Windows 8 and the Developer Preview

Windows 8, the name of the successor to Windows 7, has appeared in the Developer Preview. Microsoft emphasized at the BUILD conference that Windows 8 is primarily designed for operation via touchscreen. However, the mouse and keyboard are fully functional.

The first phase (Developer Preview) of Windows 8 is still quite unfinished, but gives a good impression of where Microsoft is headed. The focus of the Developer Preview is on giving the developers the necessary APIs and tools for developing apps for the new Metro UI. Therefore, many functions are still missing in this version, which should be available later, however, for the second phase (general beta).

Requirements for Windows 8

Windows 8 requires the following hardware specification for installation:

CPU: > = 1GHz (32- or 64-bit)
RAM: 1GB (2GB for 64-bit)
HDD: > = 16GB (> = 20GB for 64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics with WDDM 1.0 or higher

 

 

First start

After the installation, after a short time (Windows 8 boots in record time) the new Metro- Windows 8 interface. This is called up by default in Windows 8, so the classic desktop interface is no longer required. Here the so-called Tiles (Tiles), known from Windows Phone 7, selected and applications started directly.

Customize Metro

Tiles have the option of forwarding or receiving content to applications. Texts from the browser can be marked and shared with friends or acquaintances via any social media application.

Tiles can be marked with a click of the right mouse button and either enlarged, reduced, removed or detached. However, if you keep the left mouse button pressed on a tile, you can move it to any point on the Metro surface.

 

 

 

 

The new start menu

If you click on the start button in Metro, which is displayed by moving the mouse to the very bottom left, a minimalist start menu awaits you.

So becomes over Search the program, settings and file search started. A program can also be selected here by clicking the right mouse button and, if desired, pinned to the Metro UI.

The measured values can be transferred to a PC via the Settings the PC can, for example, be shut down, of course only if the standby mode is not to be used.
The Home-Button opens the familiar desktop.

The (old) desktop

The classic desktop is called up on the Metro surface via its own tile and looks almost exactly like it is known from Windows 7.

With one small exception, the familiar start button  was adapted according to the new design line. If you click on it now, you go back to the Metro interface.

Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer 10 can be started via the start bar. Of course, shortcuts can also be created on the desktop.

Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer also has a new look and, in addition to the ribbon bar, brings with it other changes such as a share function, which enables you to easily share your own data with other people on the PC. The share function is nothing else than the familiar simple file sharing from previous Windows versions, but it is well implemented.

Conclusion

Windows 8 looks very tidy, you have to get used to the new user interface of Windows 8 and there are still some things in the Developer Preview, which will certainly change. There are promising approaches to Windows 8 and Microsoft seems to be well on the way to realigning itself.

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This tip comes from www.win-tipps-tweaks.de
© Copyright Michael Hille

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