Section: Computers, Desktops, Mobile Computers, Software / Applications
Microsoft has finally given us the first taste of the next version of it’s popular OS, Windows 8. The preview focused largely on tablets, with a new UI that seems designed with tablets as the main focal point.
What Microsoft has deemed to show off is Windows 8 with a touch layer that greatly resembles Windows Phone 7. The home screen of the OS is simply a collection of tiles instead of the icons, taskbar , and gadgets you’d normally expect from Windows. The tiles work just like they do on Windows Phone, some serve as simple icons to apps while others update themselves to show important information like the weather right on the tile itself. Apps launch into full screen, though the screen can be split between two apps, something we haven’t yet seen on tablets. Splitting the screen between two apps only seems asymmetrical at the moment, but for some apps having a small sliver might be all you need.
The apps you’ll be using will be written in Javascript and CSS according to the Windows Team, though those aren’t be the only languages used. There are still legacy apps like the Microsoft Office Suite that will run in the classic desktop experience, making the tile interface seem like even more of just a layer over the OS. Those legacy apps will be touch-friendly, or as touch-friendly as is possible in the current Windows environment. Presumably they will be able to use the same keyboard, which looks to be an enlarged version of the Windows Phone keyboard. There’s even an option there to split the keys down the middle and push them to the side making touch typing actually usable on a tablet larger than 7-inches.
The changes do look interesting, but there are many questions to be answered. Questions like: why would anyone want to use legacy Windows apps on a tablet? Or, will you be able to use the same sort of apps in both environments? This new interface will be available on all form factors. That could cause issues with apps that work better with or without a touchscreen. There’s still time to answer these questions, but some of the basic design choices seem a bit troubling.
Read [Microsoft]
Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
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