Windows8
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Install Windows 8 onto your HTC Shift today, give it a reason to wake up in the morning (video)
If you've got an HTC Shift sitting around that's collecting dust and not doing much else, it could find a new lease on life with the revelation of its (very unofficial) support for Windows 8. Like they did for Mac OS X previously, the folks at xda-developers have shoehorned Microsoft's latest Developer Preview OS onto the dejected UMPC, and so long as you've got a bit of spare time, the right equipment and are good at following instructions, you can too. All the basic driver support appears to be in order, including support for video acceleration, the touchscreen and WiFi. Granted, you should keep in mind you'll be installing pre-release software on unsupported hardware, but isn't that half the fun? There's a video after the break (heads-up: it's in French), and if you're looking to get started right away, you'll find a full list of instructions in the source below. [Thanks, M.]
Windows 8 ditches '80s BIOS boot for streamline UEFI
Every time we reboot our computers, that scrolling code takes us right back to the days of War Games and Tab. Bringing us into the 21st century, Microsoft has decided to ditch the old boot by beautifying the whole experience with a graphical menu. Windows 8 will shift from the standard fugly BIOS system to a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) -- giving users a high resolution logo and a graphical menu to gaze upon while powering up their PC. Besides just looking better, the menu lets you boot to a different disc, OS or USB drive using pretty pictures and words as prompts. If you're into a little self-inflicted eye torture, you can always pull up the command prompt menu from nightmares past. Check out the throwback video tribute to the computers of yesteryear after the break. Update: Just to clarify, Microsoft isn't actually building flashing mobos, but it's pushing towards UEFI to achieve "significantly richer capabilities" while booting. Update: Microsoft isn't actually building flashing mobos, but it's using its considerable industry weight to push manufacturers towards UEFI to achieve "significantly richer capabilities" while booting.
Microsoft locks Metro-style apps to Windows Store, developers and enterprise keep sideloading privileges
Microsoft's battening down its hatches, and restricting distribution of Metro-style apps to its Windows Store. Developers and enterprise customers (as well as Win32 desktop apps) get the slide this time 'round the OS reboot, with continued and unfettered access to sideloading on the platform. The decision, much like Apple's approach to iOS, falls in line with Redmond's current Windows Phone 7 app policy, leaving the wild, wild west of unpoliced apps to users of Android's open-source ecosystem. Of course, it's only a matter of time before denizens of the interweb's shadowy underworld hobble together a means of bypassing MS' security measures, and open the floodgates to nefarious apps. We're still waiting to get our hands on those Win8 slates, but in the meantime, look forward to a curated experience.
Switched On: The great slate debate of Windows 8
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Just as Windows Phone 7's "touch-only" interface threw away the past to create a streamlined, more approachable experience, Microsoft is creating a "touch-first" experience for Windows 8 that has more in common with its new phone software than previous versions of Windows. This "Metro-style" UI will be able to run on virtually any modern PC, with screens from 10- to 30-inches and above. The touch interface will be only occasionally relevant on desktops, though, more so on laptops. Where it's obviously meant to shine is on pure slates -- will consumers really flock to Windows 8 for such slates, though?
Windows 8 ain't fussy: runs on Macs, Surface, 128MB RAM, banana peel (videos)
Downloaders of the Windows 8 Developer Preview have been proving their mettle the best way they know how: by getting it to run on systems it was never really intended for. Brent and the folks at Codesnack win the Real Utility trophy for their successful Boot Camp installs. Josh Blake gets the Damn I Look Good By Candlelight trophy for making the OS run on the MS Surface in his living room. Meanwhile, Marcin Grygiel has awarded himself the I'm HARDCORE!!! title for somehow getting it to run on a PC with just 128MB. Treat yourself to some intimate video evidence after the break. [Thanks, Prashanth]
You're the Pundit: Windows 8
Other sites have rumors and speculation. We have the TUAW braintrust. We put the question to you and let you have your go at it. Today's topic is Windows 8. Will Microsoft's newest operating system prove a threat to Apple's OS X or iOS? The touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system has been heavily overhauled for greater stability and user friendliness. High resolution (think Retina for Microsoft) models may ship sometime in the next 12-18 months, with high touch accuracy, optimized finger control precision, and more. Features like Picture Password, which invites users to draw on pictures with a known set of shapes and lines for authentication (e.g. add a mustache on Mom and a hat on Dad) and a brilliantly colored tiled Start Screen, all add to Windows 8's appeal. Should Apple be worried? You tell us. Place your vote in this poll and then join in the comments with all your predictions. %Poll-69095%
Windows 8 on a laptop in-depth preview (video)
Less than 24 hours after it went live on Microsoft's site, Steve Ballmer reported a whopping 500,000 downloads of Windows 8 Developer Preview. That's half a million copies, if not eager Windows fans. Well, you can count us among them. Although we were treated to some private hands-on time with a tablet optimized for the OS, we hadn't, until now, had a chance to use it on a laptop -- i.e., the computing environment where we spend most of our time, and the one where we're most used to seeing Windows, in particular.For the past three days, we've been doing just that: getting acquainted with Windows 8 using the good 'ol mouse-and-keyboard combo. And while that might read like a redundant statement (what recent version of Windows hasn't accommodated a cursor?), Win 8 is a peculiar breed -- It's the first version of the operating system where finger input wasn't an afterthought, but a first-class citizen. It's clear that this time around, Windows is optimized for touch, but we had to wonder if that Windows Phone-inspired UI would present a steep learning curve, if it would get in the way while we tried to go about business as usual. So how's that working out for us? Suffice to say, we're not in Kansas anymore, so find your most comfortable chair and meet us after the break -- we've got oh-so many details to delve into.%Gallery-134097%
Adobe: yep, your Windows 8 system will support Flash -- sometimes (video)
Flash fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief -- Adobe has confirmed that the next version of Windows will, in fact, support work built on its once ubiquitous web publishing platform. Windows 8 PCs and tablets with x86 or ARM processors will support the platform -- in the more traditional desktop mode, that is. The version of Internet Explorer 10 built for that interface will play nicely with Flash. Those users who opt for the new Metro UI, on the other hand, will be out of luck on the Flash front, thanks to a lack of plug-in support. Between Adobe's work in the HTML5 world and the ability to build Flash-like apps using Air for the Metro interface, however, the company seems to have most of its bases covered in Windows 8 land. Check out evidence of Flash running in Windows 8 after the break, courtesy of Qualcomm.
Engadget Podcast 256 - 09.16.2011
This week, the Engadget Podcasters get caught up in the Windows racket--and who can blame them? It was Build week, and while a lot of other things happened too, it's not every day, or week, or even year that we get a reveal of something this massive in the computing universe. The games, the cars, the and chips take a backseat while we step back and admire the cross-platform spectacle of Number 8. Host: Brian Heater Guest: Darren Murph, Richard Lawler Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Stairway to Heaven 03:45 - Poll: Did you download Windows 8? 09:00 - Windows 8 can run on an Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM 13:45 - Windows 8 details: new features, UI enhancements and everything in between 18:45 - Windows 8 for tablets hands-on preview (video) 30:43 - Microsoft shows Windows 8 on existing Ultrabooks, acts like it's never seen a thin laptop before 38:18 - Nintendo 3DS extended slide pad add-on, first hands-on 46:39 - Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater, @rjcc, @darrenmurph
Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)
Yeah, we knew it was possible, but knowing and seeing are two very, very different animals. Just before closing the doors at Build 2011, Microsoft's Avi Ben-Menahem took the time to briefly showcase what would be possible with Xbox Live and Windows 8. It's obviously in a very early state, but already we're seeing signs of cross-platform multiplayer game support, and an (unsurprisingly) Metro-style universe supplanting the existing Games for Windows Live. We get the feeling that Microsoft's thinking this one through; rather than just shoehorning a gaming element in, things like "cloud saves" and dedicated Music / Video panes will be around to enjoy. Moreover, participation in the Xbox Live development program will purportedly be free, and if Ben-Menahem has his way, this will bring "everything you know and love on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to Windows." Bold. Peek the pair of videos just after the break.
MSDN previews Windows 8 touch on Windows 7 hardware
The latest blog from Windows president Steven Sinofsky, ably assisted by Grant George and Jeff Piira, talks about Redmond's testing of Windows 8 touch on current hardware and how touch has changed the way it develops software. Using kit like the Thinkpad X201, HP Elitebook 2740 and ASUS EP121, Microsoft is realizing that the "feel" of touch to the user is more important than simple hardware performance. It's also testing manufacturers' bezel designs, graphics setups and screen cover glass in an attempt to make Windows 8 "feel right" across the wide variety of systems it will run on -- a challenge in every sense of the word. Anyone interested in playing a quick game of "spot the device" should see the pic from inside the Windows testing lab that's after the break.
Microsoft's Metro-style IE 10 has seen the future and it's plug-in free
Microsoft seems intent to push things forward, judging by its recent Build 2011 conference and the Windows 8 goods on display. Now, in an official blog post from the Redmond-based company, comes word that Internet Explorer 10 will be doing double duty, accommodating the web's old architecture and its HTML 5 future. Users who opt for IE 10's Metro-style app will be treated to a plug-in free experience, as MS has its eye on the evolving underpinnings of our information superhighway. Not to worry, though, the desktop app of the company's refreshed browser will still function as it always has, providing compatibility for Flash, and a host of other extensions. The company made the decision after surveying 97,000 internet sites worldwide, deducing that a portion of the 62% sampled defaulted to HTML 5 in the absence of plug-in support. Due in part to this intentional omission, the Ballmer-led co. now claims the new, touch-optimized version of IE 10 will run faster, sustain battery life and offer improved security and privacy. Not convinced? Well, you'll be able to test that out for yourselves when those Windows 8 slates hit the market.
NVIDIA's Kal-El reference tablet running Windows 8 at Build (eyes-on)
This may not be the first the world's seen of NVIDIA's Kal-El reference tablet running Windows 8, but it does mark our first up-close and (sort of) personal run-in with the much ballyhooed quad-core ARM processor powering the equally anticipated OS. As we reported yesterday, NVIDIA's just launched its Windows 8 developer program, in eager anticipation of the new operating system's release. That eagerness carried over into our short sit down with the outfit's spokesperson, who wasn't giving us much in the way of details. However, he did give us a clue about future benchmarks: NVIDIA expects to see significant battery life gains on Kal-El notebooks -- as in days, not hours. Unfortunately, the reference tablet on display was locked away in a plexiglass cell, but we did manage to grab a few shots of the now familiar device running Microsoft's latest. Those, as you can see, are in the gallery below. %Gallery-133774%
Steve Ballmer touts 500,000 Windows 8 downloads in less than 12 hours
We've already heard that quite a few of you have downloaded Windows 8 since the developer preview became available last night, and it looks like plenty of other folks have as well --- about 500,000 in the first 12 hours, to be specific. That's according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer himself, who took to the stage at Build earlier today to dish that particular bit of news and recap the past two day's events. Hit the source link below for a video of the full keynote if you missed it (Ballmer's appearance is around the 2:32 mark).
AMD Fusion tablets running Windows 8 at Build 2011: hands-on with video
You've already seen our in-depth hands-on with Samsung's Series 7 Slate, boasting an Intel processor and running Windows 8, and now it's time to give the other guys a little love. We got a chance to sit down with the folks at AMD, masters of the Fusion APU, before the Expo doors opened here at Build, and it would be an understatement to say that they're excited about getting their x86 chipsets running on Windows 8 machines. As with Samsung's Slate, AMD was showing off a pair of slates we've seen before, specifically the Acer Iconia Tab W500, running on the company's C-50 APU, and MSI's WinPad 110W, sporting the Z-01 APU. This is the first the company's seen of the Metro UI running on its chipsets, and like them, we're impressed with its performance. You'll get the same speedy boot-up here, as well as fast and fluid touch navigation. Unfortunately, they aren't giving up details on future devices, but we should see Brazos powering Windows 8 tablets, desktops , and notebooks in due time. For a look at AMD powering Windows 8, check out our video after break. %Gallery-133736%
Windows 8 BSoD ditches confusing error codes for uninformative frowny face
As with any version of Windows, the Metro-slathered Win 8 has one of those oh so familiar Blue Screen of Death thingies. But, this time around, there's a change. Gone are the confusing and uninformative error codes, and in its place you get an equally uninformative sad emoticon. OK, there's also some text informing you that your PC is about to reboot, but it still doesn't get you any closer to tracking down the root of the problem. Well, at least it's little less cutesy than the Sad Mac (though, no less infuriating).
Windows Server 8 and Azure platform introduced, Metro-style app building starts today
Server and Tools Business President Satya Nadella, amongst others, took the stage at Build today in order to showcase something a bit less consumer-facing: Windows Server 8 and the revised Windows Azure platform. Fret not, though -- this all plays a vital role in how you'll be enjoying Windows 8 in the months to come. A Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview will be made available to coders starting today, enabling devs to concoct Metro-style applications with HTML 5, JavaScript, C#, Visual Basic and C++. We're told that the Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview is available today for Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers and will be made available to the public on Friday. Microsoft also announced that Server 8 would provide multi-tenant infrastructure for cloud services, while the Azure Marketplace would expand to 25 new nations in early October. Those hoping to dig deeper can head on past the break (and visit the source links below). %Gallery-133730%
Poll: Did you download Windows 8?
Downloads have barely been active for half a day, but for the night-owls who burned the midnight oil in order to take the developer preview of Windows 8 for a spin, this is for you. If you're claiming to be one of the earliest of adopters of Windows 8, how have things gone? Are you waiting a few days to see the obvious issues crop up? Are you taking your remaining vacation days to have yourself slapped silly with "Metro-style" goodness? Let us know how the installation process went in comments below, and if you've got a newfound mancrush (or womancrush!) on Microsoft, here's your opportunity to shamelessly gloat. %Poll-69030%
Windows Phone Apollo to feature speech-to-text for email, low-end Tango gets split in two
If this hodgepodge of sorta, kinda official confirmation is to be believed, Windows Phone users can look forward to deeper integration of voice command functionality built-in to the Apollo update. Nokia US' CEO, Chris Weber, first spilled the speech recognition beans in an interview with VentureBeat back in early August, referring to the tech as a killer WP feature. Now, a report over on ZDNet backs up that leaked info with resume tidbits from former MS Windows Phone / Mobile Communications team members that had a hand in creating the so-called "Voice-Compose" and "Read-Aloud" features for native email clients-- even tipping us off to a possible Windows 8 and WP 8 convergence. There's also mention (gleaned from a company job listing) of MS' lower-end mobile OS splitting into two separate versions -- Tango1 and Tango2. We know what you're thinking. It's hard to get excited about far-off OS updates when we're still waiting on Mango's release. Still, it's good to know Ballmer and co. aren't just resting on their Windows laurels.
Windows 8 developer preview: when and where to download (update: right now, here!)
Got a brain full of Windows 8? Can't stop obsessing about it? Fret not -- as of 8PM PT this evening (just under eight hours from now), you'll be able to download a copy of the Windows Developer Preview to your 32- or 64-bit x86 machine (no activation required) from dev.windows.com. Sorry, ARM hopefuls! Per usual, we'd recommend doing so on a separate partition (or a spare machine altogether) in order to prevent unforeseen conflicts, and we'd also suggest having a stiff glass of patience waiting nearby. Something tells us Redmond's servers are going to be hammered. Update: The download is live! Click here to try it out yourself, while the slightly less daring can hang on for our first impressions of Microsoft's latest and greatest once we've installed and given it a try. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
