Windows 8 - The Next Generation Operating System

The Silicon Valley Giant Microsoft revealed plans to uneviedl a test version of Windows computer operating software later this month.

They have also sent out invitation's to experience Windows Consumer Previem in Barcelona on FEB 29 during a Mobile World Congress gathering in that city.The introduction of a test, or beta, version of Windows 8 to the public is expected to be accompanied by the opening of an " app store" known as Windows Store stocked with mini-programs tailored for the next-generation operating system. 

HardWare Requirement's

One good thing for Windows 8 Preview Developer installation is that you dont have to make system Upgrades for Installatin but the Final Release might force you to minor Upgrade's

Architecture :- ARM Processor (IA 32 BIT)

Speed Required :- 1GHZ

Memory (RAM) : - 1GB 

Graphic Card : - Direct x 9 Graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or Higher driver

HDD SPACE : - 16 GB (Free).

Architecture :-  X86 or X64 Processor

Speed Required :- 1GHZ

Memory (RAM) : - 2GB 

Graphic Card : - Direct x 9 Graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or Higher driver

HDD SPACE : - 20 GB (Free).

Note : - A multi-touch screen is recommended for Touch input cos some Metro App's does not support single touch input and for Metro App screen resolution should be 1024*768 or higher

Key Features of Windows 8

1. Code Name for Consumer and Business PC :- Windows 8 following Windows 7.
2. Code Name for Server Version :- Windows Server 8.
3. Support for ARM Processor's in addition to X86 and X64 Intel and AMD Processor's
4. Metro Style Interface has been added to support touch Input in addition to Mouse,Keyboard,Pen devices.
5. Start Menu Replaced by Start Screen which will have tile view that basically are the short cut for Application's.
6. The Tile Feature is a Reimplementation of Program Concept Manager.
7. USB 3.0 Native Support without the need of Loading Drivers.
8. Windows 8 will have Windows Store where consumer can buy and advertise an APP.
9. Windows Explorer will now use a Ribbon Interface as MS Office Application's
10. Windows to Go Feature Added,this allows to execute Windows 8 OS from a USB Drive,but this is not applicable in Windows 8 Preview.
11. Mutliple Support of Monitors Added.
12. The Developer Preview comes with 2 new Recovery Functions Refresh and Reset.
13. User Account Change :- Accounts are not subjected to Local PC'S or ADD i.e. Active Directory Domain i.e. the account can be linked to one Windows Live ID.This will give one advantage to the user's that is they will not loose their setting on the go.
14. Windows 8 will come with New Welcome Screen based on a New Application Model called APPX based on MS Silverlight.
15. A new Hybrid Boot option that will allow user's to use Advanced Hibernation mode on shutdown to allow faster boot time.
16. A new look and feel of WTM i.e. Windows Task Manager has been seen in Windows 8.
17. Secure Boot : - This was one of the thing's in Windows 8 that lead to controversy.Its a UEFI based Feature that will prevent unauthorised Firmware,OS or UEFI Drivers from running at Boot time.This will force Microsoft to have new PC's to have UEFI Secure Boot feature enabled by default to be given a Windows 8 Certification.
18. MS will require Manufactures like HP,Dell etc to turn on the secure boot on X86 HW but not on ARM H/W
19. Release Date :- Not announced.

Statement of Authority

New Windows 8 Features were uneviled by Microsoft on September 13,2011 and also released a Preview developer of Windows 8 for developer's to start working on it.The Developer preview includes MS Windows SDK.According to Microsoft there were 500,000 download's within the 1st 12 hour of release.Microsoft also said that Windows 8 will be developed on the same road map as of Windows 7.In December 2011 at San Fransico in an Event Microsoft also uneviled the Windows Store that will be used to sell Metro Style APP'S.Microsoft said that the Public Beta will be released in this Month along with Windows Store beta.As of Feb 9,2012 it has been confirmed that the Build name will be 8227 and the consumer preview will be released at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on FEB 29,2012.

Unique Authentication

A New authentication Method will allow user's to sketch in 3 different Places instead of Typing the Password.

Refresh and Reset 

Refresh :- Refresh acts like MS System Restore but there's a Slight change it will take back the Windows Settings back to DAY 1 without deleting any User Files and Data but it will remove all the Installed Application's.Still a Good way to get through Malware's and Spyware's without deleting your personal Data.

Reset :- Reset acts like fresh Installation of Windows this will delete everything from the User PC'S and a good change that it will not ask interaction from user's such as Accepting the License Agreement or even selecting the HDD Partition.After the Reset completes the user will be asked to enter the Traditional 25 digit Product Key and regarding for OEM Version it's yet not clear and then after entering the Product key the user will proceed to Account Creation.

Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on September 13, 2011, day one of the BUILD developer conferenceMicrosoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on September 13, 2011, day one of the BUILD developer conference.

Compatability

Windows 8 for X86 Processor's will run most S/W compatible with X86 version of Previous version of Windows,with ususl restrictions,64 bit will also run 32 bit S/W but not 16 bit and vice versa.

One More good thing either 32 bit Windows or 64 bit Windows can be installed on X86-X64 Processor.

App's that were compatible to Windows 7 64 or Windows 32 bit they will run fine on Windows 8.

There's one limitation for Windows 8 for ARM Processor i.e. S/W created for X86 Processor will not work for Windows 8 developed for ARM processor the Developer's would have to start the Code from Scratch again.

Application Developement for Windows 8

 If you are intrested in APP developement then you can use Visual Basic,C++,C# and even third party compilers which allow application development e.g. Free Pascal.........

Conclusion

All in all i am waiting for the Final Release lets hope this will change the Microsoft's ERA with the Introduction of ARM processor's and boot time reduced to 14 sec as said so,and if this happen's then MS Windows Vista Failure will be forgotten by consumer's as APPLE is too Costly and Less APP's to play with.........

Still Microsoft are gambling beacuse this one fails then its a road down to barrell for Microsoft.................

Hope this does not happen.

Regard's

Raj.Trivedi

http://kcwithfun.blogspot.com

Windows 8 Metro UI - Start Screen(Replacement of Start Menu)