On 1st June 2011, at the D9 conference in Redmond, Washington; Microsoft demonstrated the next generation of Windows for the first time, internally code-named Windows 8. And on 29th February 2012, Microsoft released the consumer edition of Windows 8. In the first day of its release, the Consumer Preview was allegedly downloaded more than one million times.
Here is a video of the process that the developers went through while building Windows 8.
It features a new Metro-style interface that is designed for touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, and pen input. And for the first time since Windows 95, the Windows start button is no longer available - having been replaced by a sliding panel-based menu. The tile-based Start screen is similar to the Windows Phone operating system. Each tile on the screen represents one application and displays relevant information. For instance, an email app will display the number of unread messages and a weather app will display the temperature and humidity ratio etc. The scalable, full screen views of the apps is customisable.
Although the new interface is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse and a keyboard. In trying to add new features, Microsoft has not compromised on the existing features. It also works on a wide range of screen sizes and pixel densities, from small slates to laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, and even classroom sized displays.
The apps use the power of HTML5 and standard JavaScript to tap into the capabilities of Windows. The apps can use a broad new set of libraries and controls designed for fluid interaction and connectivity. They can add new capabilities to Windows and to other apps, connecting to one another through the new interface.
There are quite a few limitations that seem to curb the usability:
There's a lot more to come before the Beta version is released in probably another half a years time!
References:
1. Previewing 'Windows 8' by Julie Larson-Green
2. That Windows 8 Experience? Confusing. Confusing as hell - The Guardian
3. Windows 8 on a laptop In-depth preview by Dana Wollman
Here is a video of the process that the developers went through while building Windows 8.
It features a new Metro-style interface that is designed for touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, and pen input. And for the first time since Windows 95, the Windows start button is no longer available - having been replaced by a sliding panel-based menu. The tile-based Start screen is similar to the Windows Phone operating system. Each tile on the screen represents one application and displays relevant information. For instance, an email app will display the number of unread messages and a weather app will display the temperature and humidity ratio etc. The scalable, full screen views of the apps is customisable.
Utmost care has been taken to ensure that the OS is now more flexible and customizable. This ensure a more personal approach for the user.
- The inviting lock screen which can be personalized to heart's content
- The log-in page has gotten a face lift
- Simplified Control Panel, Task Manager, Windows Explorer and the onscreen Volume Bar
- As the user begins to configure his Twitter, RSS feeds, Facebook, preferred weather location and other such things, the home screen grows more and more personal.
Due to the touchscreen capability introduced, the following features that are supported become more meaningful:
- Fluid and natural switching between running apps
- Ability to snap and re-size an app to fit the size of the screen. This facilitates multitasking using the capabilities of Windows.
- Picture password, which allows users to log in by drawing three gestures in different places on a picture. This is in addition to a PIN login system that authenticates users using a four digit PIN
The default font size for the widgets such as the control panel has been increased as compared to the previous versions of Windows. Quite evidently, this is again to support the touchscreen functionality.
The Task manager now looks a lot more personalized and easier to understand as compared to the one that we currently see in the other Windows versions.
Although the new interface is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse and a keyboard. In trying to add new features, Microsoft has not compromised on the existing features. It also works on a wide range of screen sizes and pixel densities, from small slates to laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, and even classroom sized displays.
The apps use the power of HTML5 and standard JavaScript to tap into the capabilities of Windows. The apps can use a broad new set of libraries and controls designed for fluid interaction and connectivity. They can add new capabilities to Windows and to other apps, connecting to one another through the new interface.
There are quite a few limitations that seem to curb the usability:
- The totally new revamp of the layout has left many users confused. It's not obvious enough how to shut down the PC or put it to sleep. The Escape key can no longer be used to exit programs. Instead it now serves the function of leaving the Start screen and returning to app that you were last using. To leave an app, you have to press the Start button - similar to tapping the home button on a mobile phone.
- Necessity to use a lot of short cuts in-spite of them being limited and inconsistent. For example, the Start-Tab can be pressed to toggle between open apps, but only two
There's a lot more to come before the Beta version is released in probably another half a years time!
References:
1. Previewing 'Windows 8' by Julie Larson-Green
2. That Windows 8 Experience? Confusing. Confusing as hell - The Guardian
3. Windows 8 on a laptop In-depth preview by Dana Wollman
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