By Kurt Mackie
Microsoft kicked off the preliminaries of its Build conference on Monday by describing just how its new code-named "Windows 8" operating system will make the case for IT professionals, developers and users.
Microsoft first showed off Windows 8 in June, but the Build demonstrations marked the deepest view yet of what looks like a radical departure from past desktop OS designs. In this case, Microsoft displayed a "developer preview" of Windows 8 at the event. Attending press got a look at an x86-based Windows 8 preview tablet PC, which isn't for sale yet.
In general, Microsoft officials describe Windows 8 as a "reimagining" of its operating system, although the tile-based UI looks a lot like the one seen in the Windows Phone 7 mobile OS. Th e resemblance isn't a coincidence because Microsoft is pressing developers to create "Metro-style" apps, which are going to be based on HTML 5, JavaScript or XAML. These Metro-style apps will port from x86 metal to Windows 8 running on the ARM platform, which is a new platform for Microsoft's flagship desktop OS.
"If you use HTML 5, JavaScript or XAML, it just runs on ARM," said Julie Larson-Green, corporate vice president of Windows experience, at a Build press event. She noted that there's a large existing install base of x86 software out there, but Microsoft isn't necessarily working to port it to ARM. The hardware is different, so while ARM may enable great power management, porting an x86 app to ARM might just drain the battery.
The ARM devices for Windows 8 are still being developed. No ARM demo was shown at the press event. However, "all of the apps for ARM will be Metro-style," according to Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division, in response to a question.
Larson-Green described classic x86 apps as "desktop apps," explaining that they're different from Metro-style apps. Microsoft will still enable those desktop apps to run on Windows 8, and they'll still have the same familiar controls through mouse and keyboard, with chrome borders, buttons and standard menu systems. Microsoft has also promised that any Windows 7 app will be able to run on Windows 8. However, Metro-style apps will have a different look. They will fill every inch of the screen and will typically have no chrome borders at all.
Metro-style apps are fully touch-enabled and users can even use a pen device, which Microsoft is reviving with Windows 8. If you swipe your finger toward the right, it brings up the "charms," which are five icons (Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings). The charms appear to be all that's left from the Windows 7 "control panel" approach. Microsoft standardized one place to change the settings both for the OS system and for applications, making things easier for users, according to Jensen Harris, director of program management for Windows experience.
Windows 8 for IT Pros
Microsoft added a huge perk for IT professionals who routinely find themselves reprovisioning machines. Windows 8 will have two features that accomplish these IT routines in a short amount of time. One feature is called "reset," which will restore the machine back to its original factory settings. It goes back to a clean state where everything is working. It may skip any service packs that were applied, though.
The other feature that IT pros may like is called "refresh." Refresh will take all files, data and personalization on a machine, lift them up, pave over the OS and deliver a fresh copy, according to Gabe Aul, partner director of program management for Windows fundamentals. Refresh goes back to the original personalization of the OS and is useful for users who share their PCs with others.
Microsoft added a "Windows To Go" feature in Windows 8 that enables the OS to run off of a USB key. If the memory stick is pulled out, the OS will catch back up if replugged, according to Iain McDonald, partner director of program management for Windows. He also noted that Microsoft added Hyper-V to the Windows 8 client OS. Hyper-V can help IT pros with testing different environments, but Microsoft mainly added it to help developers, who often have to test their apps on four versions of OSes, McDonald said.
Applications typically run concurrently on Windows 8. When they aren't active on the desktop, apps will run "suspended," which appears to be a new approach by Microsoft. If users really want to kill a running app, they can use the Task Manager, which retained a non-Metro chromed look in the demo.
By Kurt Mackie , (Redmonmag.com)