Modern' Task Manager
A new task
manager emerged in one of the latest builds, redesigning how programs and
system-critical applications are displayed. The entire feel of the application
has changed entirely. However, it is more in-tune with the look and feel of
Windows 8, though devoid of a Ribbon bar -- for now, at least. It also includes
a more 'advanced' task manager for those who still require seeing extensive
statistics of their hardware.
Portable Workspaces
One of the
most highly anticipated features, discovered in an early build of Windows 8 --
the portable workspace, allowing you to effectively put Windows on a USB stick.
On the other hand, it looks more likely to become an enterprise only feature,
and further limited to those with a USB stick or external hard drive that is at
least 16GB in size. However, already this could give an early indication of the
final hard drive memory footprint of the upcoming operating system.
Aero auto-colourisation
A new
feature that reacts to the most prominent colour of the Windows wallpaper. This
already exists under Windows 7, where the icons in the taskbar 'reflect' the
brightest or most dominant colour in the icon. However, this will be ported to
reflect the entire desktop, including Start menu and taskbar, depending on the
colour of the wallpaper.
Hybrid Booting
Seen in the
latest builds, Hybrid Boot is a cross between hibernation and sleep mode, and
more of an evolution of the existing hibernation function. Core operating
system files are 'put to sleep' which enables the startup time to be
significantly reduced.
Simple system 'reset'
Found in an
early build of Windows 8, the functionality exists to allow a user or system
administrator to 'reset' the operating system back to the default settings. As
so many applications and settings are expected to be cloud based, this would in
theory allow you to get back up and running in minutes as opposed to hours.
From the screenshots, it appears to be a quick and simple process, with user
accounts and personal files kept in backup space, before your default Windows
settings are restored.
Ribbons in Windows Explorer
The Ribbon
bar features heavily in the Office 2007 and Office 2010 suite of applications,
and since ported to Windows 7 in basic applications, from Wordpad to Paint.
This was to open up the functionality to touch users, but will be capitalised
upon further in Windows 8, as seen in recent builds leaked to the web. Seen
already in Windows Explorer, it will be key to replacing the 'old' interface
that Windows has had up until now.
ARM processor 'tablet support'
Windows 8
will have ARM support, a low-power processor which allows devices to run longer
on batteries. As seen during an Internet Explorer 10 preview, one of the
devices was running an ARM processor, and it is expected to launch with full
ARM support making tablets a more likely option.
Genuine center
This new
center will control and organize your Windows licenses. Seen in the most recent
builds of Windows 8, the Genuine Center will allow you to manage the license of
Windows on your computer, and perhaps even control other Microsoft products,
like Office too. If you have a computer not activated or without a product key,
you will not only be able to buy one straight from your desktop, but also
purchase a key for another machine, too.
Push notifications
Part of
Microsoft's tablet and mobile device strategy, it appears push notifications
will allow content to be displayed on screen similar to that of Windows Phone
7. Little is known about this functionality as of yet, however.
Improved disk cleanup
In Windows
8, there will be an overhaul of the disk cleanup facility, designed to clear
the junk out of your operating system, like temporary files and the Recycle
Bin. More options are given, and better categorising of file types
corresponding to their size.
'Modern Reader' PDF support
'Modern
Reader' is the name of the PDF reading application designed and built using
AppX technology, which bridge between the mobile and the desktop workspace gap.
According to one, as the application packages are very similar to phone
application packages, making applications easier to port across from the
desktop to the mobile, including tablets.
Internet Explorer 10
There is
all but no doubt that Windows 8 will come with a pre-installed version of
Internet Explorer, probably IE10, but may not be set to 'as default' depending
on your user location. It is not unlike Microsoft to bundle in a beta of
Internet Explorer with a beta of Windows, and including the browser with the
operating system seems entirely "logical".
Internet Explorer 'Immersive'
A slimmed
down version of the browser, using a new user interface codenamed 'Immersive',
will feel and look like the phone version, but will have all the rendering of
the desktop version. Using a new platform for developing applications that
scale up and down from the desktop to the phone and vice versa, it will allow
many more applications to be scalable and adaptable to their environments.
SmartScreen file filter
Previously
only seen in the Windows Live suite of products, SmartScreen filters out spam
or bad links based on community responses. In Windows 8, however, an option has
been seen to check files downloaded by a browser, not just Internet Explorer,
to ensure that the download source is safe and verified. It simply adds an
extra layer of security protection to the operating system.
Windows App Store
Likened to
Apple's App Store for iOS and Mac devices, Microsoft is set to include its own
application web store in the next version of Windows. Dubbed the Windows App
Store, unsurprisingly, it has yet to turn up in a leaked build, though
screenshots seem to confirm its existence.
Step-by-step install
Windows 8
from the word go should be simple to use, and the setup process appears to show
exactly that. With easy run through steps to guide even the most novice of
users through the daunting task of installing an operating system, the process
should be a breeze. The 'Metro UI' of the Windows Phone 7 operating system is
clear in the setup, too, with fonts and user experience looking clean and
sharp.
ISO mounting
ISO images
are files which contain the exact coding, files and folders of the contents on
a CD or DVD. Windows 8 will include functionality, as see in more recent
builds, to not only mount images to read and deal with, but also the
functionality to burn them. This could negate many image burning applications
out there on the market already.
Native wake on LAN
If a
computer is turned off or hibernating and it has enabled the 'wake on LAN'
feature, Windows 8 will be able to push a network request through to turn it
back on again, to perform the functions that it needs to.
Webcam application
A new
application seemingly based on the 'Metro UI' user experience, has appeared in
early builds of Windows 8, allowing users to start and stop video capture, and
capture images immediately and after a short delay.
Codename 'Redhawk'
'Redhawk'
is the creation of a managed code execution environment, relating to or
incorporating as part of the .NET Framework 5. However, whether this is a
'feature' or a platform remains to be seen, exactly.
Streaming Manager
It has
emerged that in a seemingly similar way to how Office 2010 is delivered to some
customers, a Streaming Manager will be part of Windows 8 to allow other
programs to be streamed to the desktop. It will allow applications to be run
before they are fully downloaded, provided they are provisioned to do so. If a
feature is needed, it will be downloaded as and when it is needed.
Pattern login
From
another leaked video -- this one, though is not necessarily safe for work --
users will be able to login using an Android-like pattern match. This will
presumably for those who are using tablets or slate devices and are lacking a
keyboard. Another image has emerged of the Control Panel setting to administer
the first pattern login, which you can find here.
Facial recognition login
In similar
sync to the pattern login, those with a Kinect or a webcam may be able to login
through facial recognition, some are reporting. A setting was detected in one
of the latest builds of Windows 8's application libraries which suggests that
when Windows 8 detects a particular user has sat down at the computer, their
face alone will be enough proof to allow the desktop to open up with all their
user files and settings. Who needs a password nowadays, anyway?
History Vault
This
feature could be seen as the competing 'product' to the Time Machine in Mac OS
X. Acting as a backup facility, it will replace the Backup and Restore feature
in Windows 7, while giving users the option to create regular, automatic
backups. Users will be able to restore individual files from way back into the
past, while offering a 'new user interface' similar to that of the Time
Machine.
Cloud-based roaming profiles
Roaming
profiles have yet been semi-mythical, but have been uncovered in the latest
build. Your personalization settings (Aero and colour settings) all the way
through to language settings and wireless credentials will be stored in the
cloud, or cloud-accessible, so you can take your 'computer' on the go with you.
Linked accounts will be accessible through Windows Live, but can be turned off
if you are on a bandwidth-restricted network. Whether files and folders will be
synced also, should be subject to extreme caution, however.
Black Screen of Death
In Metro UI
style, the 'traditional' "Blue Screen of Death" will be replaced by a
perhaps more 'friendly' "Black Screen of Death". The error detail
will be given still for troubleshooting purposes, but will already occur when
the computer has effectively shut down.
'Metro UI style' settings
More Metro
UI integration in Windows 8, in which we are not entirely sure in what
capacity, exactly, but it is most likely to be mostly accessible and available
for tablet users of Windows 8. Bridging the gap between the mobile and the
desktop, these settings will emulate many of those already seen in previous
versions of Windows, but in a modern, mobile style.
Out-of-box experience (post-setup)
The
'out-of-box experience' will be one of the first things you see on your new
Windows 8 installation. From the looks of it, it will also follow a similar
feel to the rest of the Metro UI settings.