The Windows 8 Consumer Preview was recently released for consumers, IT Pros and developers. There are many new and exciting things envisioned in the Windows 8 platform that previous operating systems like Windows 7, Vista, and XP do not have. The launch of this pre-beta version and the eventual launch of the successful final version indicate Windows 8’s entry as a bridge between the worlds of mobile computing and traditional computing.
Windows 8 is the latest offering by Microsoft which will be fully released for download and usage by everybody late in 2012. Currently available to developers and programmers, as well consumers interested at getting the first look, Windows 8 offers a re-envisioned Windows OS that will support a wide range of devices and technological architecture.
Windows 8 Supports a Variety of Hardware Options
Windows 8 includes the latest features such as support for Intel chipsets, as well as ARM architecture that is angled toward mobile computing. Other than these, Windows 8 will also support Qualcomm, TI, NVIDIA, and AMD in an effort to offer similar computing privileges to users of smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and computers. In effect, this means this one OS will be the answer to the needs of every single device including gaming consoles such as Xbox.
Watch a video to learn how to install Windows 8.
Metro Apps in Windows 8
The primary reason that the pre-beta version of Windows 8 has been released is so that developers can begin building applications around the new Metro interface that hosts Windows 8 and so consumers can start testing it. The fact is that there are two user interfaces (UIs) that are present in Windows 8 for computers and tablets. One is the regular Desktop UI while the Metro UI is the touch version. Both of these user interfaces can be used simultaneously but on different screens. The Metro UI is more geared toward lighter usage and touch friendly apps while the Desktop UI lends itself to creation and more labor intensive work.
Developers will need to create applications which are primed for touch usage when it comes to making the most of the Metro UI. However, the pre-beta version Metro UI is not capable of handling complex or large applications such as Photoshop, Visual Studio, Office, or even QuickBooks. Another aspect that the present Metro UI sorely lacks is that it’s missing built-in apps for media or even mail. Exhaustive and easy to access apps will have to be created for the Metro UI, and the work will have to be completed quickly to maintain a technological distance from its competitive developers.
WIndows 8: One OS for All
Traditional computing through platforms such as PC’s, desktops, and notebooks has made way for avant-garde technology such as smartphones and tablets. Needless to say, the need to bridge the gap between traditional and mobile computing through the introduction of an all pervasive operating system has been felt for a while. Windows 8 has been touted by Windows as the solution to this unique and instrumental puzzle. The Metro UI is the single user interface that will serve as the premier platform with the power and capability to manage all devices that fall under the vast categories of the smartphone, tablet, PC, and Xbox.
Windows Live Tiles
The Windows Live Tiles are every developer’s dream. These tiles allow for more than just the launching of applications. It is possible to gain valuable information from these Live Tiles which includes current postings, as well as any RSS feeds you subscribe to. The functionality will in all likelihood sustain innovative functions as developers begin to build additional applications around it. Even in the pre-beta version, the Windows 8 Live Outlook Tile allows for live updates corresponding to how many unread messages are currently in your inbox. This is just one example.
Future of Computing Lies in Cloud Services
Many interfaces that are dependent on cloud services are fully supported by Windows 8 which means that interfaces such as Flickr, LinkedIn, as well as Facebook and Azure, AppFabric or Skydrive will operate conveniently while being accessible through Windows 8 on your tablet, smartphone, and/or computer. With social media networking and micro blogging websites sweeping the world off their feet, apps geared toward maximizing the user experience will be expected from developers of apps for Windows 8.
Unified Experience
Smartphones have become a necessity. With technology that can be carried around in your pocket, Windows 8 fulfills the need of a highly sync-friendly OS that allows for one-platform access to multiple devices. In order to accomplish this, Windows 8 comes together with the developers of Metro Apps so that a unified and seamless experience can be offered to the user. Many different types of contracts will be signed between Metro Apps and Windows 8 to facilitate the user experience. These include search contracts that allow for developers to fabricate searching apps so that users can search other apps while they are not being used, sharing contracts between apps, media apps, and so on.
Better Exposure for Developers
The launch of Windows 8 also signifies an opening up of the market. The exposure levels that developers have received in the past are all set to be increased by a large margin. The primary reason for this is that developers are no longer limited to just creating applications for desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. With Windows 8 OS, they can create applications that will simultaneously fulfill the needs of all these devices and can be accessed from any of them.
While computers is where the hardware gold is, the fact is that the actual money and passion of innovation lie in the smartphone market. The Windows 8 OS allows for an amalgamation of these two worlds leading to a considerable amount of resources that will be made available to developers of apps as the demand for them increases in the conjoined, larger, and future market.
The Power of the Future
The future of computing lies in the convergence of traditional and mobile computing. Windows 8 is the bridge between these two. While Windows 8 is being hyped as the next best thing, the fact is that this is just the pre-beta version. The final version of Windows 8 promises to pack more power than anybody has seen as of yet.
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Install Windows 8 in a Virtual Machine
Most technical professionals love to test out new software. However, they hate to mess up their production machines. After all, those computers have been tweaked, optimized and customized to provide exactly the right environment to get things done and get them done fast. On the other hand, those production machines are our favorite computers. Sure, we can test stuff on another computer, but that isn’t the same thing as being able to run the newest test software on your desk, with your monitor and your stuff.
Unfortunately, when it comes to trying out an operating system, there aren’t a lot of really good options that allow you to run the new OS on your favorite computer. However, it is possible to get Windows 8 running in a virtual machine so that you can try out all the latest and greatest updates from the Windows 8 Developer Preview without having to restore or rebuild your machine.
Virtual Machine Running Windows 8
Typically, I like to test software on VMware Player. Unfortunately, it seems that Windows 8 Developer Preview cannot run on the free VMware Player; it can only run on the full VMware Workstation virtualization software. The good news is that the developer preview of Windows 8 can run in an Oracle VirtualBox virtual machine.
Install Windows 8 in Virtual Machine Instructions
It is fairly straightforward to install Windows 8 in a VirtualBox machine. First, of course, you’ll need to install VirtualBox. Download the software from the VirtualBox website and proceed through the standard setup routine. You’ll also need a copy of the Windows 8 Developer Preview. Grab the ISO file from here. Don’t bother making a disk, you can just point VirtualBox to the ISO file when you install.
Once installed, run the VirtualBox Manager. You’ll see something like this:
Select Create New Virtual Machine and choose Microsoft Windows for the Operating System. For version, you can choose either Windows 8.
Next, create a virtual hard disk with the default settings and click Next. Use a VDI file type. You won’t be exporting this test VM anywhere else, so you may as well go native. Choose Dynamically Allocated for the type. This is much faster to create and a better use of resources.
When it comes time to choose the size of the disk there are two things to keep in mind. First, this is all the disk space your Windows 8 install will see. If you know anything about Microsoft software, you know that minimums are not the way to go. Second, don’t squeeze your real machine’s storage space too much. On the other hand, if you have 200 GB of free disk space, don’t be a Scrooge and make a 100 GB disk so your new OS has some room to run.
Set your memory usage as high as you dare. This is Windows, it needs all the RAM it can get. Once created, select your Windows 8 VM and click Start.
Now, browse to where you have the ISO install file and click next. VirtualBox will start installing Windows 8 inside the virtual machine. Choose your language and accept the license agreement and then click Install Now.
Running Windows 8 Setup in VirtualBox
Choose to install Windows 8 in the unallocated space inside of your VM. There is no reason to get fancy with multiple drives at this time, but in theory you could partition the space inside your VM. Windows 8 install will start copying files and installing itself just like it would on any other non-VM PC.
Keep in mind that this whole process is much slower than it should be. You are giving a fraction of your machine’s resources over to Windows 8 and the virtual machine denies a lot of hardware acceleration you might otherwise benefit from; in other words, go get a cup of coffee and work on another project, this will take a while.
Once Windows 8 is installed, it will ask you to name the machine and connect to a Windows Live account. You don’t have to do that, but if you have one, it will give you all the features that go with having the online link.
Welcome To Windows 8
By default, the VirtualBox won’t show the whole Windows 8 start screen. Since half the fun of Windows 8 is poking around the new Metro interface, you want to be able to see the whole thing. Find your new Windows 8 Control Panel and change your resolution so that more of the interface fits on the screen at one time.
You can now play around with your new Windows 8 installation.
There are some important things to keep in mind. First, do not judge the speed. No matter how many resources you turned over to your VM, it is still a subset of your computer, and while VirtualBox does support passing through some hardware acceleration, you are not getting the full effect. Also, keep in mind fancy features like that touchscreen are not going to work inside your VM. Finally, this version of Windows 8 is a developer preview. For those of you not versed in the lingo that means it isn’t even close to ready yet. This isn’t one of those fully functional, nearly ready, beta softwares Microsoft has handed out recently. There are going to be issues, and they are going to be made worse by using it inside a virtual machine.
Still, a fully functional Windows 8 system to play around with, without destroying your regular machine is a fun toy to try out.
Have fun!
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8 Useful Tips and Tricks for Windows 8
In fact, Windows 8 can be that much more confusing for those familiar with the operating system; even the Start menu — a staple that’s been present since the Windows NT days — is completely redesigned. To help you figure out how to navigate the new OS, I’ve put together a list of tips and tricks that should be useful to both novices and super users.
8. New, Awesome Keyboard Shortcuts
Along with the updated design, Windows 8 comes with some cool new keyboard shortcuts. Although a few of the old shortcuts — like Win+R to launch Run — are still present, some of the new keyboard combinations offer more utility than the old shortcuts. Windows+Q, for example, gives Windows+R a run for its money; it features the same functions as Run, but at the same time enables you to search your system for installed programs or browse through an alphabetized list of apps.
Here are a few of my favorite Windows 8 shortcuts:
- Windows: Toggles between the Start Screen and the Windows desktop, or between the Start Screen and an active app.
- Windows+Tab: Toggle between running apps.
- Windows+C: Displays the Charms (the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options), date and time, and power options.
- Windows+F: Opens the new Windows search feature, Search Files.
- Windows+I: Opens the Settings pane and displays the wireless networking, speaker, screen brightness, language, and power options.
- Windows+O: Rotates orientation on tablet and slate PCs.
- Windows+W: Opens the Search Files function from within the Settings tab.
- Windows+Z: Displays a contextual menu when running a full-screen Metro app.
Just about every online service, from banking to social networks to email services, require passwords — all of which, to provide the most protection, should be unique. To keep your files and other information safe from unauthorized users, you should create a password when setting up a new Windows 8 account. However, rather than memorizing yet another jumble of letters and numbers, you can instead create a picture password.
Picture passwords can be made up of a combination of taps, straight lines and circles. To set up a picture password in Windows 8, open Control Panel, and then click “Users.” Click “Create a Picture Password,” and follow the onscreen directions.
6. Log in to Your Account Automatically
In contrast to picture passwords, if you’re the only one who uses your computer and you don’t have to worry about other users logging into your account without permission, you can configure automatic login. Open regedit, and then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. Double-click “DefaultPassword” and enter the password for your username. Double-click “AutoAdminLogon,” and then change the value to “1″ to enable automatic login.
5. Mount Disc Images Without Third-Party Software
In previous editions of Windows, you had to download a third-party application to emulate disc images. Windows 8, however, includes a built-in tool that can mount ISO images to a virtual disc drive. To emulate an ISO file in Windows 8, press the Windows key and “E” to open Windows Explorer, and then navigate to the folder where the ISO file is stored. Right-click the file and then select “Mount” from the contextual menu.
4. Restart Explorer with the Click of a Button
Windows Explorer isn’t always the most stable process, and when the taskbar or file manager lock up or become unresponsive, killing explorer.exe is sometimes the easiest way to restore the operating system to working order. In the past, you had to find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab in Task Manager, end the task, and — on much older editions of Microsoft Windows — even create a new explorer.exe task. Windows 8, however, now provides a two-click solution from within Task Manager. Simply click “Windows Explorer” from beneath the Applications or Windows Processes section, and then click “Restart.”
3. Restore the Old Windows Desktop
If you’re a creature of habit, you’re probably not going to be a big fan of the new Start menu. The menu now consists of just four options, called Charms. No more is the jump list, the user folders, or the Computer, Control Panel or Network options; Settings, Devices, Share and Search are all of what makes up the Windows 8 Start Menu. But one quick change to the registry can restore the classic Windows desktop. Open Regedit, and then navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Double-click RPEnabled and change the value to 0. Click “OK” to re-enable the old Start menu.
2. Turn on the Touch Keyboard
Windows 8 features a touch keyboard, improving on the old onscreen keyboard. The touch keyboard is ideal for tablet and slate users; it automatically capitalizes the first letter of each sentence, adds a period to the end of a sentence when you double-tap the spacebar, and can toggle between different modes. To enable the touch keyboard, right-click the taskbar, point to “Toolbars,” and then click “Touch Keyboard.” Select the keyboard icon from the bottom right of the dock to switch between full-screen mode, thumb mode, and pen mode.
1. Close Running Apps
If you launch an app from within Metro, you’ll notice that the caption buttons are missing from the upper right side of the window, preventing you from closing the application. Even worse, Alt+F4 does nothing. Pressing the Windows key will switch you over to the Start Screen, but the app you opened will still be running in the background. If you switch to the Windows desktop, Windows 8 will suspend the application, but it won’t close it. The Windows 8 development team may change this sometime in the future, but for now, the only way to close running apps in Windows 8 is to end the task from Task Manager. Press “Windows” and “D” to switch over to the desktop, then press “Ctrl,” “Shift” and “Esc” to open Task Manager. Select the app you want to close, and then click the “End Task” button.
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