Microsoft has outdone themselves with the newest version of Windows. Windows 8 is brand new image of Windows. The App driven screens, amazing graphics, clear picture and new interface make Windows 8 much prettier to look at and much more user friendly.

Microsoft sighted connectivity, the Cloud, mobile PC’s and the change in the use of computers when discussing the influences over the vision and inspiration that went into creating Windows 8, a process that began in 2009. When older versions of Windows were released the use of computers was more application based – word processing and programs were the center of activities being performed. In the recent years, social networking sites have become so much more prevalent, and the main sources of many people’s online activity. Also, the tablet and iPad have changed the way people connect – now there is no end to the places we are getting online with Wi-Fi available almost everywhere.

In thinking about those changes and anticipating a continued movement towards users wanting a specifically tailored operating system, the following features are now available.

1. Windows 8 enhances the use of a PC and changes it to work much more like a device.
2. The entire tiles system that was developed for Windows 8 allows for interaction between the different applications. If a user is on Skype, they can access their photos tiles or travel tiles for itineraries. Any application in Windows 8 can share, pick from and save to another.
3. Family Safety has always been a big concern to parents. In Windows 8, parents can add their children as users and weekly check out their PC usage – which pages they visited, how frequently.
4. The application tiles have rich colors and graphics and enlarge to fit the entire screen, getting away from the “window” look of the past. The tiles also are purpose built and scenario specific.  BING has created News, Sports, Travel, Finance, Weather and Maps apps for Windows 8. There are also Mail, Photo, Travel and Video apps among many others.
5. The tiles in Windows 8 are “Live.” When users get a notification on Facebook or Tweets on Twitter, they automatically are generated in the tiles. Swiping the edges of each individual tile will bring up menus: the right being system settings, left is switch between other open application and the bottom brings up a list of all open applications.
6. Users are on the go. This was a big influence in the design of Windows 8. Microsoft took that into consideration and Windows 8 allows users to connect wherever they sign in. Photos, documents, application features, they can all be reached when users sign in.

All of the changes have drastically improved Windows, and the new version, which runs the newest version of Internet Explorer, have made for a more streamlined, user friendly approach. There is still the old screen set up available, without the Start button. Users who need time to adjust can take it, but in the end Windows 8 is for everyone!