Windows 8

                                       produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, servers, and media center PCs.

It support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the traditional x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD.

User interface has been changed to make it better suited for touchscreen input in addition to the traditional mouse and keyboard input.

Main features:

  • extensively redesigned user interface.

  • optimized for touchscreens as well as mice and keyboards.

  • A new “Start screen”, similar to the one in Windows Phone 7.

  • Windows 8 will also include Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtualization software.

  • Windows 8 provides a configurable taskbar that spans multiple monitors.

  • support a new filesystem called Protogon.

                                                    The user can go to the regular desktop by choosing the “Desktop” tile or a traditional desktop-based application. The Start screen also displays the user’s name and picture.

                                                    All applications developed whether using C#, MFC or HTML5/JavaScript will translate into WinRT (Windows RunTime) API’s, which sits above the Windows Kernel directly.

New developer platform:

                                                         Based on HTML5 and JavaScript.

                                                   “Microsoft might also implement geo-location in the forthcoming Windows. This feature will allow applications to detect the computer’s location (only if the user allows it to). This feature will at least save us from the annoyance of selecting the time zone,” TechTree.comreveals.

                                                    Microsoft has not yet announced a ship date for Windows 8, although some major media outlets speculate it might be available in late 2012.

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