Microsoft releases Windows 8 Consumer Preview free

Microsoft on Wednesday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona de Consumer Preview of Windows 8 released. The b lwa taversie of the OS is available in five languages and shows a modified Metro gui and Windows Store.

The Consumer Preview of Windows 8, available in English, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese, is available in a 32bit and 64bit version. The iso images are between 2.5 and 3.3 GB in size and can be both on a dvd if a usb drive is inserted.

Microsoft has compared the in september released a Developer Preview have been changed to the Metro gui; there would be over a hundred thousand product changes are implemented. One of the improvements in the Metro interface is the ability to in the taskmanager an overview of all open apps.

The software giant claimed that the Metro interface is also more accessible for keyboard and mouse control. In addition, each screen angle is a function if the mouse cursor is placed. For example, the top left corner to access the switch list where the running applications as thumbnails are shown and the lower left corner shows the Home screen. The lower right corner shows the start menu to zoom out to an overview, while the right-hand corner, the charms bar shows. The mini-start menu from the Developer Preview is completely gone. Furthermore, via the windows key and the tab key will, by the switchlist once you are.

Via a so-called Microsoft ID, formerly Live ID to be called, allows a user to various user settings through the SkyDrive to synchronise between different Windows 8 devices. So is the login screen to personalize. Also from applications, files can be directly opened or saved to Microsoft’s cloud-based.

In the Consumer Preview is for the first time, the Windows Store accessible. Microsoft showed during its keynote a standalone game – and applicatiesectie. During the beta period, can all the software in the Windows Store free downloaded be. Also promises to Microsoft during the beta to add new content. Further, it is IE10 updated to platform preview 5.

Windows 8 is the first version of a Microsoft operating system that not only x86 hardware supports, but also on the ARM platform can run. Microsoft wants Windows in this way a better starting position on the fast-growing tablet market where ARM chips the service part. Microsoft will, however, be no public beta release of Windows On Arm (WOA).

Microsoft president Steven Sinofsky claimed during the keynote that a user today makes choices based on form factor and that Microsoft and its Windows operating system, there in need to grow. The software giant showed also several WOA tablets based on Nvidia’s Tegra 3, Qualcomms Krait and Intel Clover Trail. Microsoft has released the Windows 8 to own say adapted so that the less processor power and memory, allowing the OS sufficiently power efficient for ARM hardware.

In the released Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business is continue reading that Windows on ARM does not allow you to connect with networking domains, allowing the management capabilities of the tablet edition, especially for corporate environments is very limited. In addition, when in the desktop mode of the ARM-version of any applications installed are Microsoft Office. Microsoft claims that WOA devices are designed for unmanaged environments.

Windows 8 through the Windows To Go functionality from a usb-stick to start. This can, for example, a business Windows 8-user environment, including applications and user data on a usb-stick at home on his computer. For the business user offers Windows 8 support for BranchCache, a cachingmechanisme in which frequently used data locally in a cache is placed. Further, you must have Windows 8 on systems with the bios replacement uefi via the secure boot mechanism to prevent malware from being loaded during startup. Microsoft also promises shorter boot times compared to Windows 7 by the kernel in the hibernation mode to bring: a demonstrated Acer Ultrabook S5 on the basis of Intel Ivy Bridge platform clears in 8 seconds to boot.

Under the hood Windows 8 standard compatible with usb 3.0 hardware, while multiple usb storage devices can be connected to a single storage volume. Also promises Microsoft better support for users who have two or more monitors to their pc to link. This allows the taskbar to be ‘stretched’ so that it is on two displays at the same time is visible. Will Windows 8 via the Windows Store a large number of class drivers provide for a variety of hardware. Among other printers and 3g dongles to create such a generic driver to use.

Microsoft is going after the Consumer Preview, no beta versions more release: the next milestone is the Release Candidate. Furthermore promises Microsoft at the upcoming CeBIT to tell you more about the Enterprise version of Windows 8.


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