Many innovative functions in Windows 8 are related to the Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) service. Multiple replication engines will simplify the folder synchronization process through multiple servers. It can be seen that this function upgrade is not only related to the Windows 8 client, but also related to the Windows 8 server.

Window can also run on a USB flash drive.

Winrumors, a foreign website, today revealed a function included in Windows 8 Enterprise Edition, that is, USB flash drive operation. This "core technology", which is often "developed" by major pirated system forums, has finally been officially developed. The first version number of Windows 8 with this function is Windows NT 6.2.7850.0.winmain _ win8m1.100922-1508. The enterprise edition includes the function of Windows Portable Workspaces, and the system can be installed on a USB flash drive with the capacity of 16GB to realize startup. This is the Windows to Go feature.

Independent virtual optical drive

Windows 7 has directly supported burning ISO files, while Windows 8 not only supports burning, but also can directly mount it, which is equivalent to bringing its own virtual optical drive. For any ISO file, right-click and select "Mount" to load the ISO file into the virtual CD-ROM, and the file inside can be read by the virtual CD-ROM.

Mixed boots

Windows hibernation is a good function. Hibernation does not mean shutting down the system. Hibernation can save the data to be stored in the hard disk, so as to speed up the time for the system to start the memory data next time, and can continue to work where it stopped last time. "Mixed Boot" is a new feature of Windows8. Recently, it was found in the new system version that its basic principle is to hibernate only the core files of the system, which can greatly increase the startup speed of the system, but there will be problems of personal privacy protection.

Aero supports CPU operation.

After Windows XP, both Windows Vista and Windows 7 provide Aero special effects, but GPU (graphics card) is responsible for special effects calculation. Older graphics cards that don't support Dx9.0 don't support this calculation, so you can't turn on special effects. However, in the user test of Digital Future Network, it is found that Windows8 Aero effect increases the support for CPU calculation, and some older graphics cards and CPUs can also use Aero effect normally, but it will increase the burden on CPU relatively. At present, the graphics card performance of tablet computers is poor. We suspect that these improvements of Microsoft are to better support tablet computers, and tablet computers will better support the functions of Windows desktop system in the future.

Picture password function

In order to further utilize the advantages of tablet computers and enhance the user experience, Microsoft has prepared a picture password function for Windows 8, which can greatly facilitate touch screen users. Ordinary computers can also use the picture password function with the help of the mouse, but it is more of an entertainment function. [4]

Support PDF files

For a long time, Windows users have to install a third-party PDF reader to view PDF files, such as Adobe Reader or Fuxin PDF reader in China. Microsoft Windows 8 will have a built-in PDF reader. In other words, Windows 8 will be able to read PDF files without installing any PDF reading software.

Brand-new task manager

Windows8 will bring its own task manager UI that is more coordinated with the system and a more powerful program management mechanism, making it more convenient for users.

Bring your own camera software.

Windows 7 must install a third-party camera software to use the camera equipment normally, and Windows 8 will have a new UI camera software built in. In other words, Windows 8 will be able to take photos without installing any camera software.

Metro UI

Dynamic tile in the subway start menu Dynamic tile in the subway start menu

The D9 conference held in June 20 1 1 showed people the new function of Windows 8, that is, to build a card-type interactive interface modeled after Windows phone. On the main screen of the card interface, you can provide weather, stock, web browsing, application store, Windows Live Messager, YouTube and other functions. But Windows still has a desktop and a window, and it exists as an application on the card-type home screen. If you don't open the application, you will also have the function of dynamic tile. Move the mouse to the lower left corner and click Open. Move the mouse to the upper left corner to display an application. If there are multiple applications, move down to display all the open applications, and the bottom is the start menu just now. Card home screen will replace the start menu of Windows and become the main user interface. These cards are all called tiles, and the English name is Tile.

Drag and drop files more freely

The drag-and-drop function of resource manager in Windows 8 system has been improved again. You can move the content by dragging it to the corresponding folder in the address bar.

file management

file management

File management (4 blocks) In order to manage files conveniently, the resource manager of Windows 8 adds a "Ribbon UI" window bar similar to that used in Office, which can provide more operation button icons according to different types of files. For example, after opening the music library, the "Music Charge" toolbar will be added. After selecting a song, just click the folder above, move the song to this folder, and click "ZIP" to compress the song.

File system reference

In the Windows 8 developer preview, testers found a new file system Protogon. Although it is locked, the Protogon file system is mentioned in the Windows 8 developer preview registry, especially in the folder about the "boot file system" and libraries. You can even format the hard disk into Protogon format, which Windows 8 can recognize. However, the situation has changed. Starting from Windows NT 6.2.8139.0.winmain.11kloc-0/9-1845, this file system disappeared and was replaced by another new file system called ReFS. It is impossible to find Protogon with DOS command line now. In the new version of Windows Server "8", ReFS can be found directly in disk format. The client version of Windows 8 has no reference.

Application store

In the "Start" screen of Windows 8, the tile of App Store appears, which shows that Windows 8 will not only provide applications, but also establish an app store. This can bring Microsoft an annual income of 654.38 billion US dollars.

New user interface

Windows 8 will abandon the traditional "desktop" interface of Windows system and adopt a dazzling collage interface, which is very similar to the interface of Windows Phone system.

Smart screen

The startup/lock screen of Windows 8 is also reminiscent of Windows Phone, which is very similar to the new email prompt icon. Of course, this is just an early development version of Windows 8.

Plate support

Microsoft plans to let Windows 8 support various devices, including tablet devices and traditional PCs.

roll

Windows 8 seems to focus on scrolling. Several functions demonstrated by Microsoft all have the operation of dragging left or right.

Mouse and keyboard

At present, Microsoft chooses to improve the touch performance of Windows 8, and the target is of course the fast-growing tablet users. However, Windows 8 also optimizes the keyboard and mouse.

liquidity

It can be seen that the Windows Phone user interface has a very far-reaching impact on Microsoft's Windows 8 development.

Windows online

"Windows Online" is one of the Windows 8 development teams. Microsoft did not disclose the details of the team, but this may indicate that Microsoft is experimenting with how to fully integrate the cloud strategy in Windows 8.

Support arm structure

At CES 20 1 1, Microsoft officially announced that the next generation Windows system (Windows8) will support chip architectures from Intel, AMD and ARM. In other words, the next-generation Windows system will also support ARM systems of partners such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. Microsoft said that this decision means that Windows systems are moving towards more platforms, including tablets. With regard to x86 architecture, Intel and AMD will continue to design their low-power SoC systems and fully support Windows, including x86 applications. SoC architecture will make great progress in energy saving by combining with Windows platform, such as the recently announced second-generation Intel Core processor family and AMD's Fusion Fusion APU. In terms of ARM architecture, Microsoft has identified the first batch of partners: NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, who will be responsible for producing ARM processors for the next generation of Windows systems. At today's exhibition, Microsoft demonstrated the operation of a new generation of Windows system (Microsoft never talks about Windows8) on the new SoC platform, including Intel's x86 architecture and NVIDIA (Tegra 2), Qualcomm and Texas Instruments' ARM architecture. The technical demonstration includes the application of Windows client in various scenarios, such as hardware accelerated graphics and media playback, hardware accelerated web browsing based on Microsoft IE9 browser, USB device support, printing and other applications. The next generation of Windows can run natively on the ARM chip, with complete operating system functions, and provide native drivers and application support hardware acceleration. Steven sinofsky, head of Microsoft's Windows department, said: "Supporting ARM architecture shows the flexibility and resilience of Windows software and the world-class development concept. We will continue to improve Windows to provide consumers with the functions they need in the widest range of hardware platforms and product forms. " Warren East, CEO of ARM, said: "We are very happy with Microsoft's announcement, which is a major milestone in the development of ARM and its partners. We look forward to working with Microsoft on the next generation of Windows. Windows plus the scalability of low-power ARM architecture, the market expertise of ARM partners and many SoC professionals in the ARM ecosystem will enable this platform to achieve unprecedented innovation, realize the future of computing, gain new market opportunities, and provide consumers with more attractive products. "

Kinect

Somatosensory peripherals such as Kinect have also supported Windows 8.

Gesture touch

Microsoft's latest Windows 8 consumer preview will have a touch gesture to close the Metro application. This function enables the Windows 8 system based on "gesture touch" to quickly close the running application, but in the previous Microsoft Windows 8 developer preview, the function and software of closing the application were not included. It is expected that Microsoft will develop more "gesture touch" functions for Windows 8 to make Metro applications feel immersive. For example, Microsoft is designing the "gesture touch" of the screen zoom function, so that Windows 8 users can easily realize functions such as grouping processing, adding and subtracting application software and moving files on the screen.

Charm menu

Charm menu Charm menu

September 19 news, according to foreign media reports, Microsoft submitted a trademark application to register the word "CHARM" on September 12. The trademark "CHARM" applied by Microsoft belongs to the category of computer and software products as well as electronic and scientific products. Microsoft interprets this word as a computing program: a graphical user interface between software and operating system. On the PCWindows 8 operating system, moving the mouse to the lower right corner or the upper right corner of the screen will display the charm menu. On touchpad Windows 8 operating system, the CHARM menu can be displayed by sliding the display screen from the right hand direction. The charm menu is called "super button" in Chinese. CHARM functions include: Search: Allows users to search this operating system or all applications. * * * Enjoy: Applications using search contracts can enjoy data through this function * * *. Start: Return the user to the start screen. Device: Displays the connected hardware devices. Settings: Displays application settings and brightness, volume and off options.

Add China Special Edition

Windows 8 China Special Edition (latest leaked screenshot)

Windows 8 China Special Edition (latest leaked screenshot) (3 photos) According to the leaked news, it is very likely that Windows 8 will launch a special edition in China. It is predicted that Windows 8 for China may set a lower price than other parts of the world and provide more localization functions to reduce the number of pirated Windows users in China.

Super v

Hyper-V is a virtualization product of Microsoft, and it is the first hypervisor-based technology similar to Vmware and Citrix open source Xen. This also means that Microsoft will compete more directly with the market pioneer VMware, but the way of competition will be different. Hyper-V is a hypervisor virtualization technology proposed by Microsoft. It was originally scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2008 and will be released at the same time as Windows Server 2008. Hyper-V aims to provide users with more familiar and cost-effective virtualization infrastructure software, which can reduce operating costs, improve hardware utilization, optimize infrastructure and improve server availability. Hyper-V is installed in win8. Users only need to check Hyper-V in Control Panel-Programs-Add or Remove Windows Functions, and then install and restart.

Edit this start screen.

New "Start" button

The Start button is in the lower left corner. The Start button is in the lower left corner.

After Microsoft released the second official video of Windows 8, that is, supporting USB 3.0, Microsoft released the third official video, demonstrating the copy and paste interface of Windows 8. In addition, Microsoft today announced some other changes in the Windows 8 user interface, such as the brand-new "Start" button. Move the mouse to the lower right corner or the upper right corner to display the charm menu, with the start button in the middle. Microsoft has made a very subtle adjustment to the "start" button of Windows 8. The new button looks more two-dimensional and very simple. The whole Windows button is integrated in the taskbar, which is very Metro style. This is also the further popularization of the interface style of Windows 8 Metro. It is not difficult to see that Metro language will be used in the corners of Windows 8 in the future.

Remove the start button.

Remove the start button Remove the start button

The latest news shows that Windows 8 will usher in the biggest interface improvement since Windows 95, that is, cancel the iconic "Start" button in the lower left corner of the screen. Microsoft renamed the beta version of Windows 8 as "Consumer Preview", which will be released on February 29th, 20 12. It can be clearly seen that the start menu has disappeared from the main interface, leaving only the quick start button on the far left side of the taskbar.

Edit this official statement

Microsoft Development 3 Preview

On February 29th, 20 12, Microsoft released the consumer preview version on 15. Microsoft officials have repeatedly confirmed that Windows 8 Beta will release the Windows 8 development process on February 29th, 20 12.

Windows 8 development process (4 sheets). However, the Windows team's speech at CES20 12 led to a different message. Janelle Pool, the public relations director of Microsoft's Windows business unit, said, "We haven't discussed the release date yet, and we generally don't discuss this issue; The next milestone we talked about will be released as a "consumer preview" at the end of February. " Just as Microsoft released the Windows Developer Preview at the Build conference last September, Windows 8 Beta has been renamed the Consumer Preview. At the same time, there is news from Microsoft that the RC version to be released in June 20 12 will be a preview version.

Microsoft development news

It is reported that Windows 8 may release RTM version in June 20 12 and RP version in June 20 12. At the BUILD conference in mid-September, it is expected that Microsoft will announce some development information of Windows 8, such as how old applications run on ARM Windows devices. Windows 7 will celebrate its second birthday. Before the release of Windows 8, Windows 7 sold 400 million copies in two years, and Windows 8 will be released in early 20 12. According to a document in June this year, the next version of Windows will include an app store, similar to Apple and other mobile device vendors. Apple's Mac OS X has joined the Mac App Store, so it is reasonable for Windows 8 to launch the App Store. The data also shows that Microsoft will improve system startup time and energy efficiency, and will work closely with manufacturers to better distinguish their computers. Although these are all things that must be done. Windows 7 was launched in June 2009, 10, two and a half years later than Vista. Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, has promised that the release time of Windows will not be delayed in the future. Previously, skydrive was always a guess, and now Microsoft has confirmed this function. However, we won't really see it until the public beta is released in the future (because it actually needs a Windows Live ID to activate internal services). This also shows that Microsoft will add more other Windows Live products to Windows 8.

Edit this R&D history.

According to foreign media reports, Microsoft officially announced the information of Windows 8 at the beginning of 2011. Recently, foreign media leaked a screenshot of Windows 8, which was later confirmed as a screenshot of Windows Small Business Server 2011RTM. Currently, Microsoft is conducting public testing on Windows 8. At the same time, Microsoft has enjoyed the Windows 8 development plan with its processor and graphics card partners. According to the past development practice, Microsoft will release Windows 8 about three years after the official launch of Windows 7 (65438, 2009+1October 22nd).

embedded system

The development of Windows 8 client and Windows 8 server has entered the planning stage, and the embedded version of Windows 8 has also taken shape. Like Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows 8 has a Windows Embedded version. Windows Embedded tools and solutions are developed for many special types of devices, which can be used for various embedded computer devices, such as cash registers, automatic teller machines (ATMs), industrial controllers, gateways, IP phones, servers, thin clients, advanced consumer electronics products and various special handheld devices. In an official recruitment notice, Microsoft is recruiting a software testing engineer for Windows embedded products. In the job description, Microsoft described the responsibilities of Windows Embedded software testing engineer, and one of them said, "Develop a solution that can be extended to other fields, including thin clients, POS machines, multifunction printers and Windows 8 Embedded". This is the first time that Microsoft mentioned Windows 8 embedded. Windows Embedded Standard 8 CTP is currently available for download.

Touch operation

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said in the UK last week that Windows 7 will not modify the interface of tablet computers, and NUI (Natural User Interface) will be further reformed in Windows 8, focusing on touch operation. Ballmer promised at the WPC conference earlier this year that the Windows 7 tablet will be released in the middle of the year. However, the Windows 7 tablet did not arrive as scheduled, but was postponed to 20 1 1 year. Ballmer explained that in the coming year, we will work with our hardware partner * * * to bring hardware optimization to Windows 7 and Windows Media Center, but we will not make any changes to tablets. Windows 8 will focus on improving NUI on the basis of Windows 7, which is not only suitable for desktops, but also optimized for touch screen devices such as notebooks and tablets. Although the current Windows 7 user interface also supports some multi-touch operations, many menus and buttons are designed for mouse input, which requires a stylus or some time to adjust the operating system settings. The user interface of Windows 8 is expected to be greatly improved to adapt to the trend of rapid popularization of touch screen devices. In addition to optimizing the touch screen, Windows 8 will also use the camera to achieve fast login. Combined with the camera, the face recognition technology of Windows 8 can detect users and automatically log in their accounts, and provide simpler and faster user account switching.