Windows 8 consumer preview, features and quick review

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Microsoft has announced windows 8 consumer preview. This new version comes with new Metro user interface and other cool features on which Microsoft has been working for past few years. Last year, Microsoft had announced the developer version of the windows 8 and Windows president Steven Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer version went public.

“With Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one,” said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

The speed and fluidity of Windows 8’s new design, along with the many differences consumers will find in the operating system, are part of what Sinofsky says, is a “generational change” with Windows. Windows 95 was the last operating system to initiate such a generational shift in the Windows ecosystem, Sinofsky said.

Microsoft is making the Windows 8 Consumer Preview available for download all around the world in English, French, German, Japanese and simplified Chinese languages.

Windows 8 consumer preview gives some good login options. Users can use local windows 8 accounts or they can choose to use a Microsoft account. Using windows 8 with Microsoft account will make your windows more useful. You’ll be able to synchronize to it your Windows 8 settings, including Internet Explorer history. This means that when you log in to any other Windows 8 machine with your Microsoft account, your desktop data will sync, including background settings, address book, other accounts like Facebook and Twitter, e-mail, and instant messaging. This can be done with SkyDrive integration.

When we first look at the home screen of the windows, you will notice that Microsoft has tried to take the smartphone look to the windows with tiles. Apps are pinned in these tiles. Tap on the tile to use the app and then the app will open in the full screen. The former Start Menu has been replaced by a full-screen view of tiles that you can scroll through horizontally. It also allows users to pin their apps, files, shortcuts to these tiles. Drag and drop to change the location of apps on the home screen. Microsoft has also introduced many keyboard shortcuts.
Metro design is enough to fall in live with this new windows 8 consumer preview.

You can navigate around Windows 8 in two ways. Either with the touch or with keyboard-mouse. But using this windows with touch navigation is the easiest way. Everything is designed to consider the touch users to make the navigation easy. Windows 8 is all about the edges of the screen to make it easier with touch. Swipe on the tile to launch it on the full screen. Once you’ve launched at least one app, you can swipe in from the left edge to return to the last-open app.

It also works fine with the use of Keyboard and mouse. There are many hotkeys and shortcuts to make it easier to navigate with the keyboard. While you start typing the name of the app from the keyboard, it starts the fetching the apps to the home screen. type “mi” when you are on the Start screen, and a list of apps with “mi” in their name will appear in the center of the screen.

Move the mouse to the lower-left corner to see your Start screen, or the upper-left corner for your most recently visited app. If you then move the mouse alongside the left edge, it will reveal your other most recently used apps.

Microsoft has integrated this Windows 8 consumer preview with many apps. Enjoying videos and photos will give a better enhanced experience on windows 8. You can see your mails with the mail app and next appointment with calender app. All these with a tap on the tiles of home screen.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview also comes with the beta opening of the Windows Store. This windows store is filled with a many Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft itself. During the Consumer Preview time, these apps are available for free to try and experience. .

You can also synchronize contacts with bing maps to save the address of your friends. Each time you will see the address of your friend, physical addresses appear with a link to Bing Maps for quick lookup.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers seamless integration with the content people care about across their devices. An optional additional sign-on with a Microsoft account provides access to a host of features, including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across your Windows-based PCs and your Windows Phones.

Microsoft has said that Windows 8 is designed to sip on battery life. We can not say anything about this claim because have not experienced it on the battery enough.

Microsoft has tried its best to give a next level operating system. But some users will find it difficult at first look. Users who are already familiar with tablets and smartphones will find it interesting. Microsoft has also not given any detailed tutorial, but we can expect it with the final release of the windows. If you will use windows 8 on your desktop, you will think your desktop as a larger tablet.

Windows 8 is an attempt to take the tablet look over the desktop. But we have to wait and watch the users response which we will be getting in upcoming days. After that we will be able to say anything about the success or failure of the effort.

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