Windows 8 News & Update

[Aerosynth]

Install Windows 8 From A USB Stick

Many netbooks and low-profile laptops are ditching the optical drive in favour of portability, which means that installing Windows 8 via a burned DVD is inconvenient at best. Luckily you can easily do it with an 8GB or larger USB stick.

Ghacks points out that Microsoft’s own Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool works perfectly fine for Windows 8, so grab it and use that to image the Win 8 ISO file you downloaded onto your USB drive. The site has more detailed instructions and screenshots, but the utility is pretty straightforward.




How To Install Windows 8 From USB Key

Microsoft has just released a developer preview of their upcoming operating system Windows 8. Users from all over the world can download the preview and install it on their systems. There is only one restriction with regards to the installation: You cannot update an existing copy of Windows, the Windows 8 installation requires a clean install.

I thought it would be perfect for my Acer notebook. It is fairly underpowered by today’s standards, and does not come with a DVD drive which I could use otherwise to install Windows 8.

The only viable option in this case is to install from USB keys, sticks or drives. Installation is a little bit difficulty, as it requires more preparation than just burning an ISO image to disk and putting that ISO into the DVD drive of the computer... continue reading

[Aerosynth]

Microsoft Reimagines Windows Blue Screen Of Death


“Reimagining Windows” is the keyword Microsoft used at various places to describe Windows 8 in a word. Its not just the Start UI or new Lock screen or new Ribbon UI on explorer Windows, even the Windows Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) has been reimagined.

Its now simple, clear and causes less panic..

[Bigot3AtBalbas]

I've played with the developer preview. Though it looks nice and clean, i don't see this working out on the desktop because it's obviously designed for tablets. It's just weird with a mouse and keyboard and productivity is affected. This thing is a toy and not for the enterprise. I hope this not another winme or vista

And favoring html/js over .net for app development? What a effing joke! Javascript is pis of shi ts

[Aerosynth]

Windows 8 snags an early thumbs-up
'Many more positives than negatives,' says online trend-tracking firm
By Gregg Keizer
September 15, 2011 04:12 PM ET


Computerworld - Microsoft's long-awaited deeper look at Windows 8 on Tuesday has piqued consumer interest, according to a company that scores online news and social media trends.

Interest in Windows 8 exploded Sept. 12, the day Microsoft held a two-and-a-half hour demonstration of the new operating system, said NetBase Solutions, a Mountain View, Calif. firm that tracks online coverage and social media comments about brands and products for a wide range of industries, including technology and entertainment.

The percentage of positive mentions about Windows 8 quickly climbed starting Tuesday, said NetBase, ending at above 60% by the close of Wednesday. Negative comments made up about 20% of the total.

[Coderboi]

I've played with the developer preview. Though it looks nice and clean, i don't see this working out on the desktop because it's obviously designed for tablets. It's just weird with a mouse and keyboard and productivity is affected. This thing is a toy and not for the enterprise.

Isn't it a simple matter to turn off the tablet-oriented UI and switch back to Explorer? It would be *extremely* stupid of MS if this option were not available for desktop usage because using a mouse with that UI would be a real pain indeed.

Going forward though, the tablet-oriented UI makes sense when our desktop monitors become touchscreen. I've been waiting forever for such devices to become available in volume... I find the arguments against them as being really stupid - e.g. some people keep bringing up the issue of fingerprint smeared screens, as if you don't already get that today with slates and NON-touchscreen desktop monitors which people constantly poke. It's way overdue for the ergonomically hideous mouse to get thrown into the dustbin of history and be replaced with the far more natural pen and finger.

And favoring html/js over .net for app development? What a effing joke! Javascript is pis of shi ts

Again, something I strongly agree with. Not the part about JS being a PoS (something which I used to think)... but about not using .NET. It is the absolute height of irony for .NET to be ignored when Microsoft intends to deploy Windows 8 on both ARM and x86.

My suspicion is either internal politics or perhaps .NET performance still lags on the memory-constrained mobile environments. In the latter case, it would imply that Microsoft somehow has a Javascript-specific JIT engine that outperforms the vastly more flexible multiple language .NET layer. Javascript for .NET was already around for a while, so why didn't they just use that???

Actually, I suspect even a dedicated JS engine was not necessarily the best choice. The sluggish performance of so many Android apps proves that a JIT engine cannot compare with native code compilation (which Objective-C uses) for animation-oriented (e.g. games) apps.

Using HTML5+JS is a big gamble on Microsoft's end. Probably having found .NET too memory-hungry for slates and left with no native-code compilation technology (because they put all their eggs in the .NET basket earlier), they decided to forego performance considerations (something Apple is very focused on) and probably saw that having a big ready-made developer base - supposedly much bigger than the .NET one - was the only reasonable horse they could bet on.

Javascript itself is a pretty cool language as it turns out, except it is so misunderstood: http://javascript.crockford.com/javascript.html

But of course, not using .NET meant giving up an extremely rich and cool ecosystem of developer technology. The only reasonable scenario for the future is that Microsoft reincorporates .NET as slate hardware becomes more powerful.

[Coderboi]

“Reimagining Windows” is the keyword Microsoft used at various places to describe Windows 8 in a word. Its not just the Start UI or new Lock screen or new Ribbon UI on explorer Windows, even the Windows Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) has been reimagined.

Its now simple, clear and causes less panic..

The iOS approach would have been the best: it just brings you back to Springboard when an app crashes.

In the case of total system failure requiring a reboot, iOS also slyly just reboots without any message.

The iOS approach is desirable ONLY when these instances are very rare which thankfully, they are on that platform.

Actually, if a platform fails often (like Windows in the bad old days pre-XP), it doesn't really matter what they do: any screen - friendly or not - would quickly become the butt of jokes; not showing any message and immediately rebooting (ala iOS) would even be more infuriating and irresponsible. Hopefully Windows 8 continues the crash-free tradition of Windows XP and 7 and NOT a Vista reprise.

[pipo_dj]

You know what, I think they have learned a great deal from their Vista days and I don't think they are keen to repeat that debacle with Windows 8. Release is approximately a year from now so a lot of changes and fixes are bound to happen.

[ein]

I've played with the developer preview. Though it looks nice and clean, i don't see this working out on the desktop because it's obviously designed for tablets. It's just weird with a mouse and keyboard and productivity is affected. This thing is a toy and not for the enterprise. I hope this not another winme or vista

Metro UI is optional and you can turn it off. Legacy UI is still there.

And favoring html/js over .net for app development? What a effing joke! Javascript is pis of shi ts

You can do XAML/C#/VB/C/C++ if you're not into HTML/CSS/JS.

[xBigoteAtBalbasx]

What's the point of upgrading to Windows 8 if you're just going to turn it off?

You can do XAML/C#/VB/C/C++ if you're not into HTML/CSS/JS.

I'm aware of that. What I'm saying is they're pushing HTML5/JS more than .Net. They are essentially putting .Net, WPF, Silverlight and whatever Win32 based clients to legacy mode. The future of .Net is no longer clear with Windows 8. Silverlight is way better than HTML5, much more advanced and there's so many things you can do with it, so why kill it?

And that is not C++ but another variant of it which is not portable because libraries are specific to WinRT. MS is going back to the good old days of native compilation; no portability. Meaning they want what Apple is doing -- closed source, no portability. HTML5 is a brand new, they, in my opinion, just want to be the first and kind of wanting to own that technology. It's like how Apple owned 3G by using it in "iPhone 3G". When people think of 3G they automagically think of Apple not the technology.

Javascript is a pis crap language and it's a pain to work with and they are making it first class and .Net to legacy (second). Even Google is dumping javascript in favor of their DART which is I believe Silverlight like.

[zimatar33]

Metro UI is designed for Tablets.
The classic UI remains for the netbook. laptop and desktops.

Post-iPAD era is here.
PC is still everywhere.
Don't believe Steve Job's hallucination about post-PC era.
Macbook and Macbook Air are still on sale by Apple.
Perhaps Steve Jobs deserves a rest.
Apple maybe needing him again for the coming years to revive again Apple.

[PhotoJoe]

I was able to get Windows 8 Dev Preview to work via Boot Camp on a Macbook Pro



The one feature that has caught most attention (and confusion) is the new Metro UI. Think of this feature merely as a graphical front-end for Windows 7. The same desktop OS that people have gotten used to over the years is still there. Metro UI is only there as a supplement (not a desktop replacement) when the OS is used in a tablet PC.

What excites me most about a Windows 8 powered tablet is that there finally is a portable device that does everything that desktop computer can. Unlike iPad and Android powered tablets, which are never meant to replace an actual computer with a real OS - one can finally have a real computer with a real OS on a portable device.

Two that best describe Metro UI: f*cking stunning. (Copy/paste image URL for full res (1920x1200) pics)).



Socialite (Facebook client)





Internet Exporer 10 side-by-side with Tweet@rama (Twitter client)



Near Me (find restaurants, businesses, etc)





Weather (This screenshot doesn't do it justice - the clouds actually f*cking move!)



And of course, behind it all, is the same Windows OS that people have loved over the years.

[JazonEsti]

Unlike iPad and Android powered tablets, which are never meant to replace an actual computer with a real OS - one can finally have a real computer with a real OS on a portable device.

wow, i never knew Android is a fake OS! someone ought to sue Samsung, HTC, LG, etc, for putting a fake OS in their phones and tablets!

seriously, there's no need to imply these OSes "fakes." they are good enough for the purposes they were created for. windows 8 will provide them with competition, but i think that's good for consumers because they will compete and adapt, providing richer, more functional apps.

of course, this can be a curse also. more complex apps usually equate to more resources hogged, so phones and tablets may fall victim to never ending, escalating forced upgrades similar to desktops.

[baste]

well you can't please everyone...

IOS, and Android are perfect for mobile devices...

[Coderboi]

wow, i never knew Android is a fake OS!

LOL! Now we know who the Android fanboys are.

I don't get much done on my Xoom compared to my iPad or my Windows tablet (well, Modbook actually) and I've actually had my Xoom a lot longer than my iPad. I basically use my Xoom as a "dedicated Youtube viewer" (one of the few things it's actually good for) 'coz Youtube is the one app that runs better on Honeycomb compard to iOS

You could say Android ain't a real OS because:

a) its UI is still relatively sucky
b) it has a Crapp store as opposed to an App store
c) it might be Linux-based, but in actuality, the usefulness of the arguably big Linux ecosystem just doesn't manifest or matter for the huge majority of Android device users.

By the way, I'm just curious as to how many of these fanboys actually own an Android slate (as opposed to just a phone).

I, too, championed the endless paper merits of Android over iOS at one point in time, until I actually had the chance to compare firsthand...

The vast majority of people who buy Android slates will do so mainly because they just want to be seen as "different" or hate to be told what to do or base it on the paper comparisons. That's the rightfully deserved backlash of Apple's elitist fantard-catering marketing.

For anyone who's had a chance at sampling the galaxy of iOS apps versus the pathetic Android Crappstore competition though, the extra .5 megapixel of front camera resolution that the Android device provides as compensation is essentially a joke and/or insult.

[ein]

What's the point of upgrading to Windows 8 if you're just going to turn it off?

Because the Metro UI (and apps) aren't the only thing new and improved in Windows 8?

[Bigot3AtBalbas]

If you think it's worth your money then go ahead. It's like paying for a tank then you threw away the canon because you don't need it

To me, no thanks. Windows 7 is good enough.

[Coderboi]

If you think it's worth your money then go ahead. It's like paying for a tank then you threw away the canon because you don't need it

I don't get it.

To use your analogy, Windows 8 IS still the tank with the cannon underneath, except when appropriate (and by default), it can transform itself into a friendly and speedy VW Golf.

[Bigot3AtBalbas]

If that's how you see it

[JazonEsti]

LOL! Now we know who the Android fanboys are.

well, don't count me in that bunch. i don't own a single android device.

just accept the fact that android, for all its faults, is good enough for many people.

will windows 8 be better than android? yes, that is possible. and it is also possible that android will improve rapidly to stay ahead or at the very least, keep pace.

[Coderboi]

well, don't count me in that bunch. i don't own a single android device.

Actually, the Android fanboys are usually the ones who don't own a device yet! Like I used to be.

just accept the fact that android, for all its faults, is good enough for many people.

"Good enough" ain't good enough. Especially when you can get something far better for the same or lower price.

Good enough = mediocre. And indeed, the overall Android ecosystem can be said to be a mediocre one.

will windows 8 be better than android? yes, that is possible. and it is also possible that android will improve rapidly to stay ahead or at the very least, keep pace.

Ummm... based on the demo, Windows 8 UI-wise is better than the iPad. This means that Windows 8 pushes Android to 3rd place. It's entirely possible that will mean Android's death knell IF Microsoft moves fast enough.

Now, there are two or three things which I see where Windows 8 slates may lose out to Android slates: battery life and resume from standby time.

Battery life (when in operation) will not be an issue on ARM-based slates, so that is not the primary concern.

Resume from standby is the 2nd important issue. I've been reading that while Win 8 boots up super fast - at 10 seconds it might even be faster than iOS, resume from suspend/standby is far from instantaneous. Resume from standby is instantaneous on Android and iOS. Again, I'm hoping this is only an issue on x86 Win 8 devices, because in theory, ARM-based devices will have the instruction set and be engineered from scratch to provide instantaneous resume from suspend.

The 3rd issue (also the first issue actually), is battery life when a slate is on standby. I think neither Android nor Win 8 devices are going to be able to go up against iOS on this in the forseeable future. This is because both OSes opted to go for true background multitasking. Win 8 can't change this because that's just how the OS is structured and I doubt they can engineer a change on such a fundamental level. Android, on the other hand, could have avoided this, but made the wrong design choice. Looking at how much iOS' extended battery life makes the user's life easier - Apple's design choice - despite the wailing and gnashing that we heard form users - was the right one.

If I had to choose between "true" multitasking and having my suspended slate die in 36-48 hours versus having pseudo-multitasking (e.g. apps in suspended animation) and having my slate last for 72 hours or more in suspend mode, the latter is indeed the more desirable alternative.