Windows 8
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
Windows
8
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Part
of the Microsoft Windows
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Windows
8 Start
screen
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Developer
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Microsoft
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Website
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Releases
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Source model
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Update method
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Platform support
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Preceded by
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Windows 7
(2009)
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Succeeded by
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Windows
8.1 (2013)
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Support
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Part of a series on
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Windows 8
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Windows 8 is a personal
computer operating system developed by Microsoft as
part of Windows
NT family of operating systems. Development of Windows 8 started before the
release of its predecessor, Windows 7, in 2009. It was announced at CES 2011, and followed by the release of
three pre-release versions from September
2011 to May 2012. The operating system was released to manufacturing on August 1,
2012, and was released for general availability on October 26,
2012.[5]
Windows 8
introduced major changes to the operating system's platform and user interface to improve its user
experience on tablets, where Windows was now competing with mobile operating systems, including Android and iOS.[6]
In particular, these changes included a touch-optimized Windows
shell based on Microsoft's "Metro" design
language, the Start screen (which displays programs and dynamically
updated content on a grid of tiles), a new platform for developing apps with
an emphasis on touchscreen input, integration with online services
(including the ability to sync apps and settings between devices), and Windows
Store, an online store for downloading and purchasing new software. Windows
8 added support for USB 3.0, Advanced
Format hard drives, near field communications, and cloud
computing. Additional security features were introduced, such as built-in antivirus software, integration with Microsoft SmartScreen phishing filtering service and support for UEFI
Secure Boot on supported devices with UEFI firmware, to prevent malware from
infecting the boot process.
Windows 8 was
released to a mixed reception. Although reaction towards its performance
improvements, security enhancements, and improved support for touchscreen
devices was positive, the new user interface of the operating system was widely
criticized for being potentially confusing and difficult to learn (especially
when used with a keyboard and mouse instead of a touchscreen). Despite these
shortcomings, 60 million Windows 8 licenses have been sold through January
2013, a number which included both upgrades and sales to OEMs for new PCs.[7]
On October 17,
2013, Microsoft released Windows 8.1. It addresses some aspects of Windows 8
that were criticized by reviewers and early
adopters and incorporates additional improvements to various aspects of the
operating system.[8][9]
Contents
- 1 Development
history
- 2 New
and changed features
- 2.1 Safety
and security
- 2.2
Online services and functionality
- 2.3 Windows
Store apps
- 2.4 Interface
and desktop
- 3 Removed
features
- 4 Hardware
requirements
- 5 Editions
and pricing
- 6 Software
compatibility
- 7 Reception
- 8 Update
- 9 See also
- 10 References
- 11 Further
reading
- 12 External
links
Development history
Early development
Windows 8
development started before Windows 7 had shipped in 2009.[10] At
the Consumer Electronics Show in January
2011, it was announced that the next version of Windows would add support for ARM
system-on-chips
alongside the existing x86
processors produced by vendors, especially AMD and Intel. Windows
division president Steven Sinofsky demonstrated an early build of the
port on prototype devices, while Microsoft CEO Steve
Ballmer announced the company's goal for Windows to be "be everywhere
on every kind of device without compromise."[11][12][13][14]
Details also began to surface about a new application framework for Windows 8
codenamed "Jupiter", which would be used to make
"immersive" applications using XAML (similarly to Windows
Phone and Silverlight) that could be distributed via a new
packaging system and a rumored application
store.[15]
Three milestone
releases of Windows 8 leaked to the general public. Milestone 1, Build
7850, was leaked on April 12, 2011.[16] It
was the first build where the text of a window was written centered instead of
aligned to the left. It was also probably the first appearance of the
Metro-style font, and its wallpaper had the text shhh... let's not leak our
hard work. However, its detailed build number reveals that the build was
created on September 22, 2010.[17] The
leaked copy edition was Enterprise edition. The OS still reads as "Windows
7". Milestone 2, Build 7955, was leaked on April 25, 2011. The traditional
Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) was replaced by a
new Black screen, although this was later scrapped.[18] This
build introduced a new ribbon in Windows Explorer. Build 7959, with
minor changes but the first 64-bit version, was leaked on May 1, 2011. The
"Windows 7" logo was temporarily replaced with text displaying
"Microsoft Confidential". On June 17, 2011, build 7989 64-bit edition
was leaked. It introduced a new boot screen featuring the same fish as the
default Windows 7 Beta wallpaper, which was later scrapped, and the circling
dots as featured in the final (although the final version comes with smaller
circling dots throbber). It also had the text Welcome below them,
although this was also scrapped.[19]
On June 1,
2011, Microsoft unveiled Windows 8's new user interface as well as additional
features at both Computex Taipei and the D9: All Things Digital conference in California.[20][21]
The
"Building Windows 8" blog launched on August 15, 2011, featuring details
surrounding Windows 8's features and its development process.[22]
Previews
A screenshot of
Windows 8 Developer Preview running on a multi-monitor system, showcasing some
features
Microsoft
unveiled more Windows 8 features and improvements on the first day of the Build
Conference on September 13, 2011.[23]
Microsoft released the first public beta build of Windows 8, Windows Developer
Preview (build 8102) at the event. A Samsung tablet running the build was also
distributed to all attendees of the conference.
The build was
released for download later in the day in standard 32-bit and 64-bit versions,
plus a special 64-bit version for developers. This version included SDKs and
developer tools (Visual Studio Express and Expression
Blend) for developing applications for Windows 8's new interface.[24] The
Windows Store was announced during the presentation, but was not available in
this build.[25][26]
According to Microsoft, there were about 535,000 downloads of the developer
preview within the first 12 hours of its release.[27]
Originally set to expire on March 11, 2012, in February 2012 the Developer
Preview's expiry date was changed to January 15, 2013.[28]
The new File
Explorer interface with "Ribbon" in Windows 8
On February 19,
2012, Microsoft unveiled a new logo to be adopted for Windows 8. Designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher,
the Windows logo was changed to resemble a set of four window panes.
Additionally, the entire logo is now rendered in a single solid color.[29]
On February 29,
2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the beta version of
Windows 8, build 8250. Alongside other changes, the build removed the Start
button from the taskbar for the first time since its debut on Windows 95.[30]
The start button was later added back in version 8.1. Windows president Steven
Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer
version went public.[30]
The day after its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview had been downloaded over
one million times.[31] Like
the Developer Preview, the Consumer Preview expired on January 15, 2013.
Many other
builds were released until the Japan's Developers Day conference, when Steven
Sinofsky announced that Windows 8 Release Preview (build 8400) would be
released during the first week of June.[32] On May
28, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview (Standard Simplified Chinese x64 edition,
not China-specific version, build 8400) was leaked online on various Chinese
and BitTorrent websites.[33] On
May 31, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview was released to the public by
Microsoft.[34]
Major items in the Release Preview included the addition of Sports, Travel, and
News apps, along with an integrated version of Adobe Flash Player in Internet
Explorer.[35]
Like the Developer Preview and the Consumer Preview, the release preview
expired on January 15, 2013.
Release
Windows 8
launch event at Pier
57 in New York City
On August 1,
2012, Windows 8 (build 9200[36]) was released to manufacturing with the build
number 6.2.9200.16384 .[37]
Microsoft planned to hold a launch event on October 25, 2012[38] and
release Windows 8 for general availability on the next day.[39]
However, only a day after its release to manufacturing, a copy of the final
version of Windows 8 Enterprise N (a version for European markets lacking
bundled media players to comply with a court ruling) leaked
online, followed by leaks of the final versions of Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise
a few days later.[40][41] On
August 15, 2012, Windows 8 was made available to download for MSDN and TechNet
subscribers.[42]
Windows 8 was made available to Software Assurance customers on August 16,
2012.[43]
Windows 8 was made available for students with a DreamSpark Premium subscription on August 22,
2012, earlier than advertised.[44]
Relatively few
changes were made from the Release Preview to the final version; these included
updated versions of its pre-loaded apps, the renaming of Windows Explorer to
File Explorer, the replacement of the Aero Glass theme from Windows Vista and 7
with a new flat and solid-colored theme, and the addition of new background
options for the Start screen, lock screen, and desktop.[45] Prior
to its general availability on October 26, 2012, updates were released for some
of Windows 8's bundled apps, and a "General Availability Cumulative
Update" (which included fixes to improve performance, compatibility, and
battery life) was released on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. Microsoft
indicated that due to improvements to its testing infrastructure, general
improvements of this nature are to be released more frequently through Windows
Update instead of being relegated to OEMs and service packs only.[46][47]
Microsoft began
an advertising campaign centered around Windows 8 and its Surface
tablet in October 2012, starting with its first television advertisement
premiering on October 14, 2012.[6]
Microsoft's advertising budget of US$1.5–1.8 billion was significantly
larger than the US$200 million campaign used to promote Windows 95.[48] As
part of its campaign, Microsoft set up 34 pop-up
stores inside malls (primarily focusing on Surface), provided training for
retail employees in partnership with Intel, and
collaborated with the electronics store chain Best Buy to
design expanded spaces to showcase devices. In an effort to make retail
displays of Windows 8 devices more "personal", Microsoft also
developed a character known in English-speaking markets as "Allison
Brown", whose fictional profile (including personal photos, contacts, and
emails) is also featured on demonstration units of Windows 8 devices.[49]
In May 2013,
Microsoft launched a new television campaign for Windows 8 illustrating the
capabilities and pricing of Windows 8 tablets in comparison to the iPad, which featured
the voice of Siri
remarking on the iPad's limitations in a parody of Apple's "Get a Mac"
advertisements.[50][51]
On June 12, 2013 during game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, Microsoft
premiered the first ad in its "Windows Everywhere" campaign, which
promoted Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and the company's suite of online
services as an interconnected platform.[52][53]
New and changed features
Main article: Features new to Windows 8
New features
and functionality in Windows 8 include a faster startup through UEFI integration and the new
"Hybrid Boot" mode (which hibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the subsequent
boot),[54]
a new lock screen with a clock and notifications,[55] and
the ability for enterprise users to create live USB
versions of Windows (known as Windows
To Go).[56][57]
Windows 8 also adds native support for USB 3.0
devices, which allow for faster data transfers and improved power management
with compatible devices,[58][59] and hard disk
4Kn Advanced Format support,[60] as
well as support for near field communication to facilitate
sharing and communication between devices.[61]
Windows
Explorer, which has been renamed File Explorer, now includes a ribbon in place of the command bar. File
operation dialog boxes have been updated to provide more detailed statistics,
the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage
conflicts when copying files.[62] A new
"File History" function allows incremental revisions of files to be
backed up to and restored from a secondary storage device,[63]
while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different
sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy
on a folder-by-folder basis.[64]
Task Manager has been redesigned, including a
new processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running
applications and background processes, a heat map using different colors
indicating the level of resource usage, network and disk counters, grouping by
process type (e.g. applications, background processes and Windows processes),
friendly names for processes and a new option which allows users to search the
web to find information about obscure processes.[65] Additionally,
the Blue Screen of Death has been updated with a
simpler and modern design with less technical information displayed.[66][67]
Safety and security
New security
features in Windows 8 include two new authentication methods tailored towards
touchscreens (PINs and picture passwords),[68]
the addition of antivirus capabilities to Windows
Defender (bringing it in parity with Microsoft Security Essentials).[69]
SmartScreen
filtering integrated into Windows,[70] Family Safety offers Parental
controls, which allows parents to monitor and manage their children's
activities on a device with activity reports and safety controls.[71][72][73]
Windows 8 also provides integrated system recovery through the new
"Refresh" and "Reset" functions,[74]
including system recovery from USB drive.[75] Windows
8's first security patches would be released on November 13, 2012; it would
contain three fixes deemed "critical" by the company.[76]
Windows 8
supports a feature of the UEFI specification known as
"Secure boot", which uses a public-key infrastructure to verify the
integrity of the operating system and prevent unauthorized programs such as bootkits from
infecting the device's boot process.[77]
Certified Windows 8 devices must have secure boot enabled by default, and
provide ways for users to disable or re-configure the feature. ARM-based
Windows RT
devices must have secure boot permanently enabled.[78][79][80]
Online services and functionality
Windows 8
provides heavier integration with online services from Microsoft and others. A
user can now log in to Windows with a Microsoft
account, which can be used to access services and synchronize
applications and settings between devices. Windows 8 also ships with a client
app for Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service, which also allows apps to save
files directly to SkyDrive. A SkyDrive client for the desktop and File
Explorer is not included in Windows 8, and must be downloaded separately.[81]
Bundled multimedia apps are provided under the Xbox brand, including Xbox Music,
Xbox Video,
and the Xbox SmartGlass companion for use with an Xbox 360
console. Games can integrate into an Xbox Live
hub app, which also allows users to view their profile and gamerscore.[82]
Other bundled apps provide the ability to link Flickr and Facebook.[83]
Internet Explorer 10 is included as both a
desktop program and a touch-optimized app, and includes increased support for HTML5, CSS3, and hardware acceleration. The Internet Explorer
app does not support plugins or ActiveX components, but includes a version of Adobe Flash Player that is optimized for touch
and low power usage. Initially, Adobe Flash would only work on sites included
on a "Compatibility View" whitelist;
however, after feedback from users and additional compatibility tests, an
update in March 2013 changed this behavior to use a smaller blacklist of
sites with known compatibility issues instead, allowing Flash to be used on
most sites by default.[84] The
desktop version does not contain these limitations.[85]
Windows 8 also
incorporates improved support for mobile
broadband; the operating system can now detect the insertion of a SIM card and automatically configure
connection settings (including APNs
and carrier branding), track and reduce bandwidth use on metered
networks. Windows 8 also adds an integrated airplane
mode setting to globally disable all wireless connectivity as well.
Carriers can also offer account management systems through Windows Store apps,
which can be automatically installed as a part of the connection process and
offer usage statistics on their respective tile.[86]
Windows Store apps
Snap feature:
Xbox Music, alongside Photos snapped into a sidebar to the right side of the screen
Snap feature: Desktop,
along Wikipedia
App snapped into a sidebar to the right side of the screen. In Windows 8,
desktop and everything on it are treated as one Metro-style app.
Windows 8
introduces a new style of application, Windows
Store apps. According to Microsoft developer Jensen Harris, these apps
are to be optimized for touchscreen environments and will be more specialized
than current desktop applications. Apps can run either in a
full-screen mode, or be snapped to the side of a screen.[87]
Apps can provide toast notifications on screen or animate their
tiles on the Start screen with dynamic content. Apps can use
"contracts"; a collection of hooks to provide
common functionality that can integrate with other apps, including search and
sharing.[87]
Apps can also provide integration with other services; for example, the People
app can connect to a variety of different social networks and services (such as
Facebook, Skype,
and People service), while the Photos app
can aggregate photos from services such as Facebook and Flickr.[83]
Windows Store
apps run within a new set of APIs known as Windows
Runtime, which supports programming languages such as C, C++, Visual
Basic .NET, C#, along with HTML5 and JavaScript.[87]
If written in some "high-level" languages, apps written for Windows
Runtime can be compatible with both Intel and ARM
versions of Windows,[88]
otherwise they are not binary code compatible. Components may be
compiled as Windows Runtime Components, permitting consumption by all
compatible languages.[89]
To ensure stability and security, apps run within a sandboxed environment, and require
permissions to access certain functionality, such as accessing the Internet or
a camera.[90]
Retail versions
of Windows 8 will be able to install these apps only through Windows
Store—a namesake distribution platform which offers both apps, and listings
for desktop programs certified for comparability with Windows 8.[88][90]
A method to sideload apps from outside Windows Store is available to
devices running Windows 8 Enterprise and joined to a domain;
Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT devices that are not part of a domain can
also sideload apps, but only after special product keys are obtained through
volume licensing.[91]
The term
"Immersive app" had been used internally by Microsoft developers to
refer to the apps prior to the first official presentation of Windows 8, after
which they were referred to as "Metro-style apps" in reference to the
Metro design language. The term was phased
out in August 2012; a Microsoft spokesperson denied rumors that the change was
related to a potential trademark issue, and stated that "Metro" was
only a codename that would be replaced prior to Windows 8's release.[15][92]
Following these reports, the terms "Modern UI-style apps",[93]
"Windows 8-style apps"[94]
and "Windows Store apps" began to be used by various Microsoft
documents and material to refer to the new apps. In an interview on September
12, 2012, Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software
division) confirmed that "Windows Store apps" would be the official
term for the apps.[95]
An MSDN page
explaining the Metro design language uses the term "Modern design" to
refer to the language as a whole.[96]
Web browsers
Exceptions to
the restrictions faced by Windows Store apps are given to web
browsers. The user's default browser can distribute a Metro-style web
browser in same package as the desktop version, which has access to
functionality unavailable to other apps, such as being able to permanently run
in the background, use multiple background processes, and use Windows API
code instead of WinRT (allowing for code to be re-used with the desktop
version, while still taking advantage of features available to Windows Store
apps, such as charms). Microsoft advertises this exception privilege "New
experience enabled" (formerly "Metro-style enabled").
The developers
of both Chrome and Firefox committed
to developing Metro-style versions of their browsers; while Chrome's
"Windows 8 mode" uses a full-screen version of the existing desktop
interface, Firefox's version (which was first made available on the
"Aurora" release channel in September 2013) uses a touch-optimized
interface inspired by the Android version of Firefox. In October 2013,
Chrome's app was changed to mimic the desktop environment used by Chrome OS.[97][98][99][100][101][102]
Development of the Firefox app for Windows 8 has since been cancelled, citing a
lack of user adoption for the beta versions.[103]
Interface and desktop
Windows 8
introduces significant changes to the operating system's user interface, many
of which are aimed at improving its experience on tablet
computers and other touchscreen devices. The new user interface is based on
Microsoft's Metro design language, and uses a Start
screen similar to that of Windows
Phone as the primary means of launching applications. The Start screen
displays a customizable array of tiles linking to various apps and desktop
programs, some of which can display constantly updated information and content
through "live tiles".[87]
As a form of multi-tasking, apps can be snapped to the
side of a screen.[87]
Alongside the traditional Control Panel, a new simplified and
touch-optimized settings app known as "PC Settings" is used for basic
configuration and user settings. It does not include many of the advanced
options still accessible from the normal Control Panel.[104]
A vertical toolbar known as the charms[105]
(accessed by swiping from the right edge of a touchscreen, or pointing the
cursor at hotspots in the right corners of a screen) provides
access to system and app-related functions, such as search, sharing, device
management, settings, and a Start button.[105][106] The
traditional desktop environment for running desktop
applications is accessed via a tile on the Start screen. The Start button on
the taskbar from previous versions of Windows has been converted into a hotspot
in the lower-left corner of the screen, which displays a large tooltip
displaying a thumbnail of the Start screen.[107][108]
Swiping from the left edge of a touchscreen or clicking in the top-left corner
of the screen allows one to switch between apps and Desktop. Pointing the
cursor in the top-left corner of the screen and moving down reveals a thumbnail
list of active apps.[108]
Aside from the removal of the Start button and the replacement of the Aero Glass theme with a flatter and solid-colored
design, the desktop interface on Windows 8 is similar to that of Windows 7.[109]
Removed features
Main article: List of features removed in
Windows 8
Several notable
features have been removed in Windows 8, beginning with the traditional Start menu.
Support for playing DVD-Video has been removed from Windows Media Player due to the cost of
licensing the necessary decoders (especially for devices which do not include optical disc drives at all) and the prevalence
of streaming services such as Netflix. For the same reasons, Windows Media Center is not included by
default on Windows 8, but Windows Media Center and DVD playback support can be
purchased in the "Pro Pack" (which upgrades the system to Windows 8
Pro) or "Media Center Pack" add-on for Windows 8 Pro. As with prior
versions, third-party DVD player software can still be used to enable DVD
playback.[110]
Backup and Restore, the backup
component of Windows, is deprecated. It still ships with Windows 8 and continues to
work on preset schedules, but is pushed to the background and can only be
accessed through a Control Panel applet called "Windows 7 File
Recovery".[111]:76
Shadow
Copy, a component of Windows Explorer that once saved previous versions
of changed files, no longer protects local files and folders. It can only
access previous versions of shared files stored on a Windows
Server computer.[111]:74
The subsystem on which these components worked, however, is still available for
other software to use.[111]:74
Hardware requirements
PCs
The minimum
system requirements for Windows 8 are slightly higher than those of Windows 7. The CPU must support the Physical Address Extension (PAE), NX bit, and SSE2. Windows Store
apps require a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher to run; a resolution of
1366×768 or higher is required to use the snap functionality.[112] To
receive certification, Microsoft requires candidate x86 systems to resume from
standby in 2 seconds or less.[113]
Minimum
hardware requirements for Windows 8[114]
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Criteria
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Minimum
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Recommended
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x64 architecture
Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) support for Hyper-V |
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4
GB
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DirectX 10
graphics device
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1024×768
pixels
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1366×768
pixels
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Input
device
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Hard
disk space
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N/A
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Other
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N/A
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USB 3.0 port
UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B with Microsoft Windows Certification Authority in its database Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Internet connectivity |
Microsoft's Connected
Standby specification, which hardware vendors may optionally comply with,
sets new power consumption requirements that extend above the above minimum
specifications.[117]
Included in this standard are a number of security-specific requirements
designed to improve physical security, notably against Cold
Boot Attacks.
Tablets and convertibles
Microsoft
released minimum hardware requirements for new tablet and convertible devices
certified for Windows 8, and defined a convertible form factor as a standalone
device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source with a
mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in a single chassis. A
convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices
are hidden or removed leaving the display as the only input mechanism.[118][119] On
March 12, 2013, Microsoft amended its certification requirements to only
require that screens on tablets have a minimum resolution of 1024×768 (down
from the previous 1366×768). The amended requirement is intended to allow
"greater design flexibility" for future products.[120]
Hardware
certification requirements for Windows tablets[121]
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DirectX 10 graphics device with
WDDM 1.2 or higher driver
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10 GB free space, after the
out-of-box experience completes
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Standard
buttons
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'Power', 'Rotation lock', 'Windows
Key', 'Volume-up', 'Volume-down'
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Touch
screen supporting a minimum of 5-point digitizers and resolution of at
least 1024×768. The physical dimensions of the display panel must match the
aspect ratio of the native resolution. The native resolution of the panel can
be greater than 1024 (horizontally) and 768 (vertically). Minimum native
color depth is 32-bits. If the display is under 1366×768, disclaimers must be
included in documentation to notify users that the Snap function is not
available.[120]
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Camera
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Minimum 720p
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3 axes with data rates at or above
50 Hz
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At least one controller and
exposed port.
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Connect
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Other
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Speaker,
microphone,
magnetometer
and gyroscope.
If a mobile broadband device is
integrated into a tablet or convertible system, then an assisted
GPS radio is required. Devices supporting near field communication need to have
visual marks to help users locate and use the proximity technology. The new
button combination for Ctrl + Alt + Del is Windows Key + Power.
|
Updated
certification requirements will be implemented to coincide with Windows 8.1. In
2014, all certified devices with integrated displays must contain a 720p webcam
and higher quality speakers and microphones, while all certified devices that
support Wi-Fi must support Bluetooth as well. In 2015, all certified devices
must contain Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips.[122][123]
Editions and pricing
Main article: Windows 8 editions
Windows 8 is
available in four editions: one simply named Windows 8 is intended for
mainstream consumers. Windows 8 Pro contains additional features aimed
towards power
users and professional environments.[124]
Windows 8 Enterprise contains additional features aimed towards business
environments, and is only available through volume
licensing.[124]
Windows RT is only available pre-loaded on new ARM-based devices built
specifically for the OS.[124]
Windows Media Center is not included by
default in any edition of Windows 8, but is available for purchase as an add-on
for Windows 8 Pro, or as part of a "Pro Pack" upgrade for the basic
version of Windows 8 which also includes the Pro upgrade.[125]
The Windows Media Center add-on was offered for free until January 31, 2013.[125]
Users of
previous versions of Windows can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro online
(using a download that can be optionally made into DVD or USB install
media), or through boxed copies at retail on DVD. Microsoft offered Windows 8
Pro upgrades at a discounted price of US$39.99 online, or $69.99 for retail box
DVD from its launch until January 31, 2013; afterward the Windows 8 price has
been $119.99 and the Pro price $199.99.[126][127]
The "Full" and "OEM" SKUs of Windows (which can be installed on a
computer with no existing operating system) were initially replaced by a
specialized "System Builder" SKU, intended to be used by original equipment manufacturers
and on homebuilt computers. Aside from the "System
Builder" version, all retail copies of Windows 8 could only be used for
upgrades.[128][129][128]
After its release, new retail copies were made available with the Windows 8.1
update included. Retail copies of Windows 8.1 are "Full" licenses
instead of upgrade-only licenses, which Microsoft said would offer more
flexibility for consumers. Pricing for these new copies remain identical.[130]
Microsoft also
offered an upgrade program for those purchasing new PCs pre-loaded with Windows
7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate between June 2, 2012 and
January 31, 2013—in which users could digitally purchase a Windows 8 Pro
upgrade for US$14.99.[131]
Several PC manufacturers have offered rebates and refunds on Windows 8 upgrades
obtained through the program on select models, such as Hewlett-Packard
(in the U.S. and Canada on select models), and Acer (in
Europe on selected Ultrabook models).[132][133]
Software compatibility
The three
desktop editions of Windows 8 support 32-bit and 64-bit architectures; retail
copies of Windows 8 include install DVDs for both architectures, while the
online installer automatically installs the version corresponding with the
architecture of the system's existing Windows installation.[125][134]
The 32-bit version runs on CPUs compatible with x86 architecture 3rd
generation (known as IA-32) or newer, and can run 32-bit and 16-bit applications, although 16-bit support must be
enabled first.[135][136]
(16-bit applications are developed for CPUs compatible with x86 2nd
generation, first conceived in 1978. Microsoft started moving away from
this architecture after Windows 95.[135])
The 64-bit
version runs on CPUs compatible with x86 8th
generation (known as x86-64, or x64) or newer, and can run 32-bit and 64-bit programs.
32-bit programs and operating system are restricted to supporting only 4 gigabytes of
memory while 64-bit systems can theoretically support 2048 gigabytes of memory.[137]
64-bit operating systems require a different set of device drivers than those
of 32-bit operating systems.[137]
Windows RT, the
only edition of Windows 8 for systems with ARM
processors, only supports applications included with the system (such as a
special version of Office 2013), supplied through Windows Update, or
Windows Store apps, to ensure that the system only runs applications that are
optimized for the architecture. Windows RT does not support running IA-32 or
x64 applications.[138]
Windows Store apps can either support both the x86 and ARM architectures, or
compiled to support a specific architecture.[139]
Reception
Windows 8 Ultrabooks in
a Microsoft Store
Pre-release
Following the
unveiling of Windows 8, Microsoft faced criticism (particularly from free
software supporters) for mandating that devices receiving its optional
certification for Windows 8 have secure boot enabled by default using a key
provided by Microsoft. Concerns were raised that secure boot could prevent
or hinder the use of alternate operating systems such as Linux. In a post discussing
secure boot on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft developer Tony
Mangefeste indicated that vendors would provide means to customize secure boot,
stating that "At the end of the day, the customer is in control of their
PC. Microsoft's philosophy is to provide customers with the best experience
first, and allow them to make decisions themselves."[78][140]
Microsoft's certification guidelines for Windows 8 ultimately revealed that
vendors would be required to provide means for users to re-configure or disable
secure boot in their device's UEFI firmware. It also revealed that ARM
devices (Windows RT) would be required to have secure boot permanently enabled,
with no way for users to disable it. However, Tom Warren of The Verge
noted that other vendors have implemented similar hardware restrictions on
their own ARM-based tablet and smartphone products (including those running
Microsoft's own Windows Phone platform), but still argued that
Microsoft should "keep a consistent approach across ARM and x86, though,
not least because of the number of users who'd love to run Android alongside
Windows 8 on their future tablets."[79][80][141][79]
No mandate is made regarding the installation of third-party certificates that
would enable running alternative programs.[142][143][144]
Several notable
video game developers criticized Microsoft for making its Windows Store a closed
platform subject to its own regulations, as it conflicted with their view
of the PC as an open
platform. Markus "Notch" Persson (creator of the
popular indie
game Minecraft),[145]
Gabe
Newell (co-founder of Valve
Corporation and developer of software distribution platform Steam),[146]
and Rob
Pardo from Activision Blizzard voiced concern about the
closed nature of the Windows Store.[147]
However, Tom Warren of The Verge stated that Microsoft's addition of the
Store was simply responding to the success of both Apple and Google in pursuing
the "curated application store approach."[148]
Critical reception
Reviews of the
various editions of Windows 8 have been mixed. The Verge
said that although Windows 8's emphasis on touch computing was significant and
risked alienating desktop users, a "tablet PC with Windows 8 makes an iPad feel immediately
out of date" due to the capabilities of the operating system's hybrid model
and increased focus on cloud services.[148]
In contrast, an ExtremeTech article said it was Microsoft
"flailing"[149] and
a review in PC Magazine condemned the Metro-style user
interface.[150]
Some of the included apps in Windows 8 were considered to be basic and lacking
in functionality, but the Xbox apps were praised for their promotion of a
multi-platform entertainment experience. Other improvements and features (such
as File History, Storage Spaces, and the updated Task Manager) were also
regarded as positive changes.[148]
Peter Bright of Ars Technica wrote that while its user interface
changes may overshadow them, Windows 8's improved performance, updated file
manager, new storage functionality, expanded security features, and updated
Task Manager were still positive improvements for the operating system. Bright
also said that Windows 8's duality towards tablets and traditional PCs was an
"extremely ambitious" aspect of the platform as well, but criticized
Microsoft for emulating Apple's model of a closed distribution platform when
implementing the Windows Store.[151]
The interface
of Windows 8 has been the subject of mixed reaction. Bright wrote that its
system of hot corners and edge swiping "wasn't very obvious" due to
the lack of instructions provided by the operating system on the functions
accessed through the user interface, even by the video tutorial added on the RTM release (which only instructed
users to point at corners of the screen or swipe from its sides). Despite this
"stumbling block", Bright said that Windows 8's
interface worked well in some places, but began to feel incoherent when
switching between the "Metro" and desktop environments, sometimes
through inconsistent means.[151]
Tom Warren of The Verge wrote that the new interface was "as
stunning as it is surprising", contributing to an "incredibly
personal" experience once it is customized by the user, but had a steep
learning curve, and was awkward to use with a keyboard and mouse. He noted that
while forcing all users to use the new touch-oriented interface was a risky
move for Microsoft as a whole, it was necessary in order to push development of
apps for the Windows Store.[148]
Others, such as Adrian Kingsley-Hughes from ZDNet, considered the
interface to be "clumsy and impractical" due to its inconsistent
design (going as far as considering it "two operating systems
unceremoniously bolted together"), and concluded that "Windows 8
wasn't born out of a need or demand; it was born out of a desire on Microsoft's
part to exert its will on the PC industry and decide to shape it in a
direction—touch and tablets -- that allows it to compete against, and remain
relevant in the face of Apple's iPad."[152]
In 2013, Frank
X. Shaw, a Microsoft corporate vice president, said that while many of the
negative reviews were extreme, it was a "good thing" that Microsoft
was "listening to feedback and improving a product".[153]
The American Customer Satisfaction
Index (ACSI) reported a decline in Microsoft's customer satisfaction, the
lowest it has been since Windows Vista.[154]
Market share and sales
Microsoft says
that 4 million users upgraded to Windows 8 over the weekend after its release,[155][156]
which CNET says was well below Microsoft's internal projections and was
described inside the company as disappointing.[157]
On November 27,
2012, Microsoft announced that it has sold 40 million licenses of Windows 8 in
the first month, surpassing the pace of Windows 7.[158]
However,
according to research firm NPD, sales of devices running Windows in the United
States have declined 21 percent compared to the same time period in 2011.[159] As
the holiday shopping season wrapped up, Windows 8 sales continued to lag, even
as Apple reported brisk sales.[160] The
market research firm IDC reported an overall drop in PC
sales for the quarter, and said the drop may have been partly due to consumer
reluctance to embrace the new features of the OS and poor support from OEM for
these features.[161]
This capped the first year of declining PC sales to the Asia Pacific region, as
consumers bought more mobile devices than Windows PCs.[162]
Windows 8
surpassed Windows Vista in market share with a 5.1% usage rate
according to numbers posted in July 2013 by Net
Applications, with usage on a steady upward trajectory.[163] However,
intake of Windows 8 still lags behind that of Windows
Vista and Windows
7 at the same point in their release cycles. Windows 8's tablet market
share has also been growing steadily, with 7.4% of tablets running Windows in
Q1 2013 according to Strategy Analytics, up from nothing just a year before.
However, this was still well below Android
and iOS,
which posted 43.4% and 48.2% market share respectively, although both operating
systems have been on the market much longer than Windows 8.[164]
In March 2013,
Microsoft also amended its certification requirements to allow tablets to use
the 1024x768 resolution as a minimum; this change is expected to allow the
production of certified Windows 8 tablets in smaller form factors—a market
which is currently dominated by Android-based tablets.[120]
Despite the reaction of industry experts, Microsoft reported that they had sold
100 million licenses in the first six months. This matched sales of Windows 7
over a similar period.[165]
This statistic includes shipments to channel warehouses which now need to be
sold in order to make way for new shipments.[166]
In January
2014, Hewlett-Packard began a promotion for desktops
running Windows 7, saying that it was "back by popular demand".
Outside sources have suggested that this might be because HP or its customers
thought the Windows 8 platform would be more appropriate for mobile computing
than desktop computing, or that they were looking to attract customers forced
to switch from XP who wanted a more familiar interface.[167][168]
In February
2014, Bloomberg
reported that Microsoft would be lowering the price of Windows 8 licenses by
70% for devices that retail under $250 US; alongside the announcement that an
update to the operating system would allow OEMs to produce devices with as
little as 1 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, critics felt that these changes
would help Windows compete against Linux-based devices in the low-end market,
particularly those running Chrome OS. Microsoft had similarly cut the price of Windows XP
licenses to compete against the early waves of Linux-based netbooks.[169][170]
Reports also indicated that Microsoft was planning to offer cheaper Windows 8
licenses to OEMs in exchange for maintaining Bing as the device's
default search engine. Some media outlets falsely reported that the SKU
associated with this plan, "Windows 8.1 with Bing", was a variant
which would be a free or low-cost version of Windows 8 for consumers using
older versions of Windows.[171]
Update
Windows 8.1
Main article: Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 (codenamed
"Blue"), is an upgrade for Windows 8 and RT, was officially announced
by Microsoft on May 14, 2013.[172][173]
Following a presentation devoted to the update at Build
Conference 2013, a public beta version of the update was released on June
26, 2013.[174][175]
Windows 8.1 was released to OEM hardware partners on August 27, 2013,
and released publicly as a free download through Windows Store on October 17,
2013.[130][176][177]
Volume license customers and subscribers to MSDN Plus and TechNet Plus were
initially unable to obtain the RTM version upon its release; a spokesperson
stated that the change in policy was to allow Microsoft to work with OEMs
"to ensure a quality experience at general availability."[178][179]
However, after criticism, Microsoft reversed its decision and released the RTM
build on MSDN and TechNet on September 9, 2013.[180]
Unlike previous
Windows upgrades, Windows 8.1 is obtained as a download through Windows
Store for users of retail or OEM copies of Windows 8 and RT. Users of
Windows 8 Enterprise edition, volume
licensing customers and MSDN or TechNet subscribers must obtain Windows 8.1 as
new installation media, and install it through the traditional Windows
installation process. In any case, versions of Windows 8.1 distributed as ISO images
do not accept Windows 8 product keys.[181][182][183][184][185]
Changes
See also: Features new to Windows 8
The 8.1 update
contains a number of improvements throughout the operating system, many of
which were intended to address criticism that Windows 8 faced from users and
reviewers on launch.[8]
Windows 8.1 allows two snapped apps to occupy half the screen each. On wider
screens, four apps can be snapped on a screen at once depending. Additional
customization options (such as expanded color choices, new tile sizes, new
backgrounds, the ability to use the desktop wallpaper as its background, and
the ability to default to the "All Apps" view) were also added to the
Start screen.[9]
The PC Settings app was expanded to include access to more options previously
exclusive to the desktop Control Panel, and Windows Store apps can
now be updated automatically.[186] To
improve the usability of the desktop interface, a visible Start button with a
new function, was restored to the taskbar, the desktop can be shown on login
instead of the Start screen, and hot corners can now be disabled.[9]
Updates were
made to Windows' bundled apps (including Mail, SkyDrive, which
now includes a local file manager and deeper OS integration, and Internet Explorer 11), while a number of
additional stock apps were added, including Calculator, Sound Recorder, Reading List, Scan, and
Help + Tips, which provides an interactive tutorial on how to use Windows.[9][187][188]
A Bing-based unified
search system was also added, including full-screen "hero units" that
can surface relevant multimedia content from various sources.[9]
Windows 8.1 adds support for a number of new and emerging technologies, such as
3D
printing,[189][190]
NFC printing, Miracast media
streaming, and Wi-Fi Direct printing.[191]
See also
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