Windows 8 - News & Updates

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Windows 8 May Give Microsoft a Tablet Play

Can Microsoft's next-generation, touch-oriented Windows 8 OS give Microsoft a leg-up in the tablet computer market now dominated by Apple's iPad?

The quick answer seems to be a resounding no. The highly successful iPad is being chased by a host of contenders, including Android tablets, that have already been on the market for months.

Still, there are some things in favor of Windows 8 on tablets, analysts said.

"Microsoft has a big hill to climb with iPad out there, but Windows 8 is certainly a better model than now and takes [traditional] Windows and adds touch [capability]," said Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates.

The Windows 8 concept borrows from Microsoft's Windows Phone interface , which uses live tiles and hubs arranged on a start touchscreen and can be used to represent groups of social contacts and applications.

"If that Windows Phone user interface catches on, it could prove popular for tablets as well," Gold added.

By borrowing from its Windows Phone interface theme of touchable tiles for Windows 8, Microsoft has shown how important the mobile computing experience has become, Gold and other analysts said.

Microsoft could also be planning to attach cloud services to tablets to generate revenues, Gold said, much in the same way it had hope to attach such services to the Kin , an early Microsoft phone that was scaled back.

"Windows 8 is what Microsoft has been hinting at all along -- the convergence of mainstream and mobile OS," Gold said. It is a theme that Apple also has followed across different form factors, he noted. "This is a contrast to the past philosophy where mobile and PC OSes were distinctly different. This is a big step for Microsoft."

Will Stofega, an analyst at IDC, agreed that Windows 8 appears to be about connecting smartphones to tablets and other form factors. "The trend seems to be to extend the [Windows] OS from smartphones to tablets to enable synchronization," Stofega said via email.

Source : PC World

 

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Microsoft Introduces Windows 8: One OS for Desktops, Laptops, and Tablets

Windows 8 is on its way, and it'll be a departure from the Windows we know and love today. That was the message Microsoft sent Wednesday afternoon at the annual D: All Things Digital Conference, taking place near Los Angeles.

At the conference, Microsoft presented a radically redesigned Windows interface: Instead of the traditional desktop with windows, the taskbar, Start menu, and so on, Microsoft demonstrated an interface that's reminiscent of Windows Phone 7, its smartphone operating system--complete with touch-friendly live tiles.

Microsoft also discussed features of the Windows 8 operating system at the Computex tech conference in Taiwan.

Microsoft posted a video that shows some of the new features. Most notably, the company says that it's designed for not only laptops and desktops, but for tablets as well (which makes sense, given its big, touch-friendly buttons and visual style). The new tile-based interface replaces the traditional Start menu, according to Microsoft.

Macworld's Jason Snell notes on Twitter that "Windows 8 will run standard Windows apps, support standard Windows peripherals." Microsoft's video shows regular Windows apps running in a separate, traditional desktop mode that you can switch to with the press of a button.

Check out the video for a quick overview:



Apps made specifically for Windows 8 will be a bit of a different beast--they'll "use the power of HTML5, tapping into the native capabilities of Windows using standard JavaScript and HTML," the company says. It remains to be seen if this means that Windows 8-specific apps will be based solely on HTML5, JavaScript, and other Web technologies, or if they'll be some tie-ins to more traditional app development tools that Microsoft offers.

What's interesting about Windows 8 is that it's another step in PCs becoming more tablet-like. Apple is moving toward making Mac OS X more iPad-like with Lion's various iOS-inspired features, although Windows 8 seems to go one step further with merging the tablet and the PC. There will probably be some resistance to these changes, and we'll have to wait and see how it all works out in practice, but the writing's on the wall.


Source : PC World

 

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10 Hidden Features in Windows 8

Windows 8 is coming in 2012: Here's an early look at 10 major new features and areas of improvement.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer finally confirmed what tech pundits knew all along: the next generation of Windows will be out in 2012. In the meantime, Microsoft is half-way done with Windows 8 -- it's in the Milestone 3 stage right now -- and is prepping up the first beta for this September's "Windows Developer Conference" in Anaheim, California.

But you don't have to wait until then to get a look at some of Windows 8's best new features. I've closely examined a pre-beta leak and dug up 10 great features and improvements you can look forward to. While these pre-beta builds have been covered left and right, I've chosen to focus on the lesser-known, but noteworthy improvements.



Windows 8 facial recognition moves closer to reality
Windows 8 portable workspace lets you take it with you
Looks pretty much like Windows 7: This early Windows 8 prototype hides many of its features. Some hidden gems are already accessible (via some registry tweaks and DLL hacks), others require a yet to be unearthed "Red Pill" from Microsoft. (Click here for a full-size image.)

1. Windows Store

Microsoft enters the lucrative app market, no surprise here. While "Windows Store" (which is the company's name for the online app shop) obviously doesn't work in this early build, the related DLLs and XML resources are already in place and ready to be examined by a variety of tools, such as PE Explorer or Resource Hacker.



Windows Store file details reveal feature set. (Click here for a full-size image.)

All the basic features of any app store are also present in Windows Store -- such as the ability to browse through categories, make in-app purchases, rate apps, download trials and so forth. New, however, is the ability to "stream" apps to your PC, which could lead to a couple of scenarios: 1) an app could be launched instantly after the purchase -- no need to wait until it is fully downloaded; 2) apps could be hosted in the cloud so that users stream only the part of the app they need at any given moment. That would be convenient for someone who'd like a larger product, say an Office suite, on a tablet with limited disk space, or who'd like to access the app from another machine.

Windows 8 collects all apps in its own "Application Explorer" and categorizes each app as either an "Immersive" or a traditional "Desktop" application (see below for more on that):



This ribbonized "Application Explorer" is a gathering place for all traditional applications and tablet apps. (Click here for a full-size image.)

2. Two-class society

Windows 8 will come in two separate interfaces flavors -- one traditional UI that resembles Windows 7's Aero and one touch-friendly UI specifically tailored to tablets dubbed "Immersive UI". The latter isn't fully implemented (or is too well hidden) in the early Milestone build, yet some specific tablet applications have already been unlocked:

Internet Explorer Immersive: A touch-centric version of Microsoft's IE browser that includes just an address bar (which auto-hides), a browser history and a tabbed view.



Modern Reader: Microsoft's own implementation of a (basic) PDF viewer that has only bare navigation and bookmarking support. (Still, Adobe likely won't be too happy about this.)

System Settings: A touch-optimized "Control Panel" that caters to mobile needs, such as connectivity, time zone settings or device management.



These few tablet apps are literally the tip of the iceberg -- the entire UI has yet to be revealed. While digging through Windows 8's various files, I found hints suggesting that users will be able to switch between the traditional Windows 8 UI and the tablet UI, through what's codenamed the "UIPicker". Also, we've found traces of a "Dock" that is supposed to hold built-in Windows features (such as a search box) and 3rd party apps.

Source : PC World

 

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Microsoft Blasts Intel's Talk of Windows 8 as Misleading, Inaccurate

Microsoft today called comments made by an Intel executive about the next version of Windows "inaccurate" and "misleading."

One analyst said the bickering between Microsoft and Intel did not signal a breakup of their long-standing partnership.

"In 2011, it's hard to tell who is a partner and who is a competitor," said Sarah Rotman Epps, a senior analyst with Forrester. "Look at HP. They're very careful to say that Microsoft is an important partner, but they left Microsoft at the alter when they went to WebOS [for their tablets]."

Microsoft's comments today were in reaction to reports Wednesday from Intel's annual shareholder meeting, where Renee James, the general manager of Intel's software and services group, said that Windows 8 -- as most have dubbed the next version of Microsoft's operating system -- would not run older Windows software on devices powered by ARM-based processors.

"On ARM, there'll be the new experience, which is very specifically around the mobile experience, specifically around tablet and some limited clamshell, with no legacy OS," James said, according to The Register . "Our competitors will not be running legacy applications. Not now. Not ever."

Intel has an interest in downplaying Windows 8 on ARM; this week it said it will battle for the mobile processor market with a future processor technology of its own.

"Anyone who has an Intel-based or an x86-based product, will be able to run either Windows 7 mode or Windows 8 mode," James added. "They'll run all of their old applications, all of their old files.... There'll be no issue."

Microsoft took exception to Intel's characterization of Windows 8 on systems-on-a-chip (SoC) processors.

"Intel's statements during yesterday's Intel Investor Meeting about Microsoft's plans for the next version of Windows were factually inaccurate and unfortunately misleading," Microsoft said in a statement Thursday.

"From the first demonstrations of Windows on SoC, we have been clear about our goals and have emphasized that we are at the technology demonstration stage. As such, we have no further details or information at this time," the company said.

Microsoft said much the same earlier this year when it announced it would build Windows for SoC processors , including those based on architectures created by U.K.-based ARM. The new Windows for SoC will be Microsoft's big push into the tablet market, where it's lagging far behind rivals Apple and Google.

Epps echoed Microsoft's big-picture public stance, noting that Microsoft has stressed the next version of Windows will run on multiple SoC designs, not just those based on ARM's architecture.

"It's broader than just ARM," Epps said of Microsoft's publicly-discussed plans. "Microsoft's not parting ways with Intel. It will make Windows 8 run on Intel's SoC, too."

Even so, the demonstration Microsoft put on at last January's Consumer Electronics Show focused on Windows running on ARM designs. While Steven Sinofsky, who heads Microsoft's Windows group, gave a nod at the time to Intel's current Atom processor, he saved his enthusiasm for ARM-based SoCs.

Among the chip makers expected to compete for Windows tablet dollars are Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.

"I don't know whether Microsoft will support legacy apps, all the various Windows executables, in Windows 8 on all SoCs," said Epps. "My impression is that they will. But I don't know if that's a realistic expectation."

In January, Sinofsky only promised that Microsoft would create a version of Office that runs natively on the SoC edition of Windows 8.

But even if Microsoft makes a break with the past -- as did Apple when it launched the iPad -- and doesn't support "traditional" Windows software on tablets in 2012 and beyond, it won't be the end of the world, Epps said.

"While the consumer expectation is that [the next version of Windows] will work with all their stuff [on a tablet], they are also eager to embrace something new," she said. "They realize that the pace of technology demands that."

As examples, Epps cited RIM's decision to not support old BlackBerry smartphones with the BlackBerry Bridge software for its PlayBook tablet, and consumers' eagerness to adopt Apple's iPad, even though that tablet can't run Mac software.

No matter what it does, Microsoft has a shot at making it big in tablets, Epps said.

"The fact is, Windows is the number one operating system people want on a tablet," Epps said, referring to a survey Forrester published two months ago after polling 3,800 people. "That may have surprised people, but that's what the data shows."

Source : PC World

 

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Windows 8 to Replace Your Toolbar with a Ribbon

Just hours after an early build of Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system leaked we're starting to get a good idea of how the latest version of Windows is shaping up.

Intrepid users have already begun mining the build and a major departure besides the OS's new welcome screen is already evident. Microsoft seems to have replaced the toolbar in the explorer window with the Ribbon user interface currently used Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Once you've logged in, the most noticeable change to Windows is the new Ribbon interface on every Explorer window. At this stage, the Ribbon UI is in a pretty confused state and doesn't seem to have some of its functionality, so it's hard to tell exactly how successful this switch will be. Within Windows even suggests some disagreement may exist within Microsoft about using the new interface at all.

Also unclear is whether this change is permanent for all devices. The current build of Windows 8 has a toggle to return the toolbar and menus we've all grown accustomed to, but it's not clear whether this will make it to the final version of Windows 8 or if it's just a temporary measure while the design of the Ribbon gets ironed out.

This is a very early build, so many features, such as specialized tablet support, haven't yet made their way in. Still, even this early on, we can say with some certainty that Windows 8 will bring some dramatic changes to the OS.


Source : PC World

 

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Rumored Windows 8 Feature: 'History Vault'

While Microsoft prepares Windows 8 for the tablet wars, it's also reportedly taking a page from Mac OS X with a feature called "History Vault."

According to Winrumors, History Vault will be an advanced backup utility similar to Time Machine for Mac OS X. The system will create regular, automatic backups using Windows' existing Shadow Copy feature.

Although users of Windows Vista and 7 can already go back in time with System Restore, History Vault will reportedly be more advanced. Users will be able to restore individual files to earlier timestamps, and the system will offer a graphical user interface for editing and restoring old documents, Winrumors' unnamed source said. Apple's Time Machine uses a cover flow to sort through restore points, but it's not clear what Windows 8's History Vault interface would look like.

Windows 8 control panel.Much of the OS itself, however, remains a mystery. We know Microsoft is creating a version of Windows 8 for tablets that's compatible with ARM processors, and rumors point to an interface that borrows the tiled look of Windows Phone 7. But in terms of concrete features, Microsoft is staying silent for now. (Image: Courtesy of Winrumors.)

Whether the rumor about History Vault is true or not, it's nice to hear some chatter about Windows 8 features for plain old laptops and desktops. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about tablets, but traditional computing still has plenty of life left -- at least enough to merit some new features in Windows 8.

Source : PC World

 

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Windows 8 Explorer gets the Ribbon treatment

As we approach the Microsoft BUILD conference next month, Microsoft continues to uncover details about Windows 8, the company's most significant desktop operating system in over a decade, according to the project's leader, Steven Sinofsky.
Today on the Building Windows 8 blog, a post by Alex Simons of the Windows program management team describes how the Windows Explorer file manager window would look. As earlier rumors speculated, it will indeed include the Office-like "ribbon" toolbar. The measured release of Windows 8 details stands in sharp contrast to the jolt with which the OS was first demoed simultaneously at two conferences last spring.
As Sinofsky puts in in a preamble to the post, "Windows 8 is about reimagining Windows, so we took on the challenge to improve the most widely used desktop tool (except maybe for Solitaire) in Windows." The ribbon displays icons for commonly used functions. In the case of the Explorer, this means things like Copy, Paste, Delete, Rename, Cut, and Properties.
Addressing power users who have been known to replace the built-in Windows Explorer with third-party tools such as FastCopy and xplorer2, Simons writes, "Our goal is to improve the usage experience for a majority of customers while recognizing that, with such a long history and variety of depth usage, we cannot possibly provide all of the power everyone might want.
Simons's team used telemetry, or anonymous opt-in data sent remotely from hundreds of millions of Windows user sessions to Microsoft, to determine which Explorer features were most heavily used. By far the most frequently used command was Paste, followed by Properties, Copy, Delete, Rename, Refresh, and Cut. The data showed that the top ten commands out of over 200 in total accounted for 81 percent of all use. But people also use the file system for things like playing music or video, starting emails, and edit document.
The data also showed that most commands by far were invoked through the right-click context menus (54.5 percent), followed by keyboard shortcuts (32.2 percent). Only 10.9 percent of commands issued came from the command bar, and only two of the top ten most used commands were even available in the command bar. Microsoft clearly wants to improve on with the addition of the ribbon.
Simons' team looked at user feedback, which pointed to reinstating some features removed from Windows XP and implementing some of what third-party file management tools do. The team came up with three overriding goals, which the post explains as follows:
"1. Optimize Explorer for file management tasks. Return Explorer to its roots as an efficient file manager and expose some hidden gems, those file management commands already in Explorer that many customers might not even know exist.
2. Create a streamlined command experience. Put the most used commands in the most prominent parts of the UI so they are easy to find, in places that make sense and are reliable. Organize the commands in predictable places and logical groupings according to context, and present relevant information right where you need it.
3. Respect Explorer's heritage. Maintain the power and richness of Explorer and bring back the most relevant and requested features from the Windows XP era when the current architecture and security model of Windows permits."
The Reappearance of the Ribbon
After evaluating a few other directions, Simons's team setted on the ribbon as the best way to meet all of these goals, and notes that it will be familiar to current users of Office and some built-in Windows 7 apps like Paint and Windows Live apps. He explains the choice as follows: "The ribbon would allow us to create an optimized file manager where commands would have reliable, logical locations in a streamlined experience. The flexibility of the ribbon with many icon options, tabs, flexible layout and groupings also ensured that we could respect Explorer's heritage." The ribbon is also well-suited to a touch-based interface, which Windows 8 has aspirations to become.
Tabbed Interface
The Windows 8 ribbon has four tabs, Home, Share, View, and Manage, with the first expected to be by far the most frequently used. Home will house the commands used 84 percent of the time--Copy, Paste, Delete, Rename, Cut, and Properties. Share will allow zipping, emailing, or burning files to disk. View will handle things like turning on and off the preview pane, navigation pane, sort order, and details.
Search is also improved in the Windows 8 Explorer: You'll be able to filter by date ranges, file type, file size, and other properties such as author or name. And you'll be able to save searches for future use.
Simons rounds off the long blog post noting that the new interface works better with widescreen formats, and that despite the ribbon's apparent targeting of novice users, there will be features that appeal to power users, as well, such as more keyboard shortcuts and more customization potential. And for those who miss XP, the Windows 8 Explorer brings back that older OS's Up button, to take them back to an earlier folder.

Source : Digit

 

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Microsoft's Windows 8 will support ripped DVDs

Microsoft's Windows 8 will support both virtual hard disks and ISO files, a boon to anyone who has ripped a DVD.
Microsoft made its latest disclosure on Windows 8 on Tuesday, part of its ongoing efforts to open up the Windows 8 development process. The leadup is a prelude to Microsft's BUILD conference, dedicated to Windows 8, which runs Sept. 13-16 in Anaheim, Calif. (Also read: Windows 8: What We Know So Far")
Windows 8 will be able to store both .ISO and .VHD files, creating virtual optical drives and virtual hard disk drives to play back both.
"The trend of incredibly large and small form-factor hard disks means we can store ever increasing amounts of data without worrying about running out of capacity," Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows division at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post. "Windows 8 enables easy access to the contents of two important storage formats, ISO and VHD files. While we generally think of these formats when they appear on media, they are also very useful as files within a file system and that is where native support in Explorer comes in handy."
Although the ability to support ISOs and VHD files are conceptually similar, the two functions will be typically be appreciated by two different groups of people.
ISOs are simply a disk image, such as an entire DVD - menus, formatting and all - saved as a single file. An ISO file, burned to a CD or a DVD, can be played back on any DVD or CD player. To date, ISOs have generally been the province of pirates, however, with groups sharing ISO files of popular games.
DVDs, meanwhile, are generally ripped and saved to formats like MP4. ISOs have one disadvantage: as uncompressed files, they're quite large, compared to DVDs ripped, stripped, and formatted to MP4 files with included audio. However, ripping a DVD and converting it to an MP4 can either require a paid software package or a knowledge of freeware and shareware - and patience, as ripping the actual DVD can take some time, as well. (CD audio can not be ripped as an ISO, however.)
Microsoft's inclusion of ISO files within Windows 8 is an acknowledgement that most hard disks are large enough to support toting around an ISO or two, such as on a plane flight, or store them in a NAS for home playback.
"Given cheap hard disks and our mobile lifestyle, we have little interest in carting around collections of discs," Sinofsky wrote. "Also, we expect to be able to receive content as well as share and collaborate with friends, family, and colleagues in an instant – typically through online file transfers. Last but not least, our desire for thin and light form factors such as slates and ultra-mobile laptops often leaves no room for vendors to add optical disc drives."
Microsoft and Sinofsky didn't say so, but it would be reasonable to assume that Windows Media Player or some related software would support ripping DVDs to ISOs, in much the same way consumers can rip CDs to the hard disk in a variety of formats.
Clicking on an ISO file will create a virtual DVD drive, basically a software interface that allows users to play and explore the ISO file, much like a normal DVD drive.
Virtual hard disks or VHDs, on the other hand, are more generally suited to virtual machines; the most common use for a VHD is when a software developer wants to test an application or other piece of software on another operating system. Hyper-V, Microsoft's hypervisor technology, stores information for virtual machines within VHD files. Users can also do test other OSes by partitioning or even dual-booting their PC; a VHD is a simpler way of doing the same thing.
Instead of creating an optical drive, a VHD simply creates another drive letter within the PC's Explorer window which can be treated just like another storage volume.
In both cases, users can "eject" or unmount the drives when done, Sinofsky wrote.
Microsoft has also described improvements to Windows 8's Explorer function and file management. A Windows 8 app store is also in the works.

Source : Digit

 

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Microsoft Throws Support Behind USB 3.0 With Windows 8

Microsoft is incorporating a software stack in its upcoming Windows 8 OS to natively support devices based on the USB 3.0 interconnect, which is in a battle for adoption with Intel's Thunderbolt.
USB 3.0 is the successor to USB 2.0 standard and can transfer data 10 times faster between computers and external peripherals such as cameras and storage devices. Most laptops and desktops today come with USB 2.0 ports and many PC makers are offering USB 3.0 ports as an option. The current Windows 7 OS does not include native support for USB 3.0, but device makers offer drivers to ensure products are compatible with the OS.

The growing support for USB 3.0 and wide usage of USB 2.0 was a compelling reason to improve the USB software stack, said Dennis Flanagan, Microsoft's director of program management for the devices and networking group, in an entry on the company's Building Windows 8 blog.

"By 2015, all new PCs are expected to offer USB 3.0 ports, and over 2 billion new 'SuperSpeed' USB devices will be sold in that year alone," Flanagan wrote.

Microsoft is writing a new software stack and controller for Windows 8 based on the "design principles" of USB 3.0, which will bring plug-and-play support for new devices such as external storage, webcams and keyboards, Flanagan wrote. The company is retaining the existing software stack to support older USB devices.

But there are few USB 3.0 devices available today, so to create the new software stack the company had to simulate and build virtual USB 3.0 hardware, including ports, hubs and devices.

The hardware support for USB 3.0 is also growing. Intel has already said it will integrate USB 3.0 support in chipsets for processors code-named Ivy Bridge, which will reach PCs early next year. AMD has already integrated support for USB 3.0 in its Fusion chipsets, which are already shipping for PCs.

USB 3.0 transfers data at speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second, which is slower than the transfer speed of rival interconnect technology Thunderbolt. Developed by Intel, Thunderbolt can transfer data between host computers and external devices such as displays and storage at up to 10 gigabits per second. Thunderbolt has been viewed as an alternative to USB 3.0, but Intel has the said the technologies are complementary. Apple uses Thunderbolt in its products.

Thunderbolt currently supports the PCI Express and DisplayPort protocols, and the interconnect does not require any OS support beyond existing software stacks for those protocols, an Intel spokesman said in an e-mail.

But Microsoft's backing will aid the fast growth of USB 3.0 and provide higher transfer speeds for consumer devices, said Jim McGregor, research director at In-Stat.

"Thunderbolt will be one of many peripheral options available, just like IEEE1394 and Firewire, but I think USB will be the predominant interface because it is so heavily tied to the largest growth segment of the market, mobile devices, for both interconnectivity and power," McGregor said.

Thunderbolt is based on copper wires, but ultimately will be based on optical technology. That will boost the interconnect's transfer speed and distance, Intel has said.

"[USB 3.0] will still not be as fast as the Thunderbolt optic link, but copper never will be as fast as optics," McGregor said.

Wireless charging could trump both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, provided it takes off, McGregor said. The transfer speeds may not be as fast, but device makers are showing interest in the technology, he said.

"It may eventually eliminate the need for peripheral connectors on mobile devices and then everyone will look to wireless interfaces," McGregor said.

Other than enthusiast users, drivers aren't something average PC users need to worry about, but native support for USB 3.0 in Windows 8 can't hurt, said Nathan Brookwood [CQ], principal analyst at Insight 64.

"When they are talking about the history of Windows 8, they are going to be talking about the user interface and ... touch," Brookwood said.

Source : PC World

 

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windows 8

NEW DELHI: Microsoft on Tuesday showed a detailed preview of the next major release of Windows, code-named Windows 8 at BUILD, the company's annual conference for developers.

"We reimagined Windows," said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft, in his keynote address to the thousands of developers in attendance. "From the chipset to the user experience, Windows 8 brings a new range of capabilities without compromise."

According to the preview, the new Windows uses the tile-based Metro user interface found in Windows Phone 7. This makes it particularly suitable for use on tablets where the touch-interface will allow easy navigation between tiles.

Microsoft claims in Windows 8 it will have operating software that will be equally suitable for both tablets and desktops. The company believes this will bridge the gap between tablets and traditional computers and allow users to enjoy best of both worlds.

At BUILD, the company showed that desktop users will be able to access the traditional homescreen and work on programs the way they do under Windows 7. At the conference the company also detailed new tools for developers to help write applications for the new OS. A new app store will be part of Windows 8 when it arrives in the market next year.

Microsoft is also promising a seamless cloud experience that will keep Windows 8 devices synced. "With SkyDrive, you can access your files, photos and documents from virtually anywhere with any browser or with Metro style apps in Windows 8," the company claimed.

For the first time in the history of Windows, the new version will not only support x86 processors made by Intel and AMD but also ARM architecture. This will allow Microsoft to be aggressive in the tablet market where processors-based on ARM designs are more popular.

The company said that developers will be able to download the Windows (developer preview) via the new Windows Dev Center later this week.

toi