by Jovie Cabais | Jun 5, 2011 | Tech Updates
Microsoft has officially revealed some of the key features of its forthcoming operating system. The new OS which may or may not be called Windows 8, has a completely different user interface. It takes inspiration mostly from the Windows Phone UI which puts a heavy emphasis on touch-based functionality. One of the most obvious design overhauls is on the Windows start menu. It has now been replaced with a colorful tiled design similar to the Exposé Screen of Firefox and other quick- screen-navigation system in most browsers. The colorful tiles however, do not display websites that have been visited, it instead displays static program icons and widgets that are called “live tiles” because they provide constant updates and notifications. Looking for files in the Windows 8 OS has also been made easier by allowing users to view their files in the same way as the programs are being viewed. It is easily navigated with touch alone since its development was primarily geared for tablets, but, it can be also used with a standard mouse and keyboard. The OS also maintained its ability to multi-task. Multiple applications can be viewed at the same time on the same screen by dragging and dropping the app window onto the main screen. It has also been optimized to work with the upcoming Internet Explorer 10. Overall, Windows 8 looks like a good development for Microsoft, it is however, still far from complete and a public release date is yet to be announced. Share...
