The official Microsoft Windows 8 Engineering Blog

[Dos_Box]

Launched 10 days ago this Microsoft blog has a couple of useful sneak peaks of the upcoming Windows 8 features. It'll prove interesting reading I think.

 

Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

The file management vid is well worth a look as well :http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/3ed7/82c23e5d-b573-46ae-ae1a-9f4501863ed7/B8BFileManagement_high_ch9.mp4

[mattx]

Launched 10 days ago this Microsoft blog has a couple of useful sneak peaks of the upcoming Windows 8 features. It'll prove interesting reading I think.

 

Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

The file management vid is well worth a look as well :http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/3ed7/82c23e5d-b573-46ae-ae1a-9f4501863ed7/B8BFileManagement_high_ch9.mp4

 

You mean after almost 20 years they will finally get the estimated copy time etc correct ?

That's no fun......

[Dos_Box]

I like the fact if you have multiple file transfers/copies going on you can pause one or more to prioritise which data gets done first. Handy for server migrations where you could pre-stage multiple file transfer operations and run them one at a time insted of having to go back and start each job afreash.

[Arthur]

Built-in support for USB 3.0 will also be very handy. One thing I didn't know about Windows 7 is that you can't have multiple USB 3.0 controllers from different manufacturers in the same system. Windows 8 fixes this and adds native UASP (USB Attached SCSI) support too.

 

Another thing worth keeping in mind is that until Windows 8 arrives it's often not possible to mix and match USB 3.0 host controllers from different manufacturers in the same system. The reason behind this is that the drivers function in different ways and they might interfere with each other and cause performance issues. (Source)

[Dos_Box]

Interesting. I didn't know that about USB 3.0 and W7. Cheers!

[CAM]

Interesting blog but a bit of a heavy read for each post! Thanks for the link and added to faves as I am keen to see how Windows 8 interacts with Windows Live. I foresee them getting even closer in the future.

[Arthur]

Microsoft have posted an update on their Windows 8 blog. This time for Windows Explorer.

 

http://youtu.be/TNJsL0rRz-Q

 

http://i.imgur.com/KjMnd.png

[EduTech]

I did post this the other week, http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows/80931-windows-8-engineering-blog-launched.html

 

I am very pleased to see that they are now doing this

 

James.

Edited August 29, 2011 by EduTech

[CyberNerd]

Seldo's Tumblr, This is genuinely Microsoft

[webman]

So in a world of widescreen displays, Microsoft have added more vertical clutter to Windows Explorer, to cater for about 10% of users? Well done.

[Arthur]

Having bigger finger-friendly buttons in Windows Explorer will make it much easier for tablet users though. The less you have to use drop-down menus and the on-screen keyboard the better.

[webman]

I don't think trying to have one interface that caters for both traditional navigation and tablet use at the same time is a winning solution. It's either tablet or desktop - both are very different interfaces.

[Guest Guest]

So in a world of widescreen displays, Microsoft have added more vertical clutter to Windows Explorer, to cater for about 10% of users? Well done.

 

Thank god I'm not the only one. OSX is even worse though. The first thing I do on a mac is get rid of the HUGE dock, and put it on the side. Seriously, why does it have to be so big as default? I wouldn't mind but both windows and OSX still has its downsides of having it on the side - windows the startmenu doesn't behave properly, OSX the windows often overlap it.

 

How long have widescreens been out?

[mattx]

Been using this for years:

 

XYplorer - A Windows File Manager and Explorer Replacement

 

Will never go back - not sure if there is a free version but it my mind it's money well spent.

[Arthur]

Microsoft have added more vertical clutter to Windows Explorer

The ribbon can be minimized and if it's anything like the one in Office 2010 will adapt to the width of your monitor e.g.

 

http://i.imgur.com/Kq5mL.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/37KHq.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/0RjSx.png

 

also...

 

The whole UI has been designed with widescreen monitors in mind, so the details pane uses real estate more efficiently to display image information. The ribbon itself collapses, so those of you eager for vertical screen space can cut out a big chunk of the UI by double clicking to contract/expand the ribbon. The Quick Access Toolbar exists specifically for power users who want to add their own commands to the Explorer UI. And the Up button's back. (Source)

 

to cater for about 10% of users?

Don't you think that 10% figure would be a lot higher if the command bar in Windows 7 was actually more useful than it currently is? Rather than click the Organize menu and select Copy, most people (as Microsoft have shown) would rather use the keyboard shortcut or context menu instead. If the command bar had buttons for Cut, Copy, Paste etc. obviously more people would use them.

Edited August 29, 2011 by Arthur

[webman]

The ribbon can be minimized and if it's anything like the one in Office 2010 will adapt to the width of your monitor e.g

....

 

also...

 

Good.

 

Don't you think that 10% figure would be a lot higher if the command bar in Windows 7 was actually more useful than it currently is? Rather than click the Organize menu and select Copy, most people (as Microsoft have shown) would rather use the keyboard shortcut or context menu instead. If the command bar had buttons for Cut, Copy, Paste etc. obviously more people would use them.

 

I don't know. This could be Microsoft thinking "Hey, no one uses Feature X. Let's make it more in their face so they have to use it." But I think the key is identifying why users haven't used that. Is it because it's not usable? Because there are already quicker/better ways of doing it that users prefer?

 

Without further information, you can interpret that chart either way

[NikChillin]

You mean after almost 20 years they will finally get the estimated copy time etc correct ?

That's no fun......

 

RATS! Now I won't be able to tell people that the job will be done in a few microsoft minutes.. GRR

[Dos_Box]

There is a nice new entry describing how W8 will handle ISO and VHD images here: Accessing data in ISO and VHD files - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

Apparently it will let you mount ISO's as a virtual CD/DVD drive within explorer, which should be great for gamers (hopefully, copy protections not getting in the way!), and with VHD's it will mount the file as a new hard drive where you can add and remove files etc at will

 

A video of this in action is here: http://media.ch9.ms/ch9/cf43/1d0000b3-0021-40d5-91d0-9f4e016ccf43/B8BVHD_low_ch9.mp4

[CyberNerd]

I like the fact if you have multiple file transfers/copies going on you can pause one or more to prioritise which data gets done first. Handy for server migrations where you could pre-stage multiple file transfer operations and run them one at a time insted of having to go back and start each job afreash.

 

 

There is a nice new entry describing how W8 will handle ISO and VHD images

 

 

I swear they are just nicking long standing features from Gnome, why not just annoy everyone entirely buy putting Unity on it !

[Dos_Box]

True, but Microsoft do have to pay developers to add this functionality, and it does pay for them to wait to see what features people want than actually developing stuff that does not get used. Like Windows ME for instance

[ZeroHour]

Seldo's Tumblr, This is genuinely Microsoft

 

Short sighted blog tbh, who out there knows you can access the file menu via alt button?? most find ways around their lack of knowledge but it doesnt mean it doesnt need improving. Also its very lazy reading when the person doesnt even notice the fact ALL of it can be made smaller/customised. Fail blog, fail...

 

http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-29-43-metablogapi/1641.Figure-24-_2D00_-Alex_2700_s-customizations_5F00_thumb.png

 

Having bigger finger-friendly buttons in Windows Explorer will make it much easier for tablet users though. The less you have to use drop-down menus and the on-screen keyboard the better.

 

I don't think trying to have one interface that caters for both traditional navigation and tablet use at the same time is a winning solution. It's either tablet or desktop - both are very different interfaces.

 

Yeh it makes it far easier and W8 has 2 interface modes as well so it makes sense to at least make the *normal* mode a little more easier for touch use too.

 

I think the ribbon is a good idea, most that use right click HAVE to or dont know about the other menu's and buttons. Having a proper toolbar is good for those without windows skills and as long as you can make it small it also means those power users are catered for too.

Edited September 1, 2011 by ZeroHour

[Dos_Box]

I don't think trying to have one interface that caters for both traditional navigation and tablet use at the same time is a winning solution. It's either tablet or desktop - both are very different interfaces.

 

According to this entry yesterday, you can easily swap between the two interfaces. This comment from the blog is quite intersting:

 

And if you don’t want to do any of those “PC” things, then you don’t have to and you’re not paying for them in memory, battery life, or hardware requirements. If you do want or need this functionality, then you can switch to it with ease and fluidity because Windows is right there. Essentially, you can think of the Windows desktop as just another app.

Designing for Metro style and the desktop - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

And to me, that sounds very handy indeed. Carry a small wireless keyboard in your bag and you can use a tablet as a laptop as and when you need it (as long as you have a stand or something to prop it up against. I think having both interfaces is a big plus TBH as it makes it far more flexable, and currently tablets are pretty awkward to use as anything but an information consumption device. In fact, try using a tablet on a train to do email or any kind of detailed inputting task. It's the most un-fun thing you can do!!

[CyberNerd]

According to this entry yesterday, you can easily swap between the two interfaces. This comment from the blog is quite intersting:

 

 

Designing for Metro style and the desktop - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

And to me, that sounds very handy indeed. Carry a small wireless keyboard in your bag and you can use a tablet as a laptop as and when you need it (as long as you have a stand or something to prop it up against. I think having both interfaces is a big plus TBH as it makes it far more flexable, and currently tablets are pretty awkward to use as anything but an information consumption device. In fact, try using a tablet on a train to do email or any kind of detailed inputting task. It's the most un-fun thing you can do!!

 

Interesting. MS are finally copying the modularity that you get with Linux based systems - being able to load different desktops (or no desktops) depending upon what you are doing - unity for tablets, gnome for desktops, cli for servers. MS catch on quick (20 yrs later....)

[Dos_Box]

TBH, and in defense of Microsoft here, they have not as yet needed more than one interface. Explorer did it all for desktops and notebooks, and becasue of the way AD worked, implementing GP's for multiple interfaces could have been, I suspect, a nightmare. It's only now with the advent of tablet and more portable computing devices they see the need for this. And lets face it, how many Linux users here actually use more than one interface?

 

*Prepares himself for an ear bashing from Linux-multiple-desktop-using-fanbois.

[CyberNerd]

It is pretty handy to have the option of multiple desktop environments, especially if you want to have the same base image on multiple machines with different capabilities. It's good to see MS have copied some of the better features from linux, apparently they are also having a YUM/APT clone 'marketplace' for software installation. All they need to do now is drop the price to £0, release it all as opensource and bring in revenue from support contracts.....