Information Madness

The previews on a whole chain of blogs on Microsoft’s `Building Windows 8’ blog give details on its latest operating system that is expected early next year. This new operating system is being considered as Microsoft’s biggest Windows refresh since its Windows 95 when the desktop personal computers were ruling. Microsoft is now seeking to update Windows for a consumer technology world that is focused on online services and touch sensitive units like the iPad and Android smartphones.

Microsoft is in the process of outlining a brand new touch interface for Windows 8. The new operating system will run on both ARM and Intel processors and it may open up a range of Windows 8-powered tablets, laptops and desktops.

Windows 8 is also expected to have an OS X- Style Mac App Store. It is likely to include integration with Microsoft’s range of online services such as `Skydrive’, Office 365 and the free Office Web Apps.

Other developments include USB 3.0 support and an overhauled version of Explorer that is Windows’ file management tool.

Windows 8’s new start screen has large panels that are suited for touch screen purposes and can also be manoeuvred by a mouse. The conventional Windows interface with the start button, task bar and desktop is still available. HTML and JavaScript will be the basic development language for new Windows 8 Apps.

The Windows 8 version of Explorer is also getting Microsoft’s ribbon interface to make the file management tool more touch friendly and to introduce popular Explorer features from Windows XP. Microsoft has also optimized the new Explorer for widescreen displays and will add about two hundred keyboard shortcuts for its power users.