windows 8

Windows grows up

1 March 2012

And from aesthetically disgusting… to visually stunning. We’ve always said that what Microsoft started with Zune, then Windows Mobile 7 and last year with Win8 will end well. So well that they’ve managed to transform Barcelona’s MWC into a free Windows 8 buzz release for their consumer (beta) “preview”. One day after it’s already been downloaded 1 million times

Windows 8 IE browser screen
Windows 8 IE browser screen

After paying careful attention at the “Consumer preview” evolution of W8m 48 hours of free PR in most gadget (and non-gadget) blogs & publications (like us? ooohps), comparisons, reviews, gesture and UX evaluations… etc, we have to say… maybe what Google has been cooking in the past few years, maybe what Apple has managed to achieve since the iPhone & the iPad… maybe it will all explode into 1 Million little pieces of glittery magic!

Ok that’s assuming too many things, too far, but M$softs’ Win8 is not only generating a LOT of expectation, but making people dream with something completely new, just like Apple did nearly 5 years ago. Still there’s a lot to be done, especially when it comes to make everyone forget the traditional desktop experience still exists in the Win8 backyard.

But for now you’ll have to agree (whether you’re anyone’s fanboy or fangirl) that the old software elephant is back to claim their OS thrown in a big way. Now is up to OEMs and developers, developers developers!  Maybe worth reading TheVerge’s preview hands on… it’s only what will rule the world in a few months after all.

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Windows 8

3 June 2011

Presented a couple of days ago @ Computex and also @ All things Digital Windows 8 has gotten Microsoft back to the buzz once again. But will it last?

If we focus on the All Things Digital’s D9 conference demo by Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky & Win Experience VP Julie Green @, “Windows 8” was presented as an organic enlargement /extension of the refreshing Windows Mobile 7 we got to know late last year for desktop and slate form factors (or any other device pretty much).

As impressive and inciting as Win7mobile looked last year, the new Windows start screen would presumably get rid of the conventional icon/shortcut-desktop approach we’ve had since Win95 to propose a real-time customizable tile cascade like the mobile devices do today (well, actually customizable). Meaning you get “the most important updates” on your start screen.

At the same time Microsoft uploaded this video (part 1) presented by Jensen Harris which presents & summarises most of the things covered and already presented @ D9 and it’s on its way to grab 2 million visits (well done M$!… for once!).

We admit being impressed & excited… again. The Redmond guys really need a radical twist not only on their strategy (WiMo 7 apparently is not selling that well…) but on the look & feel of their products. After all, nearly 2 generations have grown up (us included) knowing only Microsoft products (and ignoring Apple & Linux a bit…), so when Google came into the OS battleground with their funny green bot and their superfast browsernowOS, we felt naturally attracted… it was new!

However a few itchy and interesting points were asked @ D9 while Win8 was presented (Kara)… the old file-management system is still there… the radical makeover doesn’t apply to other Microsoft products (Office brings the nightmares back…), the blending between both worlds hasn’t really occurred… etc.

Also nice to notice that “share” “search” & “connect” will be omnipresent options as part of the “start-home” swipe-bar.

More info @ ATD page.

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