Enervation: How to make something new unintelligible
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Microsoft previews tile-based Windows 8
SOFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft gave its first preview at the All Things Digital conference of Windows 8, which has gone tile-based and focuses on touch interaction.
Microsoft has 'reimagined' its Windows 8 operating system (OS) for desktop and laptop PCs with a Windows Phone 7 (WP7) style look of tiles. Apparently its upcoming OS will scale touch-only small screen devices to larger screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse.
The tile-based start screen replaces the traditional start menu with the ability to launch applications and scale the view of them to the size of the screen. Like WP7 the tiles are live so they keep up to date with information like weather and news, via the internet.
The demo involved the use of touch gestures only to navigate around and use the system, which has been made for "for a new generation of touch-centric hardware," according to Microsoft.
Even though the interface seems heavily focused on touchscreens, Microsoft insists that "it works equally well with a mouse and keyboard".
Microsoft claims that its next OS for PCs will run on everything from laptops and desktops to tablet devices. We definitely think that the interface will make a welcome replacement for tablets running Windows 7.
Not only will the interface be much easier to use on tablet sized screens but there is also a neat way that the onscreen keyboard is split into two halves to avoid having to stretch for keys in the middle, called "thumbs layout".
With the focus on HTML5 and Javascript, applications will be designed for touch, and the aim is to give software developers an easier way to create applications for Windows.
We're not sure about using it on a desktop machine with a mouse and keyboard, though. Without testing it out hands-on it's hard to imagine how such a heavy focus on touch interaction will be an improvement to Windows 7. µ
Tags: Software
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looks to me like Microsoft is now pulling at straws to come up with new idea's that there willing to steal the competitors ideas. they have truly sunk to a new low. windows xp was there best it was the premier to ever thing else all it needs is some upgrades why always a new(os)why not recondition the old ones.
Lots of comments about how does it work on Desktop, Don't like Wigets, Touch screens etc..
Its just another interface ontop of the GUI. You can use the normal desktop if you want...Best of both worlds..Does show this in the video...
Suspect on a normal desktop PC you might never see it. A bit like the Windows MC
... don't break it.
There was nothing wrong with WinXP, 7 gave us a twinkly interface with no real new features ... as far as I can tell when you rename a file it doesn't select the file extension. To your average Joe user (me), it's not worth the sheckles.
Touchscreen would be nice but that means buying a new screen. 1st thing to do with any Windows installation is to put it back to the standard theme.
While I agree with others that i'm not sure quite how well this will work with a keyboard and mouse. I must admit I am surprised and impressed to see this from Microsoft who usually try to just improve (/ add more functionality) on their last OS.
This looks like true innovation and as such I welcome it. A brave move from a company so entrenched in 'windows'
I plain don't like MS, I don't like HAVING to pay for something I don't want and I already know I don't want windows 8. I didn't. care for Ubuntu Natty Narwhal either and was glad they included Ubuntu classic. I don't mind new if it's better but it's not.
I hope MS chokes on windows 8 and we don't have to buy it with a new computer, maybe we can have an option.
Considering the first thing I do is turn off widgets, don't want shitty win8
Thanks for timely article. Agree completely that can't tell until try the touch layout.
Top of head I don't care for titles with a mouse-keyboard. WIn 7 is just fine right now. Will be checking in on how this goes in Win 8. Not much alternative tho if MS does go this way.
Come on, how is this gonna help with a current traditional setup?