screen resolution in Windows Phone 7 are being overcome with high definition in the shape of WVGA, WXGA and 720p, the result being better control over the size of Start screen tiles.
Another hardware improvement is support for multi-core processor devices, while screenshots will be enabled natively (as opposed to homebrew apps).
Improved (actual) multitasking will enable users to use multiple apps at the same time while native photo resizing/cropping is also expected. A new release of Office Mobile should be included alongside a new Wallet Hub which will store digital coupons, loyalty cards and other payment methods, and will probably integrate with the new NFC hardware. Another new hub will be available to corporate customers, meanwhile; the Company Hub can be tailored to display employee apps and company information.
The Xbox Music Store will replace Zune Music, while backups are set to be provided to enable the storing of apps and messages in your SkyDrive and it will be possible to hot-swap microSD cards to install apps and view media.

Meanwhile a strong degree of integration with Windows 8 tablets and PCs is expected, while Microsoft’s purchase of Skype will see the app fully integrated with the People Hub and phone dialer and video chat available via the front-facing camera that will be found on all Windows Phone 8 handsets.

What About Windows Phone 7.8?

One of the main complaints about the coming Windows Phone 8 is the fact that for existing Windows Phone users, an upgrade is going to mean a completely new phone.
Hardware changes mean that any Windows Phone 8 device is going to be far more future-facing than the original Windows Phone devices. Upgrading might prove expensive, but in order to placate their users, Microsoft have announced Windows Phone 7.8, a sort of midway update that adds several Windows Phone 8 features to first and second generation Windows Phone 7 devices.
Which features will be made available to legacy users isn’t yet known at this stage, however based on what Windows Phone can currently do it would be fair to expect the photos resizing and cropping, app and messaging backups and the Xbox Music Store to make an appearance.

Are You Ready for Windows Phone 8?

As you can see, Microsoft seems to be intending that Windows Phone 8 will be its quintessential mobile phone platform. Every shortcoming of Windows Phone 7 appears to have been revised or massaged (based on what we know so far) so that Microsoft can finally enter the smartphone game back on level terms with the competition (a place they haven’t been since 2006).

A key disadvantage in Windows Phone 7 was the lack of enterprise support – surprising as this was the core audience for Windows Mobile. Restoring the importance of this market to the Windows Phone strategy seems like a good move by Microsoft, who will no doubt be pushing phones to run alongside PCs and servers at their largest corporate customers.
For the rest of us, meanwhile, the feature set of Windows Phone 8 is on a par with that of iOS and Android 4.0. With the Metro UI as the cherry on the top of the cake, Windows Phone 8 could just be the mobile operating system to finally bring some real competition back into the smartphone market.

Microsoft Shows Off New Windows 8 Version Of Skype [Updates]

Microsoft has just revealed the new Skype for Windows 8. It’s a major change in design for Skype, and it looks beautiful. For all the Windows 8 naysayers, the new version of Skype might get them to change their tune a bit. Skype describes the new version as “simple, fast and beautiful,” and based on what they’ve shown, that seems to be an apt description for the new version.
A major focus for the new Skype is greatly improving the way the app runs in the background. It uses almost no battery, which is clearly a feature aimed towards Windows 8 tablets and laptops.
The new Skype is a full-screen experience. It is designed to be an app used every day, and not just when you need to make a call or record a podcast. When you first open the program, it features your contacts, recent calls, and messages right in the front of the app, so it’s easier to stay in touch your friends. Skype also integrates with the new Windows 8 People app, which further makes it part of the Windows 8 experience.
Another awesome feature of the new Skype is the snap feature. You can snap it to the side of the screen and video chat with your friends while using other Windows 8 apps. This will certainly help with multitasking while staying connected with your friends.

Of course, Skype also features the modern design that you would expect from Windows 8. It will be ready to go on the 26th when Windows 8 hits store shelves. If you are upgrading, it looks like Skype will be one of the first apps you want to download on your Windows 8 machine.

Which Windows 8 Version Is For You?

We’ve already covered how to get Windows 8 for just $40 – or $15 if you’ve just purchased a new PC. But if you’re interested in upgrading, you’ll also need to know which Windows 8 version is right for you. The good news is that Microsoft has simplified the different editions of Windows in Windows 8 – gone are the Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate editions. The list of available Windows 8 editions is actually fairly short.
There are only four editions of Windows 8 – three editions for most home users. If you ignore the edition designed specifically for ARM tablets, there are only two PC editions of Windows 8 to choose from – much simpler than the confusing amount of editions offered with past versions of Windows.

Windows RT vs. Windows 8

Windows RT is the most confusing edition of Windows 8. We’ve covered this before – in short, Windows RT is a special version of Windows 8 for ARM computers, particularly tablets. Windows RT won’t run your existing software – if you buy a Windows RT tablet, you’ll have to use Metro applications. There’s a desktop, but it will only run Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Office – Microsoft won’t allow third parties to write applications for the Windows RT desktop.

Windows RT’s name is a bit odd – it isn’t even called Windows 8, it’s technically just “Windows RT.” It was named after Windows Runtime (WinRT), which is the new development platform used for Metro-style apps. However, both Windows RT and Windows 8 can run WinRT apps.

This is all quite confusing, but you don’t really have to worry about it too much. It’s impossible to buy a boxed copy of Windows RT – Windows RT is only available preinstalled on ARM tablets. If you’re buying a tablet, be sure to check whether it runs Windows 8 or Windows RT – the first version of Microsoft’s Surface tablet will run Windows RT, so you can’t use it to run your favorite Windows desktop software. Surface Pro, which will be released several months after the initial Surface tablet, will run Windows 8 Pro instead of Windows RT.

To learn more about the difference between Windows RT for ARM computers and Windows 8 for Intel x86 computers, read this article: What’s The Difference Between Windows 8 & Windows RT? [MakeUseOf Explains]

Windows 8 Editions

With Windows RT out of the way, Windows 8’s editions are actually pretty simple. There are three primary editions:

• Windows 8 – This is the main edition of Windows 8, which is targeted at home users. It’s most similar to the “Home Premium” edition of Windows 7. With Windows 8, you get all the features you’d expect – the Windows desktop with support for traditional Windows desktop programs, the new environment formerly known as Metro, and other features designed for home users. Most people will be happy with this edition of Windows 8.
• Windows 8 Pro – The Pro version is targeted at businesses and enthusiasts. It includes the kind of features traditionally included in professional editions of Windows: group policy support, remote desktop server capabilities, Windows domain support, encrypting file system, virtual hard disk booting, and BitLocker. There’s one feature that might interest some of you here, though – you can only use Windows Media Center on Windows 8 Pro. It’s available as a free add-in, but only for the Pro version of Windows 8.
• Windows 8 Enterprise – This is the traditional enterprise edition of Windows, available to organizations with volume licenses. It includes all of Windows 8 Pro’s features (aside from support for Windows Media Center) and a few other ones, such as Windows To Go, which can install Windows 8 on a USB stick. The USB stick can be connected to any computer and Windows 8 can be run directly from the USB stick.

There are also some N editions (such as “Windows 8 N Edition”). These versions ship without Windows Media Player and are designed for the European market, where Microsoft was forced to offer them by the European Commission.
If you buy the basic edition of Windows 8 (which most computers will come with) and decide you want the Pro edition later, no problem – you can use the Add Features to Windows 8 control panel (known as “Windows Anytime Upgrade” in previous versions of Windows) to purchase the Windows 8 Pro Pack, which upgrades your Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro.

The Short Version

Here’s all you really need to know:

• If you’re buying a boxed copy (or digital download) of Windows 8, there are only two versions you need to worry about – Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Windows 8 is designed for home users, while Pro offers features more useful for businesses and enthusiasts. However, if you want Windows Media Center, you’ll need the Pro version.
• If you’re buying a tablet with Windows 8 preinstalled, check its edition – if it contains Windows RT, you won’t be able to run Windows desktop apps (aside from Microsoft Office and other Microsoft apps). In the future, some laptops and other types of computers may also use the ARM architecture and may ship with Windows RT, without support for Windows desktop apps.

There’s some other good news if you’re building your own computer – Microsoft has removed the (generally ignored) restriction on using OEM versions of Windows for your own computer. Previously, although many stores sold OEM versions, you weren’t supposed to install them on your own computer, even if you built the computer yourself. The license stated that a computer with an OEM version installed must be sold to someone else or you were running a “non-genuine” Windows 8 version and might as well have pirated your copy of Windows. This restriction has now been removed, so feel free to buy an OEM version if you’re building your own computer. However, OEM versions are still tied to a single computer – if you build a new computer, you’ll need a new OEM copy of Windows 8 for it.
Which version of Windows 8 are you planning on purchasing? Leave a comment and let us know!

How To Test Windows 8 On A Tablet

It’s no secret that Windows 8′s new interface is a “touch-first experience” – Microsoft said it themselves. If you’re curious about upgrading to Windows 8, you can try Windows 8 on your PC – but unless you’re using a PC with a touch screen, it just isn’t the same. Assuming you have an iPad or Android tablet lying around, you can test Windows 8 with a touchscreen before you purchase a new Windows 8 PC or tablet.
You can’t actually install Windows 8 on your tablet, but we’ll be using a few tricks to experience Windows 8 on your existing tablet’s touch screen.

What You’ll Need:

• A copy of Windows 8. If you don’t already have a copy, you can try the Windows 8 Enterprise evaluation edition, which is intended for IT professionals and app developers to test Windows 8 before deploying it. It will expire after 90 days and can’t be upgraded to the full version of Windows 8, so it’s not a good idea to install it on your computer. Still, it’s perfect for our experiment in a virtual machine.
• A virtual machine program. We’ll be using VirtualBox here, but VMware Player or another virtual machine program will work, too.
• An iPad or Android tablet. We used a Nexus 7 here, but a larger tablet is probably more ideal. Microsoft isn’t shipping Windows 8 on 7-inch tablets.
• The Splashtop app, which we’ll be using to access the Windows 8 virtual machine from our tablet. It’s free for Android tablets and $1.99 for iPads.

Disclaimer: The actual experience here isn’t the same as using Windows 8 on an actual Windows 8 tablet. The virtual machine and remote streaming software detract from the computer’s performance, slowing Windows 8’s smooth interface. Splashtop also can’t function exactly like a touch screen (unless you want to buy Splashtop’s Win8 Metro Testbed app, which is intended for app developers and costs $50).

Preparing The Virtual Machine

The first thing you’ll need to do is install Windows 8 in a virtual machine – check out our guide to installing Windows 8 in VirtualBox if you need more help. With Windows 8 in a virtual machine, you can also see how the new interface performs with a mouse and keyboard (bear in mind the virtual machine software slows things down, too).
After you’ve got Windows 8 running in a virtual machine, you’ll need to install the Splashtop Streamer application in your Windows 8 virtual machine. This will allow you to access the virtual machine and control it from  your tablet. Ensure you install the Streamer inside your virtual machine, not on your host operating system.

Complete the install process and set up a Splashtop account. You’ll need the account to access your Windows 8 virtual machine from your tablet.
You’ll also need to enable bridged networking mode. By default, your virtual machine will be isolated on a different local network. Splashtop will prompt you to purchase the Anywhere Access Pack unless you enabled bridged networking. To do so, click the Machine menu and select Settings. From the Network section, click the Attached to box and select Bridged Adapter. This setting will take effect immediately – you won’t have to reboot your virtual machine.

Using Windows 8 On Your Tablet

Install the Splashtop app on your tablet and log in with the Splashtop username and password associated with your account. You’ll see your Windows 8 PC in the list – tap it to connect.

Once you have, you can use Windows 8 on your tablet’s touch screen. Unfortunately, Splashtop itself is controlling the mouse cursor remotely, so this won’t feel quite like using a touchscreen. Still, many of the operations work well with touch.
You can tap something to left-click it or touch-and-hold something to right-click it. This is just how tapping and long-pressing work on Windows 8. To scroll, place two fingers on the screen and drag them over the screen. You’ll see a full list of supported gestures when you first connect to your Windows 8 system with Splashtop.

You can access a keyboard by tapping the arrow button in the corner of your screen and tapping the keyboard button. This allows you to tap the Windows key to return to your home screen after using an app, since Windows 8’s touch gestures for accessing the charms, switcher, and other operating system features by swiping in from the side of the screen don’t work with Splashtop.

Moving your cursor to a corner of the screen doesn’t work by default, either. To use the corners, tap the arrow button in the corner of the screen and tap the trackpad button to enable Trackpad mode. In trackpad mode, you can easily move the cursor to the corner of the screen to access the charms, switcher, and other features.

The Takeaway

Unfortunately, Splashtop doesn’t perfectly match the experience of using Windows 8 on a tablet. The smoothness of the interface is replaced by the jerkiness associated with all remote desktop software, and the swipe gestures to access critical navigation features aren’t available.
However, in many ways this experience is more instructive than using Windows 8 with a mouse and keyboard. Tapping elements on the screen with your finger feels more natural than using a mouse and keyboard with the new Windows 8 interface. Being able to hold the Windows 8 interface in your hands will give you an idea of whether you actually want a Windows 8 tablet or not. If you’re interested, you probably should look for a local electronic store, many of which have demonstration Windows 8 PCs and tablets set up. You can try Windows 8 and get the real experience in person.
To learn more about Windows 8, download our free guide to Windows 8.
Did you try Windows 8 on your tablet via Splashtop? What did you think of it? Did you discover any tips and tricks for using Windows 8 better from your tablet? Leave a comment and let us know!

What’s The Difference Between Windows 8 & Windows RT? [MakeUseOf Explains]

With the Surface tablet announcement a few weeks ago and the final release of Windows 8 looming ever closer, some people are understandably going to be confused about the various versions available.
I’m here to set the record straight; at least, on the differences between Windows 8, and Windows RT. Read on to find out about the various differences, as well as the pros and cons of each system.

Runs On Different Hardware

The primary difference between these two versions is the hardware it will run on. Nearly all PCs, and even newer Apple Macs, run on standardised x86 hardware, with a CPU from either Intel or AMD. Older Macs used a different PowerPC standard, but since switching over to Intel x86 chips, you’ve been able to run Windows on your Mac hardware too with either BootCamp or in a virtual machine. Windows software is currently all designed to run on x86 hardware.
However, you might be running a 64-bit version of Windows – this is actually still based on x86 standards though. x86 began as 16 bit, then 32 bit, and more recently 64 bit. All of it is still x86 though. You may see it sometimes refered to as “x86 vs x64“, but what they actually mean is “x86-32 or x86-64“.
Windows RT however is a special version of Windows 8; it’s designed to run not on traditional PC x86 hardware, but on the completely different ARM architecture. ARM chips are widely used in embedded systems; in fact, the iPad runs on a kind of ARM chip. Nintendo DS gaming consoles are also based on ARM CPU’s. These are the chips that will power the next generation of tablets, and these will run Windows RT.

Now you might be asking yourself whether software is compatible between the two systems, and that’s where things start to get difficult. That’s where Metro comes into play.

Metro

Metro is the new graphical interface that defines the Windows 8 experience. All versions of Windows 8, and Windows RT, will have Metro at their core. Apps made specifically for Metro will be able to run on any Windows 8 or Windows RT device, regardless of the hardware or chipset being used. Microsoft can do this because they’ve created a new set of programming APIs – the so called Common Language Runtime (CLR), which gives programmers access to the same set of system functions regardless of the precise hardware details. You write a Metro app, and it can run on ARM or x86 hardware – simple as that.
However, this doesn’t apply to any of your existing software. In time, a lot of it will be made available as a “Metro version”, but the software you have right now – all of it – is made such that it will only run on x86 hardware – your traditional PC. This software will therefore not be able to run on Windows RT. It will be compatible with Windows 8, so you’ll be able to continue using it if you upgrade your PC. But if you purchase a tablet that has Windows RT – despite the Metro interface looking identical on both devices – your existing software will not run.
If that was confusing, let’s summarise - Windows RT will not run your existing software. Windows 8 will.

The “Desktop”

Both Windows 8 and Windows RT have a Desktop mode.
Many people who have installed the Windows 8 preview are under the impression that the Metro interface is just an added layer on top of the existing regular Windows ‘desktop’, but this isn’t true. It’s more accurate to think of Desktop mode as just another Metro app, which you can use to browse the filesystem. So there will be a Desktop on both Windows 8 or RT.
In Windows 8 however, the Desktop mode ‘app’ is also used to run your existing (legacy) software. It provides the same functionality your Windows 7 or XP desktop had.

In Windows RT, you can only use the desktop to browse your files.
There is one exception to this I believe. If a Metro app wants to run on the desktop, so long as it has been programmed for Metro, it can run on the desktop on any device.

What About Office? Internet Explorer?

What would Windows be without Office? Here’s the deal – your copy of Office that you have now won’t run on Windows RT, because its a traditional x86 bit of software and we just established that legacy software won’t run. However, Microsoft is making a special version of Office that will run on RT, and they have confirmed that it will be pre-installed on at least the Microsoft branded Surface for Windows RT tablet. This cannot be guaranteed for other Windows RT tablets or devices, but at least the Surface does include it.

Internet Explorer is a contentious issue here though. On Windows 8, you can run whichever browser you like, whether that’s a Metro-optimized Internet Explorer, existing Firefox in desktop mode, or even a new Metro version of Firefox. You can install any browser you like , just as you always have been able to. On Windows RT though, Internet Explorer is all you’re getting. You cannot install a replacement browser on Windows RT.
This may change in time though; remember that Apple did a similar thing with Safari on iOS, and that’s now been opened up. This move may even be forced quicker than we expect thanks to anti-trust lawsuits; but for now, that’s the way it is.

Secure Boot

Windows 8 machines now include the option of running in secure boot mode. This prevents malicious boot code from running before the core Windows system has kicked in, and it also prevents you from installing Linux. We talked about this a while ago, but it’s up to the PC manufacturer to determine if secure boot can be disabled by the user; though we expect most manufacturers to enable secure boot by default, yet still allow the user to disable it, similar to how you might adjust BIOS settings now.

However, Windows RT systems don’t have this option. Secure boot cannot be disabled, so you cannot install a non-authorised operating system. This is much the same as an iPad, where you can only run iOS. Having said that, I thoroughly expect this secure boot method to be hacked within a few days of the first Windows RT tablets being released, but no guarantees. Put simply then, Windows RT devices will only run Windows RT.
I hope this has given a better overview of the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8. It’s probably just easiest if you think of Windows RT devices as being locked down like an iPad, unable to run your existing software and stuck with Internet Explorer as a browser. Windows 8 though – whatever your feelings on the Metro interface – can at least run all your existing software and be customized however you want.
Knowing all this, would you even consider buying a Windows RT tablet device, or will you be waiting for “proper” Windows 8 tablets?

Windows 8 In Daily Use: What Is It Really Like?

You hate Windows 8, don’t you? You’ve never used it, you haven’t even seen it in action (other than via a few YouTube videos) but you hate it.
It’s pointless, it’s ugly, it’s unwieldy… you know all of these things, yet you haven’t used it. Perhaps, just perhaps, you’ve been misinformed…
I’ve been running Windows 8 for several months now in its various pre-release versions and I can tell you right here, right now, that it really isn’t all that bad. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that once you start using it, it’s almost indistinguishable from Windows 7. Almost.
So, what on earth am I talking about?

Booting Windows 8

Whether your computer is equipped with an SSD or a traditional mechanical hard drive, Windows 8 boots remarkably quickly. This means that you’re not hanging around waiting for POST screens and watching the progress bar – within a minute (often within 30 seconds) you should see the login screen.

From here, you can choose to login to a local account or use a Windows Live/Hotmail account. The benefit of the latter is that various settings are stored in the cloud, meaning that when you login to another Windows 8 device, the same settings are available. This sort of “roaming profile” functionality has been available in corporate Windows networks for some years, and it is useful to have it available in Windows 8.
Using this Windows sign-in, your SkyDrive will automatically be setup, for instance, enabling synchronization of documents and photos with the Microsoft cloud. These items will never be lost, so it’s a good thing to have.

Mouse, Keyboard or Fingers?

There are two divisive aspects to Windows 8. The first is the Start screen (see below); the second is its suitability for desktop computers.

As a lot of computers – both corporate and domestic – are desktops, this results in a problem. Laptop computers have a touchpad that can be used to interact with the new Windows, whereas desktops don’t.
Accessing the Start screen and the various live tiles that it offers is a chore, sadly, whether you use a keyboard or a mouse. Using the arrows or the mouse to scroll from one side to another is tedious and lacks the immediacy experienced in Windows 7. Fortunately, this problem doesn’t extend to the Desktop.
Various apps will ship with Windows 8 that require finger and thumb interaction to get the best out of them. This is the area I feel that Microsoft has truly shot itself in the foot – you can say what you like about the Start screen, but when it comes to restricted interaction options for desktop computer users, the real weakness of Windows 8 is apparent.

Dealing with the Start Screen

Whether you’re impressed with the “Metro” user interface (now renamed to “Windows 8”) as a whole and dismayed by this particular iteration (after all, no one complains about the Xbox 360 user interface, do they?) or you can’t see what all of the fuss is about, the Start screen is going to be a major aspect of Windows 8.
Looking at it isn’t all that bad, and it really is a system optimized for a subset of software that isn’t available yet. With so much information displayed on it, the Start screen might be a contentious presence in the OS but it might just prove to be pretty unmissable for a lot of users. I’ve certainly gained plenty of information from it, and like the way it gives the same information I get from my Windows Phone. It might not be for everyone, but it is certainly functional.

For many vocal parties, of course, the Start screen is an unnecessary aspect to the operating system. There are plenty of ways to access many of its features without using it, and it is no good for launching legacy software applications. While the Start screen cannot be removed, there is a useful hack that can be employed. Simply long-click and drag the Desktop tile on the Start screen up to the top-left position. Now, when Windows 8 is launched, all you need to do is tap Enter to view the Desktop. This saves a lot of hassle and lets you get on with traditional Windows computing!

Accessing Email

Using the native email application would be a mistake. While attractive, it is a full-screen application launched from the Start screen that cannot be “windowed” or made smaller. It is also more optimized for fingers than it is for a mouse, and crashes back to the Start screen whenever it encounters an email that won’t download.
The best advice as far as email goes is to use a web-based email interface or to download and install a free alternative that you can access easily from the desktop.

Browsing the Web

When I first saw the Windows 8 version of Internet Explorer, I was impressed by the way in which it replicated the Windows Phone 7.5 browser, with the address bar at the foot of the screen. This is the area that our eyes tend to ignore, so it struck me as a great development.

Sadly, Internet Explorer 10 is pretty unwieldy in full screen “Metro” mode without the use of fingers, but fortunately there is an alternative version accessible on the Desktop that gives more traditional browsing to those of us without touchscreen devices on which to run Windows 8.

Installing New Apps on Windows 8

There are two ways in which  you can install new applications and utilities on Windows 8. The one Microsoft want you to use for software downloaded from the web is the Store. This is a sort of desktop version of the Windows Phone Marketplace, and as well as providing “safe” applications that have been tested for vulnerabilities, it also enables you to easily update your apps. Some apps are free, while purchases are made via a credit/debit card associated with your Windows Live account.

Unfortunately for any Metro-phobes, the software available through the Store is tile-based and full-screen. While the live tiles that come with some (such as news, weather or social networking apps) is something that will prove useful upon booting or quickly switching back to the Start screen, the inflexibility of not having windowed apps in an operating system called Windows is like to be an oft-observed irony.
However you shouldn’t be put off by this. Via the Desktop you can still install apps and games in the traditional manner from a downloaded installer or disc media.

Traditional Windows Use

Using Windows 8 in desktop mode is probably the best experience available in the new OS. While there are a small amount of driver issues and problems with a few legacy applications that will no doubt be ironed out when the operating system is fully released, this is where the main productivity will occur.
Other than the old Start menu, all of the old shortcuts and tricks work here; you can press WINDOWS+R to open the Run box, for instance, while the Windows 7-style Control Panel and Windows Explorer are all waiting for you to access them. Indeed, other than the wholesale adoption of the “ribbon” menu system, the Desktop mode is indistinguishable from those that have come before.

Can Windows 8 Work for You?

While the tile-based Start screen might be more suitable for the tablet-based releases of Windows 8, this at-first-glance-unwieldy release can be made to work for you.
You’ve just got to ignore the tiles!
There is no denying that Microsoft have a job on their hands selling Windows 8 as an alternative not only to its successful Windows 7 but to Apple’s operating systems and the various open source alternatives.
Fortunately, the desktop mode remains pretty robust, and as it is easily accessed there is no reason to ignore it. Email, Internet, office tasks and games can all be achieved on Windows 8, so if you do find yourself the owner of a new computer powered by Microsoft’s latest OS, don’t automatically head for the nearest Windows 7/Linux installer disc – instead, hit that Desktop tile and ignore the chassis, instead getting to grips with the engine room!

Five Surprising Facts About Windows 8

Windows 8 is full of surprising changes – whatever you think about Windows 8, Microsoft certainly isn’t being timid this time around. The new “Windows 8-style UI” interface formerly known as Metro and the de-emphasis on the traditional Windows desktop aren’t the only things to be surprised about in Windows 8.
From integrated antivirus protection and less-disruptive updating to the removal of the Windows Aero 3D interface and the lack of DVD or Blu-Ray playback support in Windows 8, Windows 8 is sure to be full of surprises for the average Windows user. Here are some of the biggest ones you may not have already heard of.

SmartScreen Anti-Malware Filter

If you’re an Internet Explorer user, you’re already familiar with Windows SmartScreen – it filters the applications you download for your security. For example, if you download a popular application such as iTunes, Windows will allow the download to proceed. If you download a less-popular application that SmartScreen doesn’t know about, you’ll get an unknown application warning – the application could be malicious; SmartScreen just doesn’t know. Finally, if you download a known virus or other piece of malware, SmartScreen will alert you that the application is definitely malicious and block the download.
With Windows 8, SmartScreen is now integrated into the Windows operating system itself – it doesn’t matter if you use Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or another browser; applications you download will be screened by SmartScreen when you try to run them. This feature is optional, although it’s enabled by default.
 

A Less-Disruptive Windows Update

Windows Update is the bane of every Windows user trying to get work done. While it’s important to install updates, Windows Update can be a hassle – frequently asking you to restart your computer and forcing you to click a “Go Away” button every four hours until you finally do.
With Windows 8, Microsoft has made Windows Update behave more sanely. Windows Update will only try to restart your computer once per month, after Microsoft’s “patch Tuesday,” when security updates are released. Windows will also give you three days to restart your computer, with a warning on the login screen instead of one that hassles you while you’re working on your computer.

Built-In Antivirus

Windows 8 finally includes an integrated antivirus. The antivirus is named Windows Defender, although anyone who has used the free Microsoft Security Essentials will recognize the interface immediately. Windows 8 includes Microsoft Security Essentials by default; it’s just been renamed to Windows Defender.

Windows Defender will get out of the way if you install a third-party antivirus, so you’ll still be able to install other antivirus programs. Other antivirus programs, such as Norton and McAfee, will market themselves as having “more features,” but Windows Defender has all the features the average user needs in an antivirus.
Microsoft has taken a while to get here – while they currently offer Microsoft Security Essentials for free, MSE was originally based on Windows Live OneCare, which Microsoft sold to Windows users. It’s good to see Microsoft beefing up Windows’ security.

No Integrated DVD or Blu-Ray Playback

Windows 8 won’t include DVD or Blu-Ray playback support. Many new computers – ultrabooks especially – don’t ship with DVD drives. Microsoft pays a fee to license DVD playback on each computer that ships with it — there’s no point in Microsoft purcahsing DVD support for computers that can never watch DVDs. Microsoft is also betting big on tablets with Windows 8, and tablets don’t have disc drives.
Don’t worry, though – you can still watch DVDs and Blu-Ray discs on Windows 8. Windows 8 computers you buy with disc drives will include licensed DVD and Blu-Ray playback applications that will be able to play the discs. You can also download the popular and free VLC player to play DVDs and Blu-Rays without paying another cent.
You can also buy or upgrade to Windows 8 Professional, which allows you to install the Windows Media Center add-in, which comes with DVD playback.

Windows Aero & Flip 3D Are Gone

Aero Glass, first introduced with Windows Vista, was once the future. Microsoft advertised Windows Vista as a shinier, more futuristic and advanced version of Windows, and the glass and transparency effects were a big part of the “premium visual experience” that Microsoft was selling.
As we mentioned in our list of things that Microsoft removed from Windows 8, Aero Glass is gone. The new desktop theme is a flat, single-color look that fits with the flat look used in the Windows 8 interface formerly known as Metro. (However, you can customize the color used, just as you can customize the color used in the interface formerly known as Metro.)

Microsoft argues that the new interface is simpler and cleaner. It’s also likely that Aero was removed to improve battery life on ultrabooks on tablets.
Also gone is Flip 3D, the window switcher you can access by pressing the Windows key and Tab at the same time on Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Flip 3D was never particularly comfortable to use – it was always a glorified tech demo that existed to show off 3D effects and impress Windows customers.

What do you think about the changes in Windows 8? Leave a comment and share your opinion!

The Top 5 Cool Hidden Features In Windows 8

It’s very square, Windows 8, don’t you think? Those tiles have such defined lines – edges you could almost cut yourself on – and impressions of the whole user experience seem to change from person to person. Depending on your needs and requirements, Windows 8 is either a white elephant or a superb piece of finger-focused modern UI design. However, it remains as tweakable as previous versions of Windows, just in other ways.
For instance, although the redesigned desktop looks a lot different to those that have gone before, it hasn’t complete dispensed with Aero. Similarly, using Metro reveals all manner of tweaks and secrets that you can apply to your new operating system. Best of all, Windows 8 offers a revised screenshot tool, something that has been crying out for updating since….well, certainly since Windows XP and probably before!
Note that there are some tweaks below that require you to make changes to the Windows 8 registry, using Registry Editor. You’re advised to back up your registry before making changes.

Missing Aero? Try Aero Lite!

The updated desktop style seen in Windows 8 has a very different look than that seen in Windows 7. It is designed to be used with hardware that meets a particular system specification – but what if your computer doesn’t perform too well?

In Windows 7, Aero could be disabled to get around this (to a small extent); in Windows 8, you can switch to the hidden Aero Lite theme, which you will not find in Control Panel > Change the Theme.

To activate, press Win + R and enter Resources. Open Themes > Aero and copy aerolite.msstyles to the parent folder, Themes, agreeing to the instruction to make the change as an administrator. With this done, you will need to create a configuration file.

Begin by copying aero.theme and pasting it to the desktop. Using Open with… to view the file in Notepad, go to File > Save as… and save the document as aerolite.theme. You can then make the following changes:
Change line 5 to DisplayName= Aero Lite
Find the [VisualStyles] section (either by scrolling or using CTRL+F) and change the path entry to Path=%ResourceDir%\Themes\Aero\Aerolite.msstyles
Save the file again and open Control Panel > Change the Theme or right-click the Desktop and select Personalization – the new Aero Lite option will be available! Although the visuals aren’t all that different, the Aero Lite option changes some buttons and other aspects of the OS, enabling you to sport an individual Windows 8 theme.

Revive the Start Screen Animation

When you first log into Windows 8, you will notice an impressive Start screen animation. Sadly, after the first run, Windows forgets about letting you see this again. This is a shame, because on Windows Phone devices, each press of the Start button instigates a similarly impressive display of tile animation. One of the key points about Metro (as Microsoft previously called the tile-based user interface) is that it should feel “alive”, but this doesn’t translate as well to Windows 8 after the first run.
Fortunately, we can reinstate this, enabling fans of Windows 8 to show off this but of graphical eye candy to friends and interested admirers. Begin by pressing Win + R and enter regedit to launch the Windows 8 Registry Editor. Agree to any User Account Notifications that might be displayed.

Expand the tree to find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Grid, and with the entry opened, right-click in the right-hand pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, which you should name Launcher_SessionLoginAnimation_OnShow. Open this, and change the value to 1, then click OK and close Registry Editor. When you hit the Start button, the tiles will be animated.
Note that you can achieve custom Start screen animations in Windows 8 with the Start Screen Animations Tweaker.

Adjust The Number Of Rows In The Start Screen

By default Windows 8’s Start Screen displays tiles as a grid, four rows deep. However, it doesn’t have to be this way…

From anywhere in Windows 8, press Win + R and enter regedit – this will launch the Windows 8 Registry Editor. Expand the tree to reach the following key:    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Grid and look for the entry Layout_MaximumRowCount. If it’s not there (it probably won’t be) create it by right-clicking in the right-hand pane and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Once created, double click the entry, set the Base to Decimal and alter the value – you can have as many as five rows. After making the change, click OK, close the registry editor and logout of Windows 8. When you log back in, the Start screen layout will have been altered, with the new rows added!
If you don’t like the new look, simply delete the DWORD.

Which Apps Can You Search In?

Searching in Windows 8 is initially tricky, but once you get the hang of the interface this is one of those aspects of the OS that comes naturally.

When you open the Search screen, the right-hand side of the screen displays all of the applications and areas that will be queried. After running a search, the results can be filtered by selecting from these apps.
You can customize the selection of apps in this list by opening Charms (Win + C) and opening Settings > Change PC Settings > Search and clicking the switches against the displayed options. This can prove to speed up search in some cases, or at least make it more efficient, by removing potentially irrelevant search sources such as Finance or Sport, or apps that you rarely use.

Take Instant Screenshots

Since forever, the ability to take screenshots in Windows has been largely usurped by third party tools. Sure, Microsoft Word has a useful screenshot tool, and Microsoft’s Snipping Tool (introduced in Windows Vista) sort of manages to redress the balance, but neither of these are universally great for screen grabs.
Instead, users rely on anything from Steam to SnagIt (depending upon their requirements) to get a screen capture, safe in the knowledge that it will be automatically saved or cached.
This isn’t the case with the old Print Screen > Paste into Paint procedure that has been around since Windows 3, but it is something that has been revised for Windows 8. Taking a screen grab is now fiendishly effortless – just by using a keyboard combination (Win + Print Screen or Win + Volume Down on tablets) Windows 8 takes a screenshot of the current screen and even saves it as a PNG file in the Pictures library!

Have You Found More Windows 8 Secrets?

So there we have it – five excellent hidden features in Windows 8 that contribute to an increase in productivity, enable you to tweak existing defaults and get more eye candy bang for your buck.
There are, of course, many other secrets in Windows 8. Task scheduler has been updated, as has Windows Explorer. Could this new Microsoft OS holds all manner of so-far unrevealed tweaks and tools, or have we covered them all here?
Let us know what you think – especially if you have some useful hidden Windows 8 tweaks and Easter eggs!