As the Microsoft Windows 8 beta release date approaches, discussions and speculations about what the latest operating system has to offer are increasing. In addition to regular but enhanced features, Microsoft’s cult operating system now offers a great platform for full-screen apps. Users can now touch their apps, customize them, and view them in full screen mode without any interruptions or dangling menus at the top of the screen.
So whether you want to create a Word document or a PowerPoint slide, browse the Internet, watch movies and videos, check the weather, or read RSS feeds, you simply swipe the tile to open it. Open full screen view and experience a truly beautiful and rich app feel. Yes, even your Word document will appear in full screen mode to give you the feeling of a blank piece of paper on which you can scribble your story.
Or, take a walk down memory lane when viewing photos of friends or family in full screen mode, or drop on the floor laughing while watching your favorite animated movie. Nothing can dare to interrupt your pleasure, no menu, no tab to give you the feeling of a computer. Also, when you need to access another app, just swipe to the right side or up on the top of the screen to bring up five Charms viz. Search, Share, the Start menu (or Home screen), and more. You can even open and view 2 or more apps side by side.
Plus, Internet Explorer (IE) 10, the web browser, is here to take your browsing experience to the next level. Get a faster, richer, and never-before-smooth web experience when browsing the Internet in IE 10. Chrome-free browser display offers a full-screen view of websites. If you want to customize settings or go to another website, swipe down from the top of the screen to display the address bar and other tabs. This way you get more space and a tidy website experience. You can even pin your favorite websites to Windows Start, the Start screen, for one-touch access.
Wait, it’s not over yet. Windows 8 also has a lot in store for developers. Now they can create rich and beautiful Metro-style full-screen apps for their clients. Plus, the integrated Windows Store will let you preview and use apps before you buy and download them from a full suite of services and tools. The same goes for customers too.
Windows 8 integrates DirectX, which is a set of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for creating different applications, especially Metro-style games. Therefore, developers can now write chrome-free, rich, full-screen games using JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5. They can even create immersive 3D and 2D game apps using XAML powered by Visual Basic or C#. There are HLSL and C++ languages also powered by DirectX 11.1 to exploit all the graphics capabilities of contemporary graphics devices.
It doesn’t end here as the list of features goes on. There’s a lot more to say about Windows 8, which is still under Microsoft’s veil. Let’s wait for the beta version to be revealed and we will have plenty of information to review and share the features.