Windows 8: Microsoft Refreshed

Microsoft has released a new blog on its expected Windows 8, which is supposed to be a complete revision of any other Windows platform seen before. A factor of versatility includes the ability to run on both touchscreen and desktop/laptop platforms while running the same programs. A preview of Windows 8, uploaded in June, provides a great summary of the platform and how it will run. It will also be the first platform to run on Intel x86 chips and specific apps. Because of this completely new and refreshed idea, many people's thoughts will change about Microsoft and the company. Steven Sinofsky, President of Windows and the Windows live division, explained that, "Our focus on performance, reliability, compatibility, security, and quality is now baked into our engineering process as we change Windows for a new generation."

In the snapshot of a previewed Windows 8 tablet (shown as the blog picture), there are several different touchscreen tiles featuring different apps or programs. Windows has now incorporated the "cloud concept" of fusing your data with social networks. Instead of the classic "Open file" feature in order to upload to Facebook or Twitter, Windows will automatically give you the option of uploading directly to Facebook/Twitter. A Windows Store app contains many well-known Xbox games, which are incorporated with Windows Live. A Hotmail account may be required for several online or multiplayer apps, just like Google requires a Google account for most, if not all of its online applications. Internet Explorer is completely changed, as it is much faster and gives you a sleek feeling which is more touchscreen friendly. Like the iOS software, a weather application with the current weather and temperature is also displayed on the front page. If using a tablet, it is quite hard to type using the standard keyboard while trying to hold the device at the same time, unless you're using one finger. The Windows 8 keyboard fixes this problem by giving you the option to switch to a thumb-friendly keyboard.

Just because I've been talking mainly about tablets using Windows, it does not mean that it's not for laptops or desktops. In fact, it is definitely versatile for most forms of Microsoft devices. Simply, the Windows 8 platform is a stretched out Windows phone. Hardware, such as a mouse or headset, will not affect the way the platform works. Overall, I think that this will be Window's biggest software success, and it may even become one of the best operating systems in the world.