There is interesting speculation regarding the media support of Windows 8. Windows 8 is supposed to include support for new formats, including AVC HD (with chapter seek), 3D video, and multiple MPEG-4 formats for the web, and will improve MJPEG (webcams and still cameras), MPEG-2 (decoding/encoding), H.264 (encoding), and WMV. Additionally, speculation is, Microsoft will [...]
Microsoft seems to be putting a premium on improving the start times in Windows 8. A March 2010 Windows Planning Survey polled 545 customers about 21 user activities, and found that starting the computer tops the list when it comes to ‘highest importance/lowest satisfaction in terms of speed and performance’. Mean boot times have decreased [...]
Viruses, unfortunately, often force users to restore their machines to the factory settings, a painful process that involves loss of applications and personal data. Microsoft, however, is working on a new reset option that will retain files and personalisation settings while giving users an easy way to reinstall applications. In one of the scenarios detailed [...]
Windows 8 will integrate with a variety of technologies to let users pick out TV shows and movies and stream them to any screen. Turn on your laptop, find a movie online or in your hard drive, and with a click of a button you’ll be able to watch it on whichever TV screen you [...]
Microsoft is telling partners it will outdo Apple by building a better touch screen for slate PCs. Windows 8 will also support accelerometers and location-awareness for gaming and other functions, while adjusting the screen brightness to changes in light. “Users are able to hold their slate/tablet PCs in any orientation and Windows will smoothly and [...]
So more information has come out regarding Windows 8. There are three main points of interest that came from Mary Jo Foleys update today.. Based on new speculation: Ourghanlian described the utopian Windows 8 situation: One where users would install a master of Windows on their PCs, plus possibly an antivirus program, but nothing else. [...]
As you may know, recently some Microsoft documents were leaked that showed some of the very preliminary development discussions for Windows 8. Some of the things discussed were facial recognition software, sleeker and faster operating system, Bluetooth support etc. The whole discussion made me think about exactly what the next evolutionary step for an OS [...]
This rumour is pretty awesome…. There is speculation that Microsoft is considering “Support for facial recognition as one of the ways identity management/log in will be handled”. So potentially, you could have your camera on all the time and when you show up in front of your PC, it logs in automatically. When you leave [...]
Even more speculation about a new app store for Windows 8. We’ve had a nice long look through the slides ourselves, and that Windows Store is looking pretty interesting even at this early juncture. Early mockups show a Zune-like interface with content curated not only by Microsoft, but also partners and device manufacturers, and there’s [...]
Interesting new speculation about a “push button reset” that automatically resets Windows to factory condition while leaving a user’s files in place. That would actually be pretty cool if it was a highly effective no drama process. You wouldn’t have to reinstall Windows 8 from a DVD, just push a button… Any tech person who [...]
