Windows
8 – Reasons why you need Windows 8
Microsoft
is making biggest upgrades to its Operating system following Windows 7. Windows,
being one of the most used OS, brings great challenges for Microsoft to keep
its users impressed in the next version of Windows – Windows 8. Microsoft is constantly
working to make the Windows 8 a better one by further improving upon the
existing features also added new impressive features along with a stunning UI.
 |
| Windows 8 |
Following
are some of the impressive features –
·
The
biggest upgrade is Start menu will
replace with a Start Screen. Start
Screen will have tiles that contain shortcuts to Applications, similar to the
Metro interface seen on its Windows Phone 7 OS.
·
It
will have new Metro style
interface that was designed for touchscreen input in addition to keyboard, mouse
and a pen input.
·
A
Ribbon interface to Windows Explorer. Ribbon interface that was first seen in
Office 2007.
·
Microsoft
will launch a store for Metro-style Apps that will support for Windows 8.
·
Windows
8 has added support for the ARM microprocessors
in addition to the previously supported x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD.
The same Operating System will be available on desktops, laptops and slates.
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| Windows 8 - Start Screen |
Though
Microsoft has not announced specific release date for Windows 8 but Microsoft
already released the early version of Windows 8 on prototype tablet early this
month.
Reason
why you need Windows 8 –
1) Windows
To Go (Live USB) – Carry
entire OS with you in USB device.
i)
Allow
to create a USB drives containing complete, managed Windows images that users
can use to boot and run Windows on any Windows 7 or Windows 8 capable computer.
ii)
An
exciting feature that allows Windows 8 to boot from a USB device (called Live
USB) including the user’s programs, settings and files.
iii)
The
feature is designed to support both USB2.0 and USB3.0.
iv)
User
will not able to “Hibernate”, but if the USB is removed Windows will
automatically freeze and if inserted the USB device back in 60 seconds, will continue
to operate automatically.
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| Windows 8 - Picture Password |
2) Picture
Password – Having a
strong password is important, especially on portable devices. It can be
cumbersome to type the long and complex on touchscreens like tablets.
i)
A
new authentication method that allows user sketch in 3 different places over
the picture to login.
ii)
User
will first need to select an image on which to perform a gesture. The gesture could
be tapping on something in the picture, encircling something or drawing a line
between two points.
3) Refresh
and Reset – Two integrated
recovery functions that make a complete restore easier that re-installing the
OS.
i)
Refresh keeps all your setting and files
intact and only reverses (recovers) all changes to Windows files to their
original state.
ii)
Reset – As its name suggest, resets your OS
to its initial Installation state without any additionally user interfaces such
as license agreements or selecting hard disk. It deletes all your personal data
and software’s. Leaves a fresh Windows 8 computer.
4) Improved
Automatic Updates –
No frequent automatic update warnings
i)
New
feature that sets you free from harassed frequent warnings saying your system
has been updated and needs to be restarted.
ii)
Windows
update consolidates all the restarts in the month into one single restart.
iii)
Doesn’t
matter when the updates are released, since these restart will wait till the
month’s security release.
iv)
Windows
updates will download, install and restart automatically in case a critical
updates.
5) Protection
from Malware –
Secure boot option
i)
New
built-in mechanism called Secure Boot, which ensures the system being booted
has not been tampered by malware.
ii)
Another
anti-malware feature “SmartScreen”
that checks URLs entered in the Internet Browser against a malware links
Database.
 |
| Windows 8 - Improved file copying window |
6) Improved
File Management System
–
i)
Windows
8 consolidates multiple file operations into a single window showing all
transfers.
ii)
Individual
operations can be paused and resumed or cancelled.
iii)
The
basic copy operation window will have new detailed view that offers a lot more,
including the current speed, and a graph of how that speed changed over a time.
iv)
If
copying from one folder to another Windows detects multiple conflicting files
with detailed list of files in both the folders and the differences between
them, along with the option to skip the files that are exactly the same on both
sides.
v)
Windows
8 makes it possible to access ISO files without burning them on the Disc.
7) Improved
Logging in –
Logging in with Windows Live ID.
i)
User
accounts may be linked with a Windows Live ID, allowing the user’s profile to
be synchronized over the internet and accessible from other computers running
the operating system.
ii)
The
system will provide integration with the SkyDrive service,
which provides 25GB of online storage to Windows Live users.
8) Hybrid
Boot –
i)
New
“Hybrid Boot” feature that uses “Advanced Hibernation Functionality” on
shutdown to allow faster startup times.
