10 Key Windows 8 Features: Tablets, Touch and More Discussion

Released just last week in Developers Preview mode, Windows 8 already contains more than 300 new features. At its Build developers conference, Microsoft pointed to plans to keep adding more new capabilities until Windows 8evolves intoa shipping product. Which of the existing features are most important to get to know about right now?

While no list like this caneven approach 'all inclusiveness', our list of ten key features in Windows 8 ranges across new jargon such as "charms" and "snap muti-tasking," to first-timeoperatibility onARM-based tablets, to major improvements around support for USB 3.0, touch keyboards, file copying, and more. Here, in no particular order of importance, is the list of ten:

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Perhaps this has already been confirmed or discussed (I haven't really kept up with Windows 8 development), but for:

I really think it would be nice if they implemented window snapping along the edge between two monitors. For instance, if you had 2 screens, there should be a way to quickly divide four windows evenly across the two monitors.

 

How hard will it be for Windows 8 ARM programs to be converted to x86 programs, or vice-versa? And how hard would it be to have a program that runs on both?

I ask this because if there is no cross compatibility, I can see Microsoft making tablets basically the same thing as the iPad, just a lesser featured, dumbed down device. While I love the iPad, to compete with it and be a true competitor Microsoft NEEDS to take a different approach from Apple. Android has already basically lost in the tablet wars.

 

Please MS, give us Windows 8 for the HP TouchPad.

 

Seriously, how much are you guys getting paid for this Win8 promotion?

 

Depends on the program. Might just be the developer changing the target architecture and hitting recompile to having to make extensive modifications to get it working to possibly a complete rewrite.

I would hope that MS ports WinAPI over to ARM since that would make life easier for both consumers and developers in regards to ARM support.

Windows 8 for ARM tablets is going to be more free than iOS I think even if it doesn't have the capability to run every Windows x86 app. We still get filesystem access, the complete freedom to install whatever we want, etc.

 

really? afaik the tablet wars have just begun and android is making substantial gains into that market. also, with all the hype apple is trying to generate with their phone sales in china, they really have not talked about ipad2 sales which i believe is much lower than previously expected.

going back ot, it seems like most features are tablet and touchscreen oriented.
id really like to know of specific desktop enhancements. i feel that if msft neglects their 1.4 billion desktop users, people will be reluctant to upgrade. could be a bad move, since pc's still account for a vast majority of their users, and tablets, although growing, are a fraction of that number and have not really reached enterprise level integration.

 

I know this is a stupid question, especially since MS is moving ahead but... can I change the theme to classic style? I like the boxy look that I gew up loving/hating.

 

Yes you can

 

Yawn...think I'll wait for Windows 8 SP1 or Windows Next, money way better spent on a SSD then SP upgrade on Windows Vista.

 

Here's your answer: Metro UI Tweaker for Windows 8 Released | The Windows Club

I use Win 8 as my main OS on my desktop PC with this tweak. It's serving me just fine