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Windows 8

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 112.205.33.11 (talk) at 22:44, 23 August 2011 (→History and development: Build 8064 is a developer build.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Windows 8
File:Windows 8 pre-release at D9 conference.png
Screenshot of the Windows 8 Start screen, as shown at the D9 Conference in 2011, making use of Microsoft's Metro design language
DeveloperMicrosoft Corporation
OS familyMicrosoft Windows
PlatformsIA-32, x86-64, and ARM
Preceded byWindows 7
Official websiteblogs.msdn.com/b/b8/
Support status
Under development

Windows 8 is the next version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, servers, and media center PCs.[1]

History and development

At the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft announced that it would be including support for system-on-a-chip (SoC) and mobile ARM processors in Windows 8.[2][3][4]

A 32-bit Milestone 1 build, build 7850, with a build date of September 22, 2010, was leaked to BetaArchive, an online beta community, which was soon leaked to P2P/torrent sharing networks on April 12, 2011.[5] Milestone 1 includes a ribbon interface for Windows Explorer,[6] a PDF reader called Modern Reader, an updated task manager called Modern Task Manager,[7] and native ISO image mounting.[8]

A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7955, was leaked to BetaArchive on April 25, 2011.[9] Features of this build were a new pattern login and more.[10]

A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build 7959, was leaked to BetaArchive on May 1, 2011.[11] This build is notable for being the first publicly leaked Windows Server 8 build, as well as the first leaked 64-bit build.[12]

A Milestone 3 build, build 7971, was released to close partners of Microsoft on March 29, 2011[13] but was kept under heavy security. However, a few screenshots were leaked. The "Windows 7 Basic" theme now uses similar metrics to the Aero style, but maintains its non-hardware accelerated design, and also supports taskbar thumbnails. The boxes that encase the "close, maximize, and minimize" buttons have been removed, leaving just the signs.[14]

A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build 7989, leaked to BetaArchive on June 18, 2011 after screenshots were revealed the previous day. An SMS feature, a new virtual keyboard, a new bootscreen, transparency in the basic theme, geo-location services, Hyper-V 3.0, and Powershell 3.0 were revealed in this build.[15]

Screenshots of a Windows 8 Developer Preview build (Build 8064) were leaked on August 16, 2011.[16]

Other new features found in leaked builds include a new Welcome screen,[17] a new packaged application model called AppX that is based on Silverlight,[18] and a setting to automatically adjust window color to fit the wallpaper.[19] There is also a stripped down "Immersive" version of Internet Explorer, similar to the mobile version of Internet Explorer, but using the desktop Trident rendering engine[20] and a new "Hybrid Boot" option that uses "advanced hibernation functionality" on shutdown to allow faster startup times.[21] Another is the ability to create a Portable Workspace, an installation of Windows 8 on a USB storage device.[22]

At the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo on May 23, 2011, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that the next version of Windows will be released the following year (in 2012).[23]

"And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming. As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."[23]

However, the company quickly corrected Ballmer's words in a company statement issued that afternoon.

"It appears there was a misstatement. We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year. To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows."[24]

On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 and some of its new features at the Taipei Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) and at the D9 conference in California (United States).[25][26] The main feature that was shown was the new user interface.

On August 16, 2011, Microsoft opened a new blog called 'Building Windows 8' for users and developers.[27]

Microsoft will cover more of the new features and improvements in Windows 8 at the BUILD developer conference, scheduled for September 13-16, 2011.[28]

Features

The main feature that was shown is the extensively redesigned user interface, optimized for touch as well as use with mice and keyboards. A new "Start screen", similar to the one in Windows Phone 7, includes live application tiles. It 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.

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."[29] 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.

The new interface is primarily designed for 16:9 screen resolutions, with 1366×768 and larger screens able to display two Windows 8 applications. 1024×768 screens can display one Windows 8 application in full-screen, and 1024×600 screens can only use the traditional Windows desktop.[30][31]

Mike Angiulo confirmed at Computex 2011 that Windows 8 will use OEM Activation 3.0 instead of Windows 7 OEM Activation 2.1, which will make it less prone to cracks.

Hardware requirements

Microsoft has confirmed that the system requirements for Windows 8 will be the same as or lower than those of Windows 7.[25][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sinofsky shows off Windows 8 at D9". CNET. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  2. ^ "Microsoft Announces Support of System on a Chip Architectures From Intel, AMD, and ARM for Next Version of Windows". Microsoft. January 5, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Rosoff, Matt (January 5, 2011). "OK, So Windows Is Coming To ARM Tablets...Someday (MSFT)". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  4. ^ Mittal, Ankur. "Whats next.. Windows Next or Windows 8 ??".
  5. ^ "Leak: Windows 8 M1 Build 7850 Screenshots".
  6. ^ Thurrott, Paul (April 4, 2011). "Windows 8 Secrets: Windows Explorer Ribbon". SuperSite for Windows. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "Registry Hack Enables Windows 8 M1 Webcam, Modern Reader, Ribbon & Task UI".
  8. ^ "Leaked Windows 8 M1 Build 7850 Screenshots".
  9. ^ "Windows 8 Build 7955 x86 leak".
  10. ^ "Windows 8 - UltraWindows.nl". 15 juni 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Windows Server 8 Build 7959 x64 leak".
  12. ^ http://wordswithmeaning.org/2011/07/windows-8-first-impressions.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ "Microsoft begins shipping Windows 8 Build 7971 via Connect". Windows 8 Center. March 29, 2011. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  14. ^ "Windows 8 Aero Light UI Revealed". Windows 8 News. March 16, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  15. ^ http://www.itproportal.com/2011/06/21/windows-8-build-7989-leaked-features-many-new-enhancements/
  16. ^ http://windows8beta.com/2011/08/windows-8-build-8064-screenshots-leaked
  17. ^ Thurrott, Paul. "Windows 8 Secrets: Welcome Screen". SuperSite for Windows. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  18. ^ Thurrott, Paul (April 5, 2011). "Windows 8 Secrets: Modern Reader". SuperSite for Windows. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  19. ^ Thurrott, Paul (April 06, 2011). "Windows 8 Secrets: Aero Auto-Colorization". SuperSite for Windows. Retrieved April 10, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Thurrott, Paul (April 5, 2011). "Windows 8 Secrets: Internet Explorer Immersive". SuperSite for Windows. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  21. ^ "Windows 8 "Hybrid Boot" discovered".
  22. ^ "Windows 8 Portable Workspace, push notifications & other apps discovered".
  23. ^ a b Ballmer, Steve. "Steve Ballmer: Microsoft Developer Forum". Microsoft News Center. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  24. ^ Keizer, Gregg. "Microsoft backpedals from Ballmer's Windows 8 comments". Computerworld Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  25. ^ a b "Microsoft Computex D9 Conference on Engadget.com".
  26. ^ "Previewing 'Windows 8' at Microsoft Website".
  27. ^ http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/08/15/welcome-to-building-windows-8.aspx
  28. ^ "Windows BUILD by Microsoft".
  29. ^ Peter Bright (June 13, 2011). "Why Microsoft has made developers horrified about coding for Windows 8". Arstechnica. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  30. ^ http://www.infopackets.com/news/business/microsoft/2011/20110603_microsoft_demos_windows_8_at_first_public_event.htm
  31. ^ Mittal, Ankur. "Microsoft demoes Windows 8 at Computex".
  32. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I

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