shareah0lic: What is New in Windows 8

Windows 8 officially launched, with a new tiles-based, touch-centric Metro interface, it's still somehow usable with mouse and keyboard. The new interface is flatter and Aero-less theme, and you can switch between Metro interface and traditional Windows desktop.

Lock Screen

Windows 8's lock screen is now with beautiful picture along with widgets, like time, emails and notifications from apps. You can choose to use "picture passwords," which let you swipe or draw gesture to unlock.

Start Screen

Old Start menu is gone, replaced with Windows 8's new Start screen, which is similar with Windows Phone. The new Start screen come with tiled application icon, which can show information and notifications for the app. You can also create tiles for games, contacts, and even traditional Windows apps that will pull you into the traditional Windows desktop. Move mouse to the bottom left corner and click (or press the Windows key) to return to the Start screen, you can start typing once you're on the Start screen to start searching for an app or setting.

Full Screen Apps

Tablet-optimized apps will go full screen, with touch-based controls, like pinch to zoom. Full Screen apps can be multitask and even run side by side, so you can watch video while browsing the web, or play game while writing an email, just like traditional Windows desktop.

Charms bar

A new menu bar on the right side of the screen, for options like search, sharing, accessing the Start screen, managing devices, and settings, all of which can be directly integrated with apps. The Charms bar can be accessed by swiping from the right edge of the screen, pointing in one of the right corners of the screen, or pressing Win+C.

Cloud Support

With Microsoft account, you can sync address book, photos, SkyDrive data, third-party apps data, and even Windows 8 PC settings up to the cloud. You can access your themes, languages, app settings, taskbar, etc on any other Windows 8 device once you sign in with Microsoft account.

Windows 8 also comes with other features and enhancements:

Improved boot time
Internet Explorer 10, can run on traditional desktop, or as new full-screen interface
Windows Store, one portal to discover all Windows apps
"Ribbon" interface Windows Explorer
Built-In Antivirus with Windows Defender
Redesigned Task Manager
System-wide spell-checking and search
"Refresh your PC", faster way to re-install Windows
Windows To Go, allows create of bootable USB and external hard disk

Sunday, October 28, 2012

What is New in Windows 8