An ISO image (International Organization for Standardization) is an archive file (also known as a disc image) of an optical disc, composed of the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system. In most cases ISO Images are used to contain the true digital copy of the original disk. So, if you’ve downloaded an ISO image, just keep in mind that it is not an ordinary data CD/DVD image. Especially, in case of Operating Systems, these ISO Images contain files that make CDs/DVDs bootable, therefore, you need a special software to write them on CD / DVD and then install them.
How to mount an ISO file on Windows 7
If you need to see the contents of an ISO file that you just downloaded, then you will have to mount it in your computer. Mounting an ISO image file is similar to inserting a CD / DVD ROM in your CD /DVD Drive, the only difference is that this would be done virtually. Mounting an ISO file has a lot of benefits. Before burning it on to a CD or a DVD, you’re able to check the contents and verify if everything is just as you want. Or, if you want to install a software or a video game but don’t want to burn the ISO image on a CD or DVD. This would come in handy if you don’t have a CD / DVD Drive altogether in your PC or netbook. Windows 7 doesn’t give native support for ISO files so you have to use third party tools.
Using Virtual Clone and Magic Disk
Virtual Clone Drive lets you mount almost all kinds of image files be it ISO, UDF, BIN or CCD.Make sure that you have Administrative privileges on your computer before you continue. Download the utility and install it. Through installation steps, it will ask you for file association and then it will install the Drive Software (Application Driver). Now just double click on your image file to mount it.
Magic Disk is a similar program but it also gives you the option to set a number of multiple virtual drives and also change the drive letter of your existing virtual drive.
Remember that all the ISO editing / manipulating applications like Magic ISO, PowerISO and UltraISO have built-in capabilities to create virtual drives and mount ISO files in them.
How to mount an ISO file on Windows 8
A feature added to the Windows 8 pre-beta by default. All you have to do is click on the image file and click ‘Mount’ to mount the image file. Your image would be mounted as a new drive in My Computer. Right click it to unmount.
How to install an ISO file / image without burning it on a CD/ DVD
Extract the ISO Image
Well, you can either mount them. Or you can extract them. As stated in the introduction, ISO files are archives so almost any archive extraction application like WinZip , WinRAR and 7Zip can extract the contents of the file. 7Zip is the recommended software here as not only it is free but it also supports almost all kinds of compression formats. It has also the support for checking an archive for malware or virus before extracting it. Just keep in mind that once you have extracted the ISO image file, you cannot get back the same image file by compressing the data again. So, be careful before deleting the original ISO image file.
Write it on a USB Flash Drive
If this ISO image file is a windows image, like Windows 8 pre-beta. Then you have the option to write it on the USB Flash Drive. Which is always a better option as it will be a faster installation than a CD /DVD ROM. Refer to our article on How to Create and Install Windows 8 from a Bootable USB.
How to install an ISO file / image by burning it on a CD / DVD
What you Need?
The ISO Image file, it should be ending with an ISO extension at the end. You won’t see the extension if you have installed some compatible application.
The control panel in metro interface is there not only for tweaking your settings but also for customizing the feel and look of the Metro Interface as a whole. When you click on the Control Panel tile in the Metro Interface you immediately start the customization process.
You can change the lock screen image in right there in the first screen with User Tile that is shown at the login screen. (Swap up the screen or drag it up if you are using a PC.) User tile is the ‘picture’ that represents your account. You can also grab a fresh image using your webcam.
Keep in mind that if you are using ‘Live Account’ as your login credentials then by default your Live Account Picture would be used as a ‘User Tile’ at the login screen.
How to add users and create picture passwords in Windows 8
To create a picture password in Windows 8, all you have to do is choose a picture, draw a pattern on it, repeat and you’re good to go. Be careful with those patterns and draw something that you’ll remember afterwards because you’d be allowed to login only, if you can draw the correct pattern. To create a picture password go to Control Panel > Users > Create Picture Password
Another good way to login to your computer (for touch surface users only) is to create a pin number. Below the Pin Logon, there is a + button with Users text on it. Click on it to add a user to your Windows 8 operating system. As soon as you’ll click on Add User button it will ask you for two options. Windows Live ID, will allow you to add a user with a windows live email address. This is very handy as it allows you to sync your favorites, browsing history, shortcuts, languages and passwords for different services across different computers that are using the same Windows Live ID. The second option is of course the usual Local Account. Keep in mind that Windows Live ID account has all the features of a Local Account, plus the look and feel of being it your own account.
The biggest change that you’ll notice with the new Windows Explorer 8 is the Ribbon added to the top of it. This ribbon is a replica of the one already available in other applications of Microsoft such as, Microsoft Office and Windows Live Writer. And it also works like one. A complete context-sensitive ribbon allows you to display different sections according to your selection of file or what you are doing inside the explorer itself.
For example if you click on something in Library, it will give you the ‘Library Tools’, click on an application and it will show you a new ‘Application Tools’ section. Same goes for the pictures and there is also a ‘Shortcut Tools’ section which does nothing but allows you to open that shortcut location. These tools are very nice addition to the explorer as they would allow you to Manage Files, Run them as Administrator or even let you pin them to the taskbar.
Quick Access Toolbar in Windows Explorer
The added feature besides the ribbon in Windows Explorer is the Quick Access Toolbar. This toolbar allows you to quickly access the features that were previously hidden in a context menu. With this features like, Undo, Redo or Delete and Rename are easily accessible. If you want these more accessible, just check mark on them and they will be visible on the toolbar. You can also customize this toolbar more or add more buttons to it too. For example if you move your files a lot and want to add ‘Move To’ button to the quick access toolbar, just right click on it and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. It definitely has to be enabled (not greyed out) for it to work. It also allows you to change the position of the toolbar or minimize the ribbon.
File Copying
The file copy/more dialog is enhanced, it gives more information about the status of the file transfer but also allows you to pause the transfer.
The file replacement dialog has also improved so its easier now for the user to decide which files to keep and which to replace.
Since there is no file menu in new Windows Explorer, you can view the folder options by following one of these methods:
Go to File > Change Folder and Search Options
You can launch Folder Options by going to classic Control Panel and then double clicking ‘Folder Options’. Some quick and most used Folder Options, like FileName Extensions and Hidden Items are also available in the ribbon.
Windows 8 didn’t crash even once in our one week long trial but if you are having some troubles and it is likely that you would face some as this is a pre-beta version of the Windows then there are some easy solutions to the problems. Metro Applications Not Running: Minimum resolution should be 1024 x 768. If you’re running a lower resolution, chances are that some of your metro applications won’t start at all.
For all other problems, try resetting or refreshing your Windows. Refreshing, installs your windows again but retains your personal files, whereas resetting is essentially similar to reinstallation the Windows again. Just go to Metro Control Panel, Select General and then choose your preferred option.
When you logon for the first time in Windows 8, the metro interface is first thing that you’d be greeted with. Metro Interface is very similar to the one already included in Windows 7 mobile. Just like the mobile version, it is packed with all kinds of applications by default. These applications are called ‘tiles’ and you’d be itching to swipe the screen to the left in order to see what is on the far right side. You can swipe on your tablet but on a regular computer you would have to rely on the scroll bar at the bottom or you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to scroll through the tiles.
Tiles can be changed from the original arrangement. Just click on a tile and drag it to the left, right, up or down to your preferred place, as you’ll do this, you’ll see other tiles moving and giving way to the tile being dragged.
Go through the apps by clicking on them to know more about them, you can always come to the original point by pressing the ‘Windows Key’ or moving your mouse to the left bottom corner of the screen. (Keep in mind that if you had an app open and you didn’t close it, pressing ‘Windows Key’ would take you back to that app. This also goes for the desktop too, goto ‘Desktop’ from your metro interface, press ‘windows key’ and it will take you back to the metro interface and vice versa!)
Right clicking on an app would put a check mark on it and selecting ‘unpin’ would remove that from the metro interface or you can make them smaller. You can also choose to uninstall it from your computer too.
This is one of the most talked about new feature of Windows 8. As Microsoft said, “The start menu in Windows 7 is gone”, it is replaced by a more ‘simplified’ version of start menu. Settings, Devices, Share and Search are the only options in this one. You can access it by moving your mouse to the bottom left corner of your screen. Follow our article to get back the old classic Windows 7 start menu.
Windows 8 lets you search for your applications right from the metro interface as an alternative to the ‘Program Files’ of classic start menu that was present in Windows 7. (Remember no start menu in Windows 8.) To run an application, press ‘Windows Key’ and start typing the name of the application. A search windows will open up in the left page and there’d also be a list sorted alphabetically, to let you choose an app. You can run this dialog by pressing the search keys ‘Window + F’. (WIN+Q for the Applications). This is comes in handy when you want to see all the installed applications in your computer, if you want to start an application from a list.
Since you’re on the Metro Interface most of the time in Windows 8 and there is no taskbar, you are bound to loose the track of applications that you will run. Cycling between applications is pretty easy in Windows 8. Just like all previous versions of Windows, pressing ‘Alt + TAB’ would cycle through the applications that are currently running with the thumbnails of those applications. ‘Win + TAB’, unlike Windows 7 will let you switch between the next running application. And just like the mobile version of Windows 7, you can click on a tile to open an application again, if that application is already open and you still clicked the tile to open it, it will open the the previous instance of that app. As stated earlier, pressing the ‘Windows’ key on your keyboard repeatedly will cycle between the current running application and the metro interface.
Want to know which application you used last? Just move your mouse to the end on the left side and a small thumbnail of that application will appear.
You can not close an application in windows 8, well technically because there is no ‘Cross’ or ‘Close’ button in application of the Metro Interface. Applications are suspended, just like any mobile OS and they will be closed if you’re low on resources or some other application needs some more memory. If you really want to get rid of an application, just fire up the Task Manager by pressing ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ and ‘End Task’ your application.
How to shutdown or restart your computer in Windows 8
This is no more the job for the ‘Start’ button. To shutdown, restart or put your computer to sleep, you need to move your mouse to the left corner, click on settings and then click on the ‘Power’ icon. This can be done while you are anywhere in the windows, be it the Metro Interface or the Desktop.
However, when in Desktop mode, you can press ‘Alt + F4’ and then choose the appropriate option in the dialog.
Using internet explorer 10 in windows 8 Metro Interface is a little bit tricky if you have no experience of touch interfaces or browsing internet on mobile devices. IE10 in metro is completely touch friendly but if you’re using a desktop computer or laptop without touch capability, it should still be pretty easy for you to operate. Just fire up the browser by clicking on the Internet Explorer tile in metro.
It will open a full screen browser with a toolbar at the bottom, not visible by default. Right click on the empty space and you can view the thumbnails of tabs and that bar at the bottom again. You can open a webpage by typing in the address and it will remember your frequently used websites and you can also pin a specific most used website to it too, using this button.
However, if you prefer the more classic internet explorer, it is available in the desktop. Switch to the desktop mode and click on the shortcut on the taskbar. You can also use the this button on the metro version of internet explorer to switching the current browsing page over to the desktop version of the internet explorer. I never imagined that I’d say this but for on the fly internet browsing, the metro version of internet explorer is pretty sleek and super fast.
How to Change the City in Weather app in Windows 8
By default the weather app is pre configured with the current conditions in Anaheim, California, but if you can add your local city too in the list. Just click Weather to launch the app, right-click and select Add City,
type the name of your nearest city, and choose it from the list, when it appears. For a detailed overview, take a look at the following video. (View it in full screen HD.)
The option to hibernate a Windows 8 computer is not available in the ‘Shutdown’ dialog, but you can restore it by following these steps.
Go to Desktop and type (powercfg.cpl) in the RUN box (WIN+R) to launch the Power Options window and click “Choose what the power buttons do” in the left
hand pane.
If you see a “Change settings that are current unavailable” link, then click it, check the Sleep and Hibernate
options, click Save Changes, and the new options should now appear in your shutdown dialogs.
Also in the same window, check on ‘Show Sleep’ option. (These options are greyed out by default.)
If you are a single user on your computer or you don’t want to give password, every time you login to Windows then follow these simple steps to enable ‘Auto Logon’:
Press WIN+R, type netplwiz and press Enter to launch the User Accounts dialog.
Clear the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” box and click OK.
Enter the user name and password of the account that you’d like to be logged in automatically (you may have to click on a specific user account that you want to change from the list), click OK,
reboot, and you shouldn’t be prompted for your login details again.
Win + C : displays the “Charms”: all those Settings, Devices, Share and Search options in new improved ‘Start Menu’
Win + D : launches the desktop
Win + E : launches Explorer
‘How to search for files in Windows 8?’ Just press Win + F : and start searching.
Win + I : opens the Settings, also where you go to shutdown your computer.
Win + L : locks your PC
Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector
Win + R : opens the Run box
Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
Win + W: Similar to ‘Search Files’ but this shortcut will take you directly to let you search for your system settings.
For example, if you type ‘wallpaper’, it will return you settings related to ‘changing your desktop background’.
Win + Q: It will let you search for the Windows Programs both for Metro and Desktop Interfaces. Really good alternative for the search bar on classic Windows 7 Start Menu.
Win + Z : This will display the right-click context menu when in a full-screen Metro app. For example, the right-click menu in the weather application.
Win + + : This will let you zoom in at any part of your Metro Interface as well as Desktop Interface. Adds a pretty cool magnifier icon which lets you change the magnify settings.
Win + - : zoom out
Win + Tab : switch between running apps, works like ‘Alt+Tab’ in previous Windows.
What do you do to launch your favorite application in Windows 8? You definitely go to the Desktop Interface to open the shortcut on the desktop OR you search for the file using the WIN+F shortcut. This short tutorial will let you add a quick launch shortcut to your favorite application in simple steps. This is the windows 8 default shortcut, so if you press the Windows key plus a number, it will let you open your favorite app that is on the quick-launch on the Desktop. For example, by default there are two icons, Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer on the task bar. So if you press WIN+1, it will launch Internet Explorer and pressing WIN+2 will open the Windows Explorer. The good thing about this trick is that it also works on the Metro Interface. That is pretty much the trick to it. For example:
Start Windows Media Player by searching for Apps.
Pin it to the task bar.
Move it to the left of Internet Explorer, if you want this to be your number one shortcut. The one that will be launched by pressing ‘WIN+1’.
Add Shutdown / Hibernate shortcuts on Taskbar in Windows 8
Follow these simple steps to add quick launch shortcuts that will appear in ‘WIN+F’ search box.
Go to C:\Users\<AccountName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder in Windows Explorer. Where <AccountName> would be your username of Windows. You can go there using the windows explorer but keep in mind that ‘AppData’ folder would be hidden by default. So either you have to ‘Unhide’ the hidden system files and folders or you can use the run dialog. Just press WIN+R and copy/paste the above address. (Don’t forget to replace <AccountName> with your username.)
This will open the Programs folder, just add a new shortcut by Right Clicking on an empty space and choosing ‘New > Shortcut’. Then type shutdown –s –f –t 00 for shutdown, shutdown –r –f –t 00 for restart and shutdown –h –f –t 00 for hibernate. -f is to force the applications to close, –t is the time before the current task will be executed so 00 would execute it at one. You can also use the time switch to schedule a shutdown.
Click Next and give your short cut a name. You can pin this to the taskbar by right clicking on the short cut and selecting ‘Pin to taskbar’. Click on the icon to shutdown your computer or Now when you’ll press WIN+Q and type ‘shutdown’ it will show you the app shortcut you just added. Click on it to shut down your computer.
Microsoft has added support for Virtual Machines in Windows 8. It will be installed by default when you install Windows 8 on your computer. Follow these two steps to enable it:
Press Win+Q and search for OptionalFeatures.exe, it will be shown on the right side as you type it.
In ‘Turn Windows features On or Off’ window, click to check Hyper-V and click OK.
Now press the windows key, go back to metro and you’ll see that Hyper-V tiles have been added at the end.
“The Windows 7 start menu is gone”. This is what Microsoft said in developer conference while introducing the ‘Windows 8 developers preview’. They replaced it with the new ‘Metro Interface’, that resembles to the mobile version of ‘Windows 7’. A one week test run of ‘Windows 8’ and its turning out to be a little bit annoying. It could be the twelve years of love talking, clicking on Start and finding a large menu, all those browsing for ‘Program Files’ or just clicking ‘Start’ to ‘Shutdown’ the computer (Oh, the irony.)
Right now, metro interface is not providing the deserved replacement to the original ‘Start Menu’, adding programs to the tiles or re-arranging them is good on the mobile but not on a full fledged desktop computer. Currently, when you hover your mouse on the bottom left corner of your screen in Windows 8, it will show you a menu similar to the following
Where as when you click on the ‘Start’ button on the desktop, it will take you back to the ‘Metro Interface’ and vice versa. (Take a look at the following video.)
Download the tool here. Just ‘run it as administrator’ and click on the button to toggle the settings.
Method 3
Above methods will also disable the ‘Ribbon’ inside the Windows Explorer. If you want to keep that ribbon and also want the classical start menu (yea, its called classical in Windows 8), then run this utility. It is called ‘MetroController’ and it allows you to enable or disable some or even all Metro features in Windows 8 .
Clicking on ‘Disable all new features’ will disable everything that Microsoft has been working on with so much dedication. Ribbon Explorer, Lock Screen and the Metro Start Screen.
‘Disable Only Metro Features’ will disable the ‘Metro Interface’ but will let you keep the ‘Ribbon Explorer’ and classic start menu.
That’s it, now when you’ll click on the ‘Start’ icon in Windows 8, you’ll see the menu similar to Windows 7.
Don’t be surprised when you confront a bug, and there are many glitches/bugs, when you’ll do this. A common one is that when you’ll hover your mouse over the Windows Icon at the bottom left, it will open up the default menu, suggesting it is never removed in the first place when you edited the registry. You’ll have to click away and the again click on the windows icon to get the start menu, otherwise it will take you to the Metro Interface.
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As expected, Microsoft released the Windows 8 Developer Preview in the developers conference and it is free for everyone to download and try. The end product of Windows 8 might not be available until late 2012 though. Keep in mind that this is the pre-beta version of Windows 8 (not even beta version), so its a very early and incomplete version full of bugs. It won’t support the ‘Upgrade’ from other existing versions of Windows and allows only ‘Clean’ install, cannot be deleted (with only formatting of course) and last but not least, it is not supported by Microsoft in anyway.
So, if you have a spare computer, OR spare hard drive (you definitely don’t want to mess around with your current installations and data with this pre-beta) and you like to experiment / explore or want to see how new Windows will work, especially the super fast boot time, then carry on with this guide.
System Requirements
Windows Developer Preview will work perfectly on any system that is currently running Windows Vista or Windows 7, minimum system requirements are:
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
To run Metro style Apps, you need a screen resolution of 1024 X 768 or greater
1. Download Windows 8
The Developer Preview is as big a download as Windows 7 was, but there is a minimum of 2.8GB download available and it will get you underway to the installation process. Go to Microsoft Dev Center and download the version of your choice. Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit is the biggest download, geared towards the developers who run modern systems with dual cores or iX systems and want to practice with development too. Rest two options are just Windows Preview, so you might just opt for the 32 bit version there. Here is the link to direct download Microsoft Windows Developer Preview English, 32 bit (x86)
If you’re going to install Windows 8 on a laptop or PC then you’ll have to burn the ISO file to disc. Follow this guide on ‘How to burn an ISO image to CD/DVD. The method to create a bootable Windows 7 USB also works with ‘Windows Developer Preview’. So choose your preferred method and restart your computer with your USB or DVD.
2. Install Windows 8
Installing the Developer Preview is pretty straightforward. Once you’ve booted with your bootable media, follow these simple instructions and you’ll have a running operating system in a few minutes.
Upon the first boot from DVD, you’ll see Windows 8 loading files and then it will go straight to the installation screen.
Select your Language, Time and Keyboard input and Click ‘Next’ to continue.
Click on ‘Install Now’ and you’ll be presented with the license agreement, Accept it and Click on Next.
Choose Custom, if you want to edit your partitions or load any extra driver. Choose your preferred configuration and proceed with installation.
Windows will start copying files and installation. It will ask you to restart your computer after finishing.
It took me ten minutes on my Core i5 with 4GB of RAM to install Windows Developer Preview. (from inserting the disk to the metro interface). Make sure to remove the installation media after the Windows has been installed. It will ask you to ‘Press Any Key’ to continue if the media is still connected to your computer, and you might end up installing it again.
3. Completing the installation of Windows 8
Personalize
Windows 8 will ask you to give your PC a name. Name it something that will help you to identify this computer from other computers and click ‘Next’.
Settings
Choose ‘Express Settings’ to continue. That is the default option and is recommended. Choosing custom will allow you to configure individual options like whether you want to allow ‘Automatically Install Device Drivers’, ‘Get Device Apps’ and use ‘SmartFilter for IE and other Apps’.
Select Username and Password
Choose a username and password for your new account, give password hint. (This account has administrative privileges.)
That’s it, in a few seconds you’ll see the metro interface to appear. You would see tiles for Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, Whether, Control Panel, Desktop and more.
Change Resolution: To work with Metro Interface, you might have to change the resolution of your desktop. Click on the desktop tile, right click and change resolution.
Miss your DESKTOP!!: Its right there, Click on the blue tile that says ‘Desktop’ and there is your traditional Desktop View.
Where is the Start Button: Move your mouse to the bottom left corner and there is your Start Button. No Start Menu available though, you can also press the ‘Windows’ key on your keyboard to get the Start Menu. I’m sure that you’ll be using this button quite frequently as I was lost a few times while exploring Windows 8 and had to press ‘Windows’ key to get back to the Start again.
That’s it for now, I’ll be doing a complete review of Windows 8 in a couple of days, till then keep exploring this next generation of Operating System. Move the tiles on the Metro Interface to re-arrange them, checkout the settings, browse the internet in Internet Explorer. In the meantime, don’t get disappointed if you see something that annoys you or you don’t like it all together, as I said, it’s a pre-beta version. Some features might not be there when the final Windows 8 comes out and some features might remain the same.
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Only just recently, we enlightened you with a post on four pretty things worth trying on Windows 7 which basically signified the idea of sheer user-friendliness that Windows 7 offers. What if we told you that the upcoming Windows 8 setup will mitigate system usage even further? Guess what, that is true to the core-oh yes it is. Hot on the heels of Windows 7′s grand market penetration, Windows 8 promises to make file management as easy as one may please. Alex Simons, the Director of Program Management for Windows, was keen on sharing the company’s take on how Windows 8 was going to lessen concerns over file management that were once a huge issue for most.
Back in his design room, whose walls seemed cluttered with lots of paper work to be honest (ironic, don’t you think?), Alex gave public the very first taste of file management that is to be featured in the upcoming Windows 8. The bulk of the presentation revolved around the various tweaks made to the Windows Explorer in the new Operating System. Alex clearly mentioned how Windows aims to strike the right balance between the heritage of the Windows Explorer by sustaining some of its vintage features and also explore a few secrets that most Windows users probably failed to notice (not very surprising though). Just a very brief overview of the Windows Explorer: This has always been and still is an avid tool for users to manage their files and work them in a number of ways including, finding, opening, moving, deleting as well as renaming (that was quite a mouthful).
So, what is different this time around? Well, quite a number of things to be fair. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Explorer on the Windows 8 comes equipped with the Ribbon UI interface that has had a fair share of publicity in the recent past and is slowly, yet surely, finding its way in the ranks of Window’s software packages. Despite the heavy criticism that the Ribbon UI interface is faced with, mainly hurled by direct users, Alex Simons backed his decisions with fair amount of reasons, which he believes would suffice and that additions like these have been planned in the best interest of Windows 8 and, more specifically, the direct users of the Operating System. As per his blog post, Alex Simons conveniently identified three main goals that have been targeted in the making of the modern version of the Explorer that include: The optimization of Explorer for file management tasks, Creation of streamlined command experience and Maintenance of the long established heritage of the Explorer.
Although the modern design choice is not a popular choice among most power users, it certainly explores more than just a couple of hidden features, mainly requiring third party add-ons and is also generous in regards to provision of keyboard shortcuts for each and every command in the new design which has always been high in demand. More so, this latest amenity provides user interface customization geared with a quick access toolbar which is very much at par with customization levels that users experienced in Windows XP. In the main, the bulk of activity that usually goes on in the Windows Explorer has been made part of the main user interface (talk about user-friendliness at its best). Oh, and did we mention the amazing new addition, which Alex Simons quite rightly terms as ‘a really great hidden gem’, called Copy Path? If you are consistent about emailing and more specifically sharing files over the internet, Copy Path does a great job if one is to send a file in a network share (pretty much a copy, paste and send mechanism, now in a networking environment!).
Moving on, some enhanced tabs, including the Share tab and the View tab, on the Explorer have also been very interesting additions. Sharing has been made highly convenient by one-click sharing features which really catalyses the entire process, easily reducing the pain and clutter previously experienced while copying and sharing files. The success story of one-click activity continues with the viewing scheme of things as well whereby users have the freedom to view file name extensions as well as hidden items. Last but certainly not the least, execution of batch files has also been made very easy-to-use via shortcuts; thereby, making access to files as easy as you please.
Well, that’s all from us on the Windows 8 tweaks and enhancements. Oh, and for those of you who are feel that this may seem or sound like a rushed effort and do not feel at all at home with the new additions, rest assured that Microsoft is expected to conduct what it calls a public beta testing/feedback phase for the upcoming Operating System, similar to how they tested Windows 7 before its final release. So, we would suggest that you (haters in particular) hold your horses until the beta for Windows 8 hits the scene prior to release of the full version in fall, 2012.
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Microsoft is well known for being the company which came up with Windows, Microsoft Office and the Xbox. Windows is their most popular product and is used in a majority of systems around the world. There was a time when Microsoft had a monopoly as Windows was used in more than 90 percent of systems around the world. It has been facing a lot of competition from the likes of Apple’s Mac OS X, and Open Source Operating systems such as Linux. Microsoft’s biggest fear is that it will have to cede ground to the Tablet market where Apple is currently the King. Apple’s iPad runs on the iOS which also runs on the iPhone. They also have to contend with Android Tablets and the webOS operating system from HP. Microsoft misfired with the heavily bloated and horrible Windows Vista but made up for its mistakes by coming up with Windows 7 which managed to erase memories of Windows Vista. Microsoft recently surprised everyone by publicly unveiling its Windows 8 OS which is expected to release in 2012.
The unique thing about this OS is that it will be available for use on personal computers, laptops, tablet PCs, netbooks and media centers. The biggest change is that Windows 8 will have support for mobile ARM processors and system-on-a-chip. Microsoft also claims that Windows 8 does not need to work on upgraded hardware as it will work fine on the hardware people currently have.
The Windows 8 preview at the Computer Electronics Show 2011 got a lot of mixed reviews. Windows 8 will have a totally revamped user interface which is more on the lines of the Windows Phone 7 interface. It also boasts of better touch features which they claim will provide for a better experience. Windows 8 looks like a totally different system compared to Windows 7 and Vista. One won’t be able to recognize the interface at all as it has been totally revamped. All devices and apps from Windows 7 will work fine on Windows 8.
The Demo of Windows 8 showed a Welcome Screen where most of the popular apps are arranged in the form of tiles, just like on Windows Phone 7. It should be noted that the demo showed Windows 8 on a Tablet so I am not sure if personal computers will have the same interface. It also comes with a feature called Windows Snap which makes it easy to use two apps side by side without disturbing your activities.
There is also the ability to revert back to the old Windows interface if one needs to access a file or feels uneasy with the new user interface. Microsoft has not gotten rid of the Directory Menu but has instead made it easy for users to access the directory menu directly within the app.
They have also made it easy to share between apps by getting them to talk to each other. For example users can easily grab photos from an app called “Photo Feedr” and upload them on Twitter without having to save it elsewhere first. The only catch is that you have to register the app with Windows 8 first.
The tile Interface works well on regular computers as well as one just needs to either use the keyboard or the mouse buttons to navigate their way. Finally the best thing about Windows 8 is that it will support USB peripherals to work with ARM powered Tablets. A lot of Mobile Operating systems are known not to be so friendly with their support for USB peripheral. This will prove to be one killer feature which Microsoft needs to convince people to give their OS a try.
Windows 8 still does not have a release date but we certainly hope it comes out in 2012. We are totally surprised by what Microsoft had to show us and we hope that it turns out well. Maybe this is the Operating System which will let Microsoft compete with the likes of Apple and Google on the Mobile Operating system market.
