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Showing posts with label WINDOWS 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WINDOWS 8. Show all posts

Windows 8 Features

| Friday, November 25

The software giant also has a huge story to tell and has only just begun that process. Steven Sinofsky, chief of the windows and Windows Live division at Microsoft, teased a long list of the remaining features that Microsoft has included in Windows 8. Thanks to WinRumors reader Thor Olav Sørensen, we have a good list of all the features. Some features in the list sound interesting whilst others have been covered subsequently at BUILD. Regardless, it’s a great list of what Microsoft is working on in Windows 8.
  • Battery Life
  • Time/Battery/Date/Network status
  • Browser
  • Protection against app (…)/ malware scan
  • Apps are certified
  •  Pre-boot reset
  •  OEM Activation
  •  Windows Adapts To Your Location
  •  Hardening For Genuine
  •  Powershell Support
  •  Spotlight
  •  Integrated Load Balancing
  •  Pre-Install
  •  Identity Management Service – Live Integration
  •  SendTo
  •  Windows Performance Analyzer
  •  Desktop Apps
  •  Key Management Services
  •  Start
  •  Multi Hand (…)
  •  BitLocker Self-encrypting Drive
  •  Credential Management interface
  •  Tile groupings
  •  Files Folders Search
  •  Tiles
  •  Optional Public Key Infrastructure
  •  Faster resume from hibernation
  •  Application package
  •  Always On Always Connected
  •  Windows update maintenance scheduler integration
  •  Windows logo kit
  •  Reliable rollback
  •  PCI for efficiency / PCI 3.0 for performance
  •  Richedit
  •  Certification status
  •  My Apps
  •  Developer portal
  •  Task manager – users view
  •  native code (…)
  •  Reader
  •  Animation in HTML
  •  BitLocker data-only encryption
  •  Factory reset
  •  Remote lab exchange
  •  Ratings reviews reputation & report a problem
  •  JavaScript control model
  •  Task manager small app view
  •  Templates and (…)
  •  Application bar developer services
  •  Maintenance scheduler API
  •  Wi-Fi hotspot authentication
  •  Consumer refund
  •  Windows hardware development center
  •  New developer (…)
  •  International updates
  •  Application bar
  •  Unified (…) DirectAccess Server (…)
  •  PrintTo
  •  Windows runtime components
  •  Figures in CSS
  •  Automatic updates
  •  System settings
  •  Offline setup
  •  (…) taskbar
  •  Localized experience
  •  Out of box experience
  •  Client hyper-V
  •  Handwriting input panel
  •  Items management
  •  Recommendation engine
  •  (…) boot
  •  HTML5 video control
  •  System notifications
  •  (…) fragmentation (…) enhancements
  •  Windows (…) user (…)
  •  (…) 3d party (…)
  •  Windows engineering services
  •  TRM as Smartcard
  •  Text prediction and auto correction
  •  (…) usage assessments
  •  Instant on
  •  Task manager
  •  Device state (…)
  •  Maintenance time configuration
  •  Device uninstall
  •  Exclusive
  •  Device makers integrate with windows device (…)
  •  Off (…) domain join
  •  Task manager app history tab
  •  Spotlight on quality benchmarked
  •  (…)-centric reliability reporting
  •  SendTo contract
  •  Modern experience assessment
  •  Content tiles
  •  Stereo 3D video and gaming
  •  GoldenImage reset
  •  Easily discover apps that supporting a language
  •  Search
  •  Device setup
  •  (…) background
  •  New OEM and Cop help customization
  •  Hardware button (…) overlay
  •  (…) keyboard
  •  (…) unified extensible firmware interface
  •  Get my printer working basic functionality
  •  My media plays to digital media receivers
  •  Users are confident using devices & networking in modern apps
  •  (…) geolocation
  •  Windows deployment services
  •  Modern boot
  •  Device companion apps
  •  Windows sense orientation and lighting
  •  Application update
  •  DirectX 11
  •  Footprint reliability and performance
  •  Improvements in registry
  •  Support for ipv4-only servers
  •  Transistors in animation
  •  Windows inbox component repair
  •  Windows logon
  •  OEM activation 3.0
  •  Manufacturing driver assessment
  •  Optimized for web delivery
  •  Enhance copy experience
  •  Switching
  •  Devs get to set the geo and price
  •  Improved proxy configuration and authentication
  •  Enhanced file explorer
  •  Input switching
  •  Notification contract
  •  (…) firmware interface
  •  Graphics output protocol
  •  Music player
  •  Foreground application responsiveness
  •  Secure low-fragmentation help
  •  Windows performance recorder
  •  Windows driver kit
  •  Browse categories of the store
  •  All applications
  •  Connect (..)
  •  System hardening
  •  PlayTo
  •  Pre-install
  •  Licensing (…) framework for application developers
  •  windows update – automatic update and interactive are network aware
  •  streaming media assessment
  •  windows connected account
  •  printTo contract
  •  NAP
  •  windows assessment console
  •  lock screen & notifications
  •  windows update – enhanced driver targeting
  •  trusted platform module authentication
  •  new (..) help hub
  •  print server (…)
  •  task manager (..) dashboard
  •  always connected
  •  enterprice application deployment
  •  control styling
  •  BitLocker – network key protector
  •  bitLocker – extended suspend experience
  •  (…) management
  •  windows is sensor aware
  •  mobile broadband purchase experience
  •  (…) network aware
  •  application (…)
  •  connected frames
  •  auto-suggest search, history
  •  create windows live ID in Windows (…)
  •  advanced on/off options
  •  active directory activation
  •  modern SDK
  •  Phone as Smartcard
  •  language profile developer service
  •  application container
  •  language profile
  •  great webcam experience
  •  windows standard controls (…)
  •  windows update (…)
  •  optimized keyboard layouts
  •  native support of WiMAX and LTE
  •  fundamental assessments
  •  FAST (…) search
  •  windows connects My devices at super speed
  •  video player
  •  task manager – startup applications
  •  ribbon
  •  gestures manipulation (…)
  •  modern application license enforcement
  •  (…) reporting platform for new types of telemetry sharing
  •  spellchecking
  •  deployment image servicing & management tool
  •  animations
  •  multi-column layout
  •  charms bar
  •  re-acuire device app
  •  windows adapts to your location
  •  tile contract
  •  product description page
  •  troubleshooting diagnostics monitoring and (…)
  •  all day battery
  •  basic reset
  •  restore from usb-key
  •  trial
  •  radio management
  •  windows developments kits release (…) matches major OS release milestones
  •  app-to-app picker
  •  application install
  •  memory footprint assessment
  •  communicating over SMS on my PC
  •  task manager – large application view
  •  linking windows connected (…) to domain (…)
  •  online search / offline search
  •  windows update improved reboot experience
  •  content tile
  •  streamlined TPM (..)
  •  sources converter tool migration to modern experience
  •  tile updates
  •  fluid grid
  •  access to run tile
  •  getting notified about pending maintenance
  •  adaptive grid control
  •  share
  •  user switching improvements
  •  pause resume maintenance
  •  modern resource management
  •  access to settings & control panel
  •  splash screen contract
  •  access to other programs
  •  application compatibility tool kit
  •  extension ports
  •  settings charm
  •  visual studio professional
  •  (…) driver (…)
  •  windows hardware development center
  •  single portal
  •  improved on/off experience
  •  DA server single adapter support
  •  (…)-aware networking
  •  shared “data-playground” for Microsoft-partner collaboration
  •  input methop editor
  •  settings search
  •  windows preinstallation environment
  •  simpler print driver management and printer sharing in (…)
  •  windows development kits (…)
  •  maintenance on demand
  •  improved responsiveness with AV
  •  application context menu contract
  •  directaccess server scalability
  •  windows proximity experiences
  •  commerce engine – in application purchases
  •  application context menus
  •  web/local compartments
  •  client (…) search (…) integration and type ahead (…)
  •  (…) box control)
  •  parental controls
  •  video playback assessment
  •  system-wide dialogs
  •  flexible SIM-based connectivity
  •  bitlocker-recovery mode exclusions
  •  applications can tailor to the form factor and sensor
  •  photo and video import for phones and cameras
  •  dialogs
  •  faster boot
  •  (…) selection
  •  defender
  •  picture password
  •  submit to categories
  •  storage is fast and easy to use
  •  desktop activity moderator
  •  topics
  •  commerce engine – user payment
  •  common devices supported for modern apps
  •  early AV
  •  windows credential vault
  •  snapped apps
  •  remote (…)
  •  automatically (…) based on application UI/language
  •  filter apps that are accessible
  •  core OS suspend – resume (…)
  •  history vault
  •  on demand scrollbar
  •  windows boot experience
  •  retail upgrade media for windows 8
  •  dev portal – developer sign up and payment
  •  deep links
  •  automatic maintenance
  •  one-time password authentication
  •  bitlocker pre-provisoning
  •  file (…)
  •  earl Load anti-malware
  •  NAT support
  •  settings charm contract
  •  improved text prediction
  •  express setup
  •  genuine (…)
  •  system navigation
  •  single (…) tunnel
  •  app-to-app picker contract
  •  fast startup experience assessment
  •  wake alarm
  •  application signing
  •  finance reporting portal
  •  search contract
  •  stored value
  •  assessment execution engine
  •  connection manager
  •  windows hardware development center. easy/for partners
  •  windows update. modern updating experience
  •  webcam access
  •  assessment and deployment kit
  •  windows system assessment tool
  •  prompted for purchases – kids abuse
  •  enterprice client evaluation edition
  •  licensing – anti-piracy
  •  receipts
  •  projection
  •  ISO/VHD
  •  secure boot and (…)
  •  account management (…)
  •  (…) notification history
  •  windows server core support
  •  visual styles always on
  •  network connectivity assistant
  •  windows 8 full OS upgrade
  •  payTo contract
  •  file picker
  •  class driver
  •  bitlocker new properties and events
  •  snap contract
  •  DLL (…)


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Windows 8 Developer Preview: Top Features

| Saturday, September 17


As most of us know that Microsoft has released the Windows 8 Developer Preview  or pre-beta version of its next Operating System. Windows 8 Developer Preview  or pre-beta version can be downloaded directly from Microsoft servers by anyone who wants to try it. In this blog post we will be talking about some of the features which come with this new Windows 8 compared to previous Windows versions.
Metro interface
The major difference between Windows 8 and any other previous Windows operating system is the Metro Interface which basically somewhat similar to how the interface of popular tablets look like. Instead of Normal desktop Layout, you will find a fluid layout which flows quite smoothly.
If you want your old Windows 7 kind of Desktop layout, you can get that by using the Desktop Metro app which means that the old Explorer interface in Windows 7 is just now another Metro app in Windows 8.

New app model

Windows 8 comes with a new app Model just like Apple has Appstore. Even though its just the beginning with very few apps available for Windows 8 developed by Microsoft only, The new App model looks impressive and can bring loads of developers in its fold to develop apps for Wndows 8.
In simple terms, Metro Apps have Full screen mode with no task-bar or Menu unlike conventional apps so there are no distractions. They can adapt to a variety of form factors and screen resolutions, such as thin slates or large monitors, and can work on x86, x64, and ARM platforms. Apps work together, making it easy to search, share, and send content between them. When you’re connected to the Internet, apps come alive with activity and show you the latest content so that you can stay up to date at a glance.

No activation

Windows 8 Developer Preview comes without any kind of restrictions on who can test it. You don’t need a key to activate it after you are finished with installing Windows 8 on your System. This small step will help Microsoft in gaining loads of beta testers for its Windows 8 which can help in building a excellent product when its launched finally. Keep in mind, No Activation is applicable only for this build and hopefully when final version of Windows 8 comes out, it will come with some kind of Activation Mechanism.

Faster Boot times

Windows 8 boosts of faster boot times in the range of 5-10 seconds. Keep in mind, this faster boot times wont be achieved on older systems with spinning hard disk. You will need solid state drives, new hardware to achieve almost switch ON OFF kind of booting. Normal systems which we have will still see some great improvements in booting times compared to previous versions of  Windows.

Only clean install

No upgrade is supported with Windows 8 Developer Preview build. You need to perform a clean install to use Windows 8 on your system. You can easily install it as a dual boot on your existing Windows machine. For achieving this dual boot, you must have a seprate free hard disk partition (totally free) of at least 20-25 GB of space.

USB 3.0 support

It comes with support for USB 3.0 which means ultra fast copy and transfer of data between two compatible devices.

Tools for power users

It comes with tools for power users including a better task manager. The new Task Manager is your easy-to-use, all-in-one dashboard for monitoring and controlling your PC with colour-coded tiles, real-time summary graphs and detailed information on processes, applications, and history. You can also see the services associated with each process on one screen.

Reset and Refresh feature

Windows 8 Developer Preview comes with a new Reset and Refresh Feature. Its like system restore feature of Windows 7 redefined.
Reset feature of Windows 8 deletes all data on the systemm and returns your computer to its out of box state i.e. just like when it was shipped to you or you can call it as Factory reset. All this process takes 15-20 minutes. ( In my HP laptop with Windows 7, Factory reset for me takes 3 hours to complete).
Refresh feature of Windows 8 preserves user data like pictures, Music, Documents etc. (including Metro Apps) and deletes everything else. This feature is useful when you don’t want a Factory reset kind of restore and want to keep your data intact.

New ribbon interface

New ribbon interface is being used everywhere in Windows 8 which includes windows explorer too. Instead of the old menu, you will find the new ribbon interface in all the user interface.

Internet Explorer 10: the web by touch

Metro style Internet Explorer 10 provides a fast and fluid touch-first browsing experience that’s all about your sites, making them feel increasingly more app-like. It comes with faster performance, better security protection, more hardware acceleration, and site-ready HTML5 support. The address bar is at bottom and not visible always.
If you want your old interface of Internet explorer, that too you can have under desktop App. Just run Internet explorer from there and you will have the older interface with tabs etc..

Multiple monitor support

IT comes with multi monitor support letting you span your single desktop background across multiple monitors. You will also find a slider kind of interface in Metro App  when Windows is started and you need to slide it to get access to different metro apps.

Skydrive and Windows Live integration

It comes with Skydrive and Windows Live integration. This developer preview though doesn’t have Skydrive integration. Windows live integration lets you create a user account on your system with having to create a local user account and you can sign in into your system using your Windows live account.

Social integration with Facebook & Twitter

It comes with two metro apps which integrates your twitter and Facebook account directly on your Windows 8 Desktop. Even though these apps are far from perfect, still Microsoft have long time to fix bugs before the final version of Windows 8 comes out.
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How to Reset and Refresh Windows 8 System

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As we talked about Reset and Refresh feature of Windows 8 in our earlier post, you can use the reset and refresh Feature of Windows 8 to restore your system. Reset feature removes everything except the default System settings just like the Factory state of the system. Whereas Refresh feature keeps your files and personalisation settings including your Windows store apps. All other apps are removed during this process. To access this feature, just click on control panel in your Windows 8 start screen.
In control panel, just go to General settings and you will find Reset, Refresh your PC setting there on the right side column. Just click on the feature you want to use. Both settings clearly define what they will do if you use them.
Depending on what you choose, either your PC will be restored a a factory state or restored to factory state keeping your data intact including your apps , files and personalisation settings. Just click next and the process of restore will start.
You can call this feature as the redefinded System restore and can be of great help to PC users when they have PC issues like virus infection, oo corrupted files etc and PC is running too slow.
A update from Microsoft Support Forum
If you need to reinstall Windows Developer Preview or use the Reset functionality, you might be asked to enter this product key:
6RH4V-HNTWC-JQKG8-RFR3R-36498
If you’re running a server version of Windows Developer Preview, you can use this product key:
4Y8N3-H7MMW-C76VJ-YD3XV-MBDKV
Note: These product keys are only for use with the Windows Developer Preview version of Windows 8.
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Download Windows 8 pre-beta (Developer Preview) ISO 32 bit and 64 bit

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After a long wait and speculation, Windows 8 Developer preview (pre-beta) edition is finally available to download directly from Microsoft. It was released by Microsoft yesterday in their BUILD event of Windows 8 to everyone. As the BUILD event showcased whats inside Windows 8 and almost everyone who watched it, felt thrilled. Hopefully Microsoft has done its homework right again this time just like they did with Windows 7 and not like Windows Vista which failed to impress. Never ever seen a Windows event to have thrilled everyone like this before.
The developer preview build of Windows 8 is available to everyone who wants to test it without even needing a sign-in leave aside any MSDN account. Just download it and you are ready to go. The build are available for both 32 bit and 64 bit systems. Apart from 32 bit and 64 bit OS ISO image, a third ISO is also available which includes Windows SDK for Metro style apps, Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview and Microsoft Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview. This build is for you if you want to develop apps  for Windows 8. For rest of you, choose the 32 bit or 64 bit version and start downloading it directly.
THe downloads are available on Windows developer page . You can use the links below to download the files directly.

Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64)

DOWNLOAD (4.8 GB)
Sha 1 hash – 6FE9352FB59F6D0789AF35D1001BD4E4E81E42AF
All of the following come on a disk image file (.iso). See below for installation instructions.
  • 64-bit Windows Developer Preview
  • Windows SDK for Metro style apps
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview
  • Microsoft Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview
  • 28 Metro style apps including the BUILD Conference app
Windows Developer Preview English, 64-bit (x64)
DOWNLOAD (3.6 GB)
Sha 1 hash – 79DBF235FD49F5C1C8F8C04E24BDE6E1D04DA1E9
Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 64-bit PC.

Windows Developer Preview English, 32-bit (x86)

DOWNLOAD (2.8 GB)
Sha 1 hash – 4E0698BBABE01ED27582C9FC16AD21C4422913CC
Includes a disk image file (.iso) to install the Windows Developer Preview and Metro style apps on a 32-bit PC.

System Requirements

Windows Developer Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows Vista and Windows 7:
  • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
  • Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch

How to activate Windows 8 Developer Preview

Fortunately, one good thing to note here that you don’t need to activate this build after installing the developer preview. So, you can download without worry of getting any developer key or someone releasing some hack. SO go and start downloading it to enjoy it.
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