Windows 8 Enterprise First Look - Part 3

Overview of Tile-based Interface Apps

Microsoft account Integrated Apps
We have seen Mail, Calendar, People and Messaging as Preview App in Release Preview and these apps are now default apps in Windows 8 Release To Manufacturing (RTM).  These apps integrate and work with Microsoft account and require internet connection for information retrieving.

Bing powered Apps
In Windows 8 Release To Manufacturing (RTM) apps like Weather, Finance, News, Maps, Travel and Sports are powered by Bing.  Bing is included as an app by itself on tile-based interface, the Bing searching built-in with certain intelligence where it provides better searching experience to user.

Administration Tools - Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
There are I would like to focus Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool which is a bundled app in Windows 8 RTM in this post.  I think this is an useful app for anyone to diagnose memory problems (if any) as memory problems can sometimes cause loosing of information or computer stop working. By default, the administration tool is not show on the interface, you may enable Windows to show to the tool by following the below steps:

Move mouse to the right lower corner to to bring up start menu and select Settings

Windows 8 Upgrade Offer

If you have a Windows 7 PC purchased between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013, you are eligible to buy a Windows 8 Pro for $ 14.99*.  To register for Windows Upgrade Offer and more information about this upgrade offer, check out https://windowsupgradeoffer.com/

P/S: The last day to register and order your Windows 8 upgrade is 28 February 2013 :)

Windows 8 Enterprise First Look - Part 2

Overall, there is little changes from Windows 8 Release Preview to RTM in terms of interface, there are few visual differences you will notice once you have a copy of RTM installed on your computer.

One obvious adjustment would be the Aero desktop or Aero experience which remove in RTM.  The combination action of  Windows Key + 'Tab' is remove in RTM now although it was still appear Release Review.   The other change would be the naming of the Windows 8 tile-based interface has been renamed from Metro UI to Modern UI according varies announcement.

I have captured some screenshots to share my view on Window 8 Enterprise, hope you will enjoy reading it :)

A quick tutorial during Windows 8 installation.

A good way for user learn and necessary gesture and movement to operate Windows 8

Windows 8 Enterprise First Look - Part 1

Windows 8 Enterprise 

Earlier this month, the final version of Windows 8 has released to manufacturing (RTM).  Consumer should expect the preloaded Windows 8 launch in in October.  Between now till October, Windows 8 Enterprise 90 day Evaluation is available for public for download to hands on and test drive Windows 8 RTM.  I have downloaded and installed both 32 bit & 64 bit Windows 8 Enterprise to try out the latest Windows client operating system.  I will share with you in few posts, from the installation to the first look of the Windows and later working with the apps on Windows 8 Enterprise.

Step by Step Installation of Windows 8 Enterprise

The below step by step installation is based on Windows 8 Enterprise 64 bit image.  The installation process has not changed much from Release Preview.

The start screen of Windows 8 Installation

Windows 8 Editions

Windows 8 comes in four different editions that support both x86 and ARM-specific platform, there are two platforms that Windows 8 is supported, the ARM processor platform and the x86 platform.

The ARM processor platform - Windows 8 RT, is the first Windows client operating system designed to support ARM processor architecture such as tablets and phones.  This  version is available only as pre-installed operating on ARM processors devices which usually touch-enabled devices or platform.

Download Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation

You may now download Windows 8 Enterprise 90-day Evaluation copy and hands on before it officially released on Oct 26, 2012.  To download Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation, visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/hh699156.aspx

Things I like about Windows 8

Windows 8 Release Preview comes with awesome features and convenient.  With the following new features, tools and software preinstalled with Windows 8, we may start using Windows 8 almost immediately once OS installed without much third-party applications installation required.  What do you think about the following?

Deliver Faster Windows Start  up

Windows 8 takes average 10 seconds for a Windows 8 PC to go from powered down to the start screen,
Windows 8 delivery faster start up time ever comparing to previous Windows operating system.  You have to test and experience it on your own to believe it.

PDF & ISO
Without any additional installation, I could already open and read PDF files, it makes life so convenience with PDF reader built-in.  On the other hand, Windows 8 can now mount as a drive and burn the ISO file to optical disc (CD, DVD) all these very cool are built-in  feature within its Windows Explorer.

Get your Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard Ready for Windows 8

For those of you who are using Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard, check out the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center to get the most out of the Windows 8, it is a new application to help you personalized and customize how you work on you PC especially it helps you make the most our of your Microsoft mouse and keyboard for Windows 8.  So download and check out how it works now at, http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/downloads/mouse-keyboard-center

P/S: Even the mouse and keyboard has to get ready for Windows 8 :)

Maintenance tasks that improve performance

While busy catching  up & posting Windows 8 news, I came cross a Microsoft write-up which covers Maintenance tasks that improve performance for Windows XP.  Logically and technically speaking, these maintenance tasks should apply to most Windows client platform and I think these tasks come very handy for both user and IT administrators who still supporting Windows XP.  The maintenance tasks suggested are quite simple, easy to carry out and most of us have done it many times.  I am sure it helps to improve the Windows XP performance after applying it, so why not give try now :)

• Remove unused programs
• Install and run antispyware software
• Free up wasted space
• Defragment your hard disk drive
• Disconnect unused network connections

Will you consider perform these tasks to improve your system performance  :)

Surface by Microsoft or Microsoft Surface

Just realized that latest tablet by Microsoft, Microsoft Surface will be available in two versions installed with Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 RT.  Windows 8 Pro runs on Intel CPU whereas Windows 8 RT runs on ARM CPU.  Both tablets is planned to release in October 2012.  Let's stay tuned on the release of Microsoft Surface

To find out more about Microsoft Surface, check out the spec sheet is on Microsoft Surface officially site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf

Windows 8 Release to Manufacturing (RTM)

This month seems to be a busy month for Microsoft, from Outlook.com to Windows 8 release to manufacturing (RTM) and soon Windows Server 2012 RTM should be announced.  Microsoft has announced the RTM of Windows 8 on 1st August 2012, RTM means Microsoft has completed the product development and testing of the product and have started handing off the final code to our OEM partners. Partners will then begin preparing new Windows 8 PCs and devices they’ll introduce starting with General Availability.  For more information and news about Windows 8 RTM, check out the following links:

Releasing Windows 8 - August 1, 2012
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/08/01/releasing-windows-8-august-1-2012.aspx

Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/08/01/windows-8-has-reached-the-rtm-milestone.aspx

Outlook.com

Today Microsoft introduced Outlook.com, a new personal email service that reimagines the way that people use email – from a cleaner look, to fewer and less obtrusive ads, to new connections to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Visit http://www.outlook.com/ to sign up for your account!