Windows 8
- 1. Windows 8 First Part: New Features I. Development Platform 1. Language and standards support Windows Runtime (WinRT) allowscreatingapplications which run on a secure sandbox. WinRT is a COM-based API. It's possible to develop on C++, C++/CX, C#, Visual Basic .NET, or HTML5 and JavaScript. Moreover, it's now possible to develop application's which use near field communication (NFC) allowing communicating with compatible objects (such as credit card or smartphone). Furthermore,it's possible to use active applications in two or more screens on the same Windows session with at least a 1366x768 resolution. In case of 1024x768resolutions, just one new Windows 8 application (metro apps) can be used and no one withlower resolution (only traditional desktop application can be displayed). On Windows beta version, Microsoft employees told that the direction decide to nameits actual start screen "Metro" but Metro AG, a Germancompany has threaten Microsoft that if it's true, there will be a lawsuit against them. Finally, A Microsoft spokesperson told that "Metro" was a code name and announced later the real name, "Modern UI". 2. Windows Store Windows Store is an app store service which permit to buy new Windows Store apps and desktop app online, like the Apple store or the Google store. There is free and paid app. The cost begins to USD1.49 and reaches $999.99. Microsoft take 30% of app cost and 20% on app which cost more than $25.App must be certified on the compatibility and content. InDecember 2012, the numbers of app available on the Windows store reached 35,000.
- 2. II. Shell and user interface Windows redefined user interface adding Modern Ui start screen and a new lock screen optimized for touchscreens. Further, clicking inthe top of screen makes the new charm bar appear containing four options "search", "share", "start", "device" and "settings".
- 3. Touch on "search" show by default the list of applications installed and a pop-up which came to write something to search. We can select if it's an app, an OS parameter, a file or something in an app. "Share"allowssharingsomething in app. User must be in it otherwise it shows that there is nothing to share at the moment and select an app and try again. Select “start” andon Modern Ui start screen appears. Choose device offers us to share something with a device.
- 4. Modern Ui start screen is Brick-shaped with title of app on the left corner of brick app. Also, it's possible to close new windows 8 apptouching top of left screen or with task manager. These apps are launched in full screen by default but it's possible to put them on a side. So, we can do multi-tasking more easily. 1. User Logon The new windows 8 lock screen allows login with many method. The first one and traditional is password logon. The second one, optimized for tablets and laptop computer is picture password logon. The last onepermits to logon with a four digit pin. The computer locks out when we enter five times a wrong pin code or wrong picture. It's possible to use it again with a text password.
- 5. 2. Microsoft account integration A user who has a Microsoft account can sign in all windows 8 computer in addition of traditional local connection. He can update his local account with a Microsoftaccount. Otherwise he will not be administrator but a simple user with limited accessesfiles and applications. For this, he needs an authorization delivered by a local computer's administrator. 3. Multi-monitor support Microsoftadds function to taskbar. When the screen is shared with another one, the taskbar is dedicated to its own screen. The wallpaper can be dedicated or not.
- 6. 4. File Explorer Microsoft has rebuilt windows explorer which name's now file explorer. It has a ribbon toolbar which looks like office 2010. Also, it's possible to natively mount ISO, IMG and VHD files as virtual drives.
- 7. Additionally, many data are shown when a file is transferred like a graphicrepresenting speed transfer, the possibility to aggregate multiple operations at once and the ability to pause and resume file transfer. 5. Internet Explorer a) Internet Explorer was updated to version number 10. There are a desktop app and a metro app which is displayed in full screen and optimized for touchscreen. Flash player is now included with IE.
- 9. 6. Task Manager Task Manager was rebuilt. It has a simple and detail view. On the simple view, only apps are displayed. This view represents the App tab in windows 7 and it is the default view of task manager.
- 10. Detail view contains process, performance, app history, startup, users, details and services. Process tab has more detail than windows 7 process tab. Indeed, processes are organized by default by app, background process and windows process but it can be disabled in view option. It showsthe part that app take from the CPU, RAM, HDD and network (in percentage). Now, all Windows processes are grouped by application. For example, all tab of IE is showing under IE explorer process.
- 11. Performance tab display detail of CPU, RAM, primary HDD and Network (like Ethernet, WI-FI, Bluetooth...). However, more details are shown in resource monitor. App history tab shows a list of application launched with many details (CPU times, Network, Usage network cost and thumbnail update).
- 12. Startup tab shown the app launched with windows start with many detail such as app name, editor name, statute (enable/disable) and system impact (low/middle/high). Users tab shows the list of system users with detail such as status, process, RAM, HDD and network.
- 13. Detail tab display app name, PID number, status, user name, CPU, Memory and description. Services tab shows the name of service, PID number, Description, status and group. However, more details and options are present in service monitor.
- 14. 7. Family Safety Family Safety is now included natively with windows 8. It permits Administrator to make some usage reports and restrict eventually user activity. III. Infrastructure 1. File History This featureprotects user and system data. The goal is to create incremental backups of library folder and user specified folder to an external storage device. The user can restore later data. Also, file history use USN journal method to track changes and simply new version of files. 2. Hardware support Mass storage with USB version 3 is now supported natively by windows 8 which allowed faster data transfers and better power management.Also, there is a port which was created on windows 8 especially for tablet running Windows RT. On it, traditional desktop appsare not supported because the CPU is ARM, it is possible to execute only windows store app. Only office 2013 was created on both. 3. Installation Microsoft has reviewedits upgrade assistant. It allowed purchasing, downloading, installing windows 8 but also creating an USB key and DVD of it and checking the computer compatibility (hardware and software) directly from the desktop. Moreover, it's still possible to install windows 8 at the computer start, before an OS is starting. Now, the product key is directly included in firmware and no more printed below computer.
- 15. 4. Networking Now it's possible to connectinternet using mobile broadband with a SIM card and Windows detects automatically the user's carrier name. However carriers can create their own app to connect users at internet. 5. Startup The startup has changed. Indeed, when shut down is pressed, the system hibernate the kernel. This method allows a faster boot on the system.Also, it is possible to use "-o" with shutdown.exe or holding shift + restart to access UEFI settings. It had been made because the system is so fast than human have no time to access UEFI settings with classic method. 6. Repair and recovery Microsoft allowed resetting the system with or without erasing personal data and programs and without the installation files. Indeed, the refresh option preserves user profiles, settings, and apps whereas reset option erases all data present in the HDD and reinstall the system. 7. Security Windows Defender has now an anti-virus function in addition of anti-malware. It is include natively with windows 8.However, a user can install his own protection. In this case windows defender will be disable automatically but it will be enable again if a user removes, disables it or license expires. Also, Windows 8 supports secure boot. This mode was created to prevent incoming intrusion before the system start. 8. Windows To Go “Windows To Go” allows booting Windows from an external mass storage device. However, all devices are not compatible yet. Microsoft supplies a list of compatible devices. IV. Virtualization 1. Hyper-V Windows Virtual PC has been substituted by Hyper-V, the Microsoft supervisor which is include natively in Windows 8 while it was only in Microsoft OS server.
- 16. Second Part: Removed Features I. Windows Shell 1. Start Menu The start menu has been replaced by the start screen. It misses some important options like the recent document menu or the most frequently used program list. 2. Start Button The start buttonchanged. Up to windows 7, start menu shows a little popup with many shortcuts. Now, start button sends to the modern ui start screen. It is no longer available on task bar but on the charm bar with moving mouse on bottom or top right of screen. The Windows key on keyboard has the same function. 3. Windows Desktop Gadget Windows Desktop Gadget was removed. This featureshows in right screen bar (windows vista) or in all screen (windows 7) some gadgets like Weather or clock.
- 18. II. Personalization and DVM 1. Windows Flip 3D Windows Flip 3D has been removed. However, it was substituted by metro app (⊞Win+Tab↹). 2. Aero Glass Theme Aero Glass Theme was deleted but some elements are still present.
- 19. 3. Desktop Window Manager There is no more longer Windows Classic theme present in windows 8 but high contrast theme is still present (cf. picture above). 4. Advanced Appearance Settings To change windows backgrounds color, users have to apply a high contrast theme under personalize option (cf. picture above). III. File Explorer 1. Command bar The new Ribbon UI replaces the classic command bar. However, some control panel applets still use the old user interface 2. status bar Status bar has been curtailed.
- 20. 3. Briefcase option The Briefcase optiondisappears after having a left click and selecting "New".
- 21. IV. Games All Windows games are removed. However some of them are available on the windows store. V. Networking 1. dial-up networking "Redial attempts" and "Redial if line is dropped" were deleted in redialing options.
- 22. 2. Wireless Manage Wireless networks option (The IIIII icon) is no longer available like set up a wireless ad hoc even if it is still present innetsh command line. 3. Bluetooth Shortcuts of Bluetooth file wizard were removed but it can be recovered with fsquirt.exe. VI. User Accounts and Security 1. User account pictures User account pictures are not available anymore.
- 23. 2. Parental Controls Parental Controls is replacedby Family safety. 3. Windows CardSpace Parental Controls isreplaced by Family safety. 4. Windows Defender Microsoft Security Essential isreplaced by Windows Defender. VII. Media Features 1. Windows Media Center Media center is no present natively in Windows 8. It's an add-on of pro version. Until January 31st, Microsoft offered media center for free. Now user must pay to get it. Media center is not available onWindows startup. 2. Windows Media Player Windows Media player is no longer able to play DVD because Microsoft decided to realize some economy with surrender DVD license. However, Windows Media Center is still available to play DVD but it is no free. Also, Media Guide feature was deleted.
- 24. 3. MPEG-2 video codec MPEG-2 video codec is not installed natively, but available with Media center add-on. 4. Windows DVD Maker Windows DVD maker was removed. VIII. File System 1. Backup and Restore control panel The feature was replaced by File History. 2. Persistent shadow copies The feature was replaced by File History (cf. picture above). IX. Other 1. Stop errors When Windows crashes, now only some technical stop errors are displayed.
- 25. 2. Windows XP Mode Windows XP mode is not available anymore. 3. touch-based pointing devices There is no optionto enable/disable touch-based pointing devices. 4. Sounds The log in and log off sounds was removed and startup sounds was disable by default.