The Windows 8 consumer preview was launched this morning at MWC in Barcelona. Windows 8 comes as a much welcome improvement on the already successful Windows operating system.
If you are courageous enough to brave a Microsoft beta product check back for a link once the official download is posted. Then Download and install that sucker, and hope you’re machine does not explode.
We will have a full review up later this week. Happy installs and good luck.
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool
Minimum Specifications
- CPU: 1GHz
- RAM: 1GB
- Storage: 16GB
- Graphics: Direct X9 Compatible Graphics Card
Check out the changes below.
Windows 8 Metro UI replaces the start bar.
Start Button in Windows 8 Developer Preview
A larger complaint about the Developer Preview was the loss of real functionality with the Start Button and Start Menu. In the Developer Preview we were given a crippled Start Button. The Start Menu was reduced to a black menu with little options. (See Image left) In order the access the menu you would have to mouse over the Start Button. Clicking on the Start Button would take you to the gorgeous Metro UI.
Workarounds were found to make the Super Bar (previously named Taskbar) a bit more functional, such as pinning all of you frequented apps for easy access. Due to the distaste for the crippled Start Button the community assumed Microsoft would bring it back for the Consumer Preview.
It is offical the Start Button is now out of Windows 8. The Super Bar, previously named Taskbar, will stay just as is. But now broken down to a simple dock.
Click to enlarge
Get ready for some revolutionary swipe gestures to get around Windows 8. I cannot wait to really get into this OS during the rest of the day. The metro style apps looks great but only time will tell if they stick in a desktop or laptop environment. Here are the confirmed apps in Windows 8.
Confirmed Apps in Windows 8 Consumer Preview
The Verge is reporting that the apps in the following list are confirmed and will be preinstalled with Windows 8 Consumer Preview. All apps with be of the Metro UI variant, no word on if there will be a non Metro desktop counterpart.
- Camera
- Messaging
- [Rumor] Microsoft is looking to tie SMS into this app for launch.
- This is not Outlook or Windows Live Mail
- Calendar
- SkyDrive
- 25GB worth of free storage, files limited to 100MB
- People
- Photos
- Videos
- Currently branded Zune but built by the Xbox team and will be branded as “Xbox Live for Windows” on launch.
- Music
- Currently branded Zune but built by the Xbox team and will be branded as “Xbox Live for Windows” on launch.
- XBox Integration
- Navigate your XBox 360 through your Windows 8 computer with a special XBox application for Windows 8. You can even go as far as launching games and apps.
Another featured new to Windows 8 is the introduction of the Windows Store. Much like the Mac App store, the Windows Store will feature applications submitted by developers. All of the above apps will be updated through the Windows Store. Xbox Live will feature a Companion app much like the one found on Windows Phone 7.
In closing, Windows 8 is shaping up to be the most trans-formative Windows to date.
Source: The Verge
The above image is the default Windows 8 Consumer wallpaper. Its in BETA… get it?
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