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Windows 8

Windows 8 is an operating system produced by Microsoft that introduced significant changes to the user interface, including a new Start screen and new Windows Store apps. It also added security features like antivirus software and secure boot. Windows 8 was released in stages, starting with developer previews in 2011 and general availability in October 2012. It is designed to run on PCs and tablets using both Intel and ARM processors.

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Sonu Antony Njaravelil
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78 views2 pages

Windows 8

Windows 8 is an operating system produced by Microsoft that introduced significant changes to the user interface, including a new Start screen and new Windows Store apps. It also added security features like antivirus software and secure boot. Windows 8 was released in stages, starting with developer previews in 2011 and general availability in October 2012. It is designed to run on PCs and tablets using both Intel and ARM processors.

Uploaded by

Sonu Antony Njaravelil
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Windows 8 is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops,

tablets, and home theater PCs. Development of this operating system started before the release of its predecessor in 2009. Its existence was first announced in January 2011 at Consumer Electronics Show. During its development and test phases, Microsoft released three pre-release versions: Developer Preview (September 13, 2011), Consumer Preview (February 29, 2012), and Release Preview (May 31, 2012). On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 graduated from the development stage and was released to manufacturing. Windows 8 is slated for general availability on October 26, 2012. Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system's graphical user interface and platform; such as a new interface design incorporating a new design language used by other Microsoft products, a new Start screen to replace the Start menu used by previous versions of Windows, a new online store that can be used to obtain new applications, along with a new platform for apps that can provide what developers described as a "fast and fluid" experience with emphasis on touchscreen input.[2] Additional security features were also added to the operating system, such as a built-in antivirus program and a secure boot feature on systems with UEFI firmware. Secure boot requires the operating system to be digitally signed to protect malware from infecting the boot process. The implementation of this feature has sparked controversy among supporters of free software. Windows 8 also introduces an edition of the operating system designed to run on devices that utilize the ARM architecture, known as Windows RT.

Windows Store

A music app for Windows 8, shown snapped like a sidebar to the Windows Desktop Windows 8 introduces a new style of application, Windows Store apps; Microsoft developer Jensen Harris intends these apps to provide a "fast and fluid" experience; referring to their

optimization for touchscreen environments and their smaller scope in relation to desktop applications. Apps can run either in a full-screen mode, or be docked directly to the side of a screen.[2] They can also provide notifications and a "live tile" on the Start screen for dynamic content. Apps can also use "contracts"; a collection of hooks to provide common functionality that can integrate with other apps, such as search and sharing.[2] These apps are primarily distributed and updated through its namesake Windows Store, a new distribution platform comparable to the App Store and Google Play.[30][31] The apps run within a new set of APIs known as the Windows Runtime (WinRT), which supports programming languages such as C, C++, VB.NET, C#, along with HTML5 and JavaScript.[2] Apps written for WinRT are also cross-compatible with both Intel-compatible and ARM versions of Windows.[31] To ensure stability and security, they run within a sandboxed environment, and require permissions to access certain functionality, such as accessing the internet or a camera.[30] For quality and security reasons, retail versions of Windows 8 will only be able to install these apps through the Windows Store; the enterprise version will allow system administrators to deploy internally-developed apps.[32][30] Windows Store apps were originally known as "Metro-style apps" during the development of Windows 8. The term was reportedly phased out in August 2012; a Microsoft spokesperson denied rumors that the change was related to a potential trademark issue, and stated that "Metro" was only a codename that would be phased out prior to Windows 8's release.[33] Following these reports, the terms "Modern UI-style apps",[34] "Windows 8-style apps"[35] and "Windows Store apps" began to be used to refer to the new apps. On September 12, 2012, Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software division) officially confirmed in an interview that they would be known as "Windows Store apps"

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