What I’d like to see in Windows ‘Blue’

It leaked out a little while ago that Microsoft is working on the next version of Windows that’s scheduled to come out in the summer of 2013, codenamed ‘Windows Blue’. This of course won’t be a major update, but rather an update to Windows 8 that’s a bit more than a Service Pack. Here’s what I would like to see in the update to Windows 8:

• The dropping of the version number from the Intel/AMD version of Windows. Microsoft is moving away from version numbers in its products, as seen recently with ‘the new Office’ and ‘Windows RT’ without a version number. I think Windows for Intel/AMD processors, currently called Windows 8, should just be called Windows (and Windows Pro for extra features) with Windows RT staying as the ARM version.
• Less reliance on the desktop. Though people with touchscreen’s can stay in the modern interface most of the time, they’re thrown back into the desktop at some points without wanting to be (e.g. deleting user accounts and choosing which updates to install). The modern PC Settings should have more features from the desktop Control Panel so touch users can avoid the desktop entirely.
• A touch mode for File Explorer. I know I want to let touch users avoid the desktop entirely, but they may want to browse and manage their files. Currently, File Explorer is rubbish for touch and I think a touch mode like the ‘new office’ has would be great.
• IE tab syncing. I would like to be able to see the tabs I have open on my desktop PC and my Windows Phone 8 device from my tablet. Simple.
• In Windows RT, there should be an option to pay for other Office apps. In the first version of Windows RT (shipping soon), people get free Office Home & Student 2013 RT which includes just Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. That’s fine for consumers, but what about businesses who want to manage their email with more power than the built-in Mail client? There should be an option to purchase Outlook RT, Access RT and Publisher RT.
• Talking about Mail, I would like more functionality please. I know the version of Mail I’m using now on Windows 8 Pro RTM probably won’t be the one generally used (I think Microsoft will update it via the Windows Store around 26th October), but if there isn’t, say, conversation view in the new version of Mail I’d like it in Blue please.
• Skype app and Messaging app merged. We all know a Skype app is coming to the Windows Store soon, but I would like it merged into the built-in Messaging app (which currently supports the dying Windows Live Messenger and Facebook). When I say merge, I mean include the Skype app and just add Live Messenger and Facebook support. The Messaging app is rubbish.
• Background audio in modern IE and Xbox Video. It’s really annoying when I’m watching a YouTube video in modern IE, I hit Start to check for new mail and lose the audio. Same for when I have the video app snapped to the side playing Windows Weekly. Background audio is in the music app, so why not in IE and Video?
• Automatic download and install of new app updates from the Windows Store. I don’t want to manually click or touch ‘Update all’, I want my apps automatically updated! This feature is really needed.
• Basic photo editing in the modern Photos app.
• A free or very cheap price for this upgrade, with it being available soon after RTM and of course at least one beta being available (a year in stable software is just too much).

I think that’s about all. A long list for a year’s work, yes, but it’s mostly different teams so hopefully a lot can be done for next summer.

What would you like to see in the next version of Windows?

No, it probably won’t be called Windows 9.

A great walkthrough of Windows 8′s amazing sync features and RTM news…

I came across this demo of Windows 8′s built-in sync features for those who sign in with Microsoft accounts. The sync features are nothing brand new now – they debuted in February with the Consumer Preview, I think – but this walk-through simply shows how brilliant they are:

To access these features, you need to sign into Windows 8/RT with a Microsoft account (formerly known as a Windows Live ID). It’ll ask you to do so in the first time setup of your PC, but if you choose not to then you can easily upgrade your local account in Charms – Settings - Change PC Settings – Users. I really recommend it. Synced items include:

• Colours, [start screen] background and user account picture
• Themes, taskbar, high contrast and more
• Passwords (once you’ve ‘trusted’ your PC – i.e. confirmed that it’s yours by logging on to an alternate email account for example)
• Ease of access
• Languages
• App settings like high scores and in-app purchases
• IE settings like history and favourites
• Other Windows settings like Windows Explorer (ribbon state, quick access toolbar etc.), mouse settings and more

All these let me sign into a PC for the first time and minutes later be productive/browse the web. Especially when you combine it with the SkyDrive for Windows desktop app for my files, and the fact that the Windows Store easily lets you download apps you already own.

Moving on. In other news, Microsoft appears to have signed off Windows 8 with the build number…

9200

It was going to be 8888 (which would be awesome, being Windows 8), but it turns out there was a bug or something like that. But wait, you may think, why such a big jump? And isn’t 8888 such a great coincidence? And weren’t the other recent builds 85XX? Well, Microsoft always artificially bumps up the build number, usually to something round. Don’t ask me why it’s 9200 though. And no, it’s not a post-RTM/Windows 9 build – it’s confirmed to be Windows 8.

So Windows 8 will probably RTM sometime next week, with TechNet/MSDN subscribers getting it next week if we’re really lucky, or maybe the week after. I really hope its next week, because I’m dying to try out the new metro desktop theme and I’m kind of bored of the bugs in the Release Preview. Just mere days left…

And remember, YOU, yes you, can get Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro on 26th October 2012. Want a countdown? Check out the sidebar of my blog! Only 91 days to go as of 27/07/12, or 07/27/12 for you Americans.

Windows Weekly

This week’s post is basically to recommend a podcast about Microsoft and it’s called (read the title!) Windows Weekly. Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley discuss the latest Microsoft news each week, and it’s really good.

I recommend you check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEB8CC228C5239441&feature=plcp

(the only bad thing is there are loads of ads!)

The not-so-many editions of Windows 8

A bit of news today, but first I would like to mention the Windows 7 and Vista editions. They were:

• Windows Starter
• Windows Home Basic
• Windows Home Premium
• Windows Professional (Business in Vista)
• Windows Ultimate

It’s really hard to know what to choose, isn’t it! But Microsoft announced the editions of its next OS, now definitely called Windows 8 (it was previously Windows “8″ as it was a codename). The versions will be:

• Windows 8 (perfect for most users)
• Windows 8 Pro (includes all Win 8 features plus things like Bit locker)
• Windows RT (no, this isn’t Windows Re-tweet, it’s the version of Windows for ARM. It will only come on new devices)
• And there will also be Windows 8 Enterprise, only available for businesses.

This means that the consumer will just have to choose between Win 8 or Win 8 Pro when choosing a new x86/64 PC, or upgrading (well, Win Ultimate/Professional 7 users will have to go Pro). This is a lot simpler and is generally better.

See the official blog post for more info, a table of the version differences and more…

By the way, for people who want pricing, that’s coming later on, says Microsoft.

My thoughts on Windows 8 Consumer Preview

My Windows 8 Start Screen

If you don’t know what Windows 8 is, be prepared for a lot of change. You can probably tell from the image above – that is what you now see when you boot up Windows – not the desktop (though the desktop can be accessed by clicking the desktop tile). I’m not going to go into all the details about Windows 8 (you can find out that info at preview.windows.com), just my thoughts.

I was initially worried about how the new “Metro-style” apps would work with just a mouse and keyboard – Windows 8 is what many people think to be basically iOS. But it actually works really well. From what I understand, the Developer Preview (which came out in September) wasn’t very mouse friendly, but Microsoft have certainly made improvements on that front. Metro apps are as easy to use as normal, desktop apps! Onto my favourite features (in no particular order) of Windows 8 and their details:

• Signing in with your Microsoft account (formerly “Windows Live ID”) – when you launch Windows 8, it gives you an option to create a ‘local account’ (which is what accounts are in 7, Vista, XP etc.), or to sign in with a Microsoft account (if you use Hotmail, SkyDrive, Windows Live Messenger/MSN, XBOX Live etc. you already have one). Signing in with the former doesn’t sync apps, settings etc. - you’ll have to create a new user account from scratch on each PC, and re-install apps and not have bookmarks syncing etc. The latter option syncs everything (except for normal PC non-metro apps and files not on SkyDrive) between all your Windows 8 PCs. So, you customise your Start screen. All your PCs have that customisation. You add a favourite in IE, and you visit some websites. Your favourites and History are synced. It’s like having one computer.
• Another of my favourite features is the super fast start-up. Windows 8, by default, saves your session onto a file (or something like that) when you shut down, so when you boot up it’s really fast. I mean, my PC boots up to a usable state in 15< seconds. Restart isn’t affected, as I found out when trying to demonstrate how fast my PC is to my dad, and it turned out to be really slow because I’d restarted and not shut down.
• Another favourite feature, no matter how small, is the fact that spellcheck is in IE10. And I love it!
• My final favourite features are the “refresh” and “reset” option. If you’re computer’s playing up, these options are for you. Refresh re-installs Windows, but keeps your files, settings and Metro apps (but not desktop apps) so you basically come back to your old Windows… but new. Reset re-installs Windows but keeps nothing - great for the last resort. It only takes about 15 minutes (I know from first-hand experience – there was a problem with user accounts and refresh wouldn’t work because it keeps user accounts).

Now for my worst features of Windows 8:

• No plug-ins in the metro style IE10! Why, Microsoft? Why?!?!
• Shut down/restart etc. are not the easiest options to get to. I mean, you have to launch the charms bar (no clicking but takes a couple of seconds). Secondly, you have to click the settings button. Thirdly, the power option. Then shut down. In Windows 7, it’s 2 clicks – start and shut down. Please make this easier, Microsoft!
• Allow us to post updates in the People app. It’s the only thing missing from that app!
• In Mail, let us see our folders AND messages at the SAME time. It’s really annoying to 1) right click 2) Click folders. 3) Click the folder 4) Click the message. There should only be steps 3 and 4.

Overall, Windows 8 is off to a great start. I recommend you give it a try. I think it’s the best version of Windows yet…

Computer Updates – One way or another you’re trapped (via The Change Revolution)

Just read the post below. Do you agree?

Courtesy: In Web We Trust … Read More

via The Change Revolution

Windows Home Server 2011 RC preview

Code named ‘Vail’, this is the next version of Windows Home Server. I’m here to give you an overview of a new feature.

Back in November, Microsoft stirred up a lot of controversy when it announced that due to some application compatibility issues it was pulling Drive Extender from Windows Home Server “Vail” (for the first time, Microsoft has consolidated the code base for Vail with two small business offerings, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, and Storage Server 2011 Essentials).  Drive Extender was a somewhat unique offering that allowed WHS to “see” all physical drives in a WHS box as a single large blob of storage, and to duplicate data so that if one physical drive failed, data would still be available on another drive (if enough drives and enough storage were available).

Unfortunately, when Microsoft made the decision to consolidate code bases between Windows Home Server and the SBS offerings, they found that Drive Extender didn’t work with some SBS applications, and so it had to go.

Now with the new RC Preview, at least a bit of a replacement is available, with a “Format a Hard Disk” wizard and a “Move my Folder” wizard.  With Drive Extender, you just popped in a hard drive, and WHS would do the rest: formatting the drive, adding it to the blob of storage, and creating redundancies.  With Windows Home Server 2011, it’s a bit harder, and the redundancy, alas, is gone (shouldn’t Windows Live Sync or Mesh be playing a part, here?).

Here’s a “Learning Bite” for WHS 2011 on Managing Storage:

The wizards do make things a bit easier than manually adding drives, creating new folders on the new drives, copying information over to the new drive, and deleting the old folders.  Definitely not Drive Extender, but simpler, and built on a newer code base, one that’s set up to be supported.

Thanks to LiveSide.net for the info.