Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour - InformationWeek

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Comments
Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
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Mark532010
50%
50%
Mark532010,
 User Rank: Moderator
4/9/2012 | 9:09:41 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
There are some great things in the new Windows 8. The easy-to-program WinRT (metro) coupled with the AppStore is going to be a real winner I think. It's not as good for big desktop displays but is a great opportunity for indy developers. I mean, look at the stock market app on page 18, would anyone with a desktop really use that full-screen busy picture and the one line of stocks at the bottom? I don't even think I would use that on a pad, Hopefully developers will create alternatives that have less eye-straining backgrounds and more information per page.

The review does gloss over some issues however, such as page 5 where it states "you can resize the windows and move them around" except with the new apps you can't. You get full-screen or 320pixel edge, thats all. Only old desktop apps can be resized.

Also, the "it just works" mantra sounds good until you realize there aren't any tools for figuring out what to do if it doesn't. On page 7 the share to Wordpress feature looks cool, but if something goes wrong there are no tools to use to debug.

Still, I expect Win8 to be a big hit for the tablet/pad universe and I am really anticipating the release so I can dive into the details.
Tronman
50%
50%
Tronman,
 User Rank: Apprentice
3/20/2012 | 6:25:11 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
Is there a way to unclutter the desktop? It looks like a mess in slide 1 with all those colored rectangles.
ANON1249561150308
50%
50%
ANON1249561150308,
 User Rank: Apprentice
3/16/2012 | 2:58:49 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
MS stop referencing Apple. "Just like Apple...", this, "Just like Apple..." that. Enough is enough. Start acting like a leader. As a leader you need to be focused on the most important goal. That your "out of the package", "out of the box", etc. user experience is the best - and demonstrate that! Your position as the leader will follow.
SSVV
50%
50%
SSVV,
 User Rank: Apprentice
3/3/2012 | 5:00:22 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
To add to "dastopher 1"'s list:
User Experience ( PARC, followed by Apple pioneered the concept, now Microsoft is in the game with Win8)
dastopher
50%
50%
dastopher,
 User Rank: Apprentice
3/1/2012 | 6:55:08 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
Live tiles (very different from regular tiles)
Marketplace
In-app search
Skydrive integration
Windows Live integration
Social network integration
Much faster search
Much improved boot-level security
Improved multi-monitor support
Integrated virtual technology (a list all by itself)
Integrated PDF (finally)
Integrated ISO
Better task management
Better power management for when the OS is loaded on to tablets and smaller form factors.

But most importantly, the ability to have new form factors that involve touch. This opens up the industry to a new way of doing computing which other OSes just aren't optimized for (although the could be if time was put into it).

I'm not very familiar with Java Ecliplse, but I'm told that Windows 8 sharing is more uniform and integrated, making it better for the end user.

Just my 2 cents
justanothergeek
50%
50%
justanothergeek,
 User Rank: Apprentice
3/1/2012 | 6:26:32 PM
re: Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
Can someone help me understand how this is some radical leap in technology? So we have tiles instead of icons. Sharing data between apps has been available in Java Eclipse forever. I just do not see this breaking any new ground? But I am open to other opinions.


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