Windows 8 Preview: 23 Potential Features You Should Know About

[Chiefcrowe]

http://gizmodo.com/5803926/windows-8-preview-23-potential-features-you-should-know-about

 

[ViRGE]

They should have called it "23 things we hope Windows 8 will have, but we haven't a clue".:|

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm very skeptical that we'll see IE 10 with Windows 8 assuming that Windows 8 is released in around a year. IE 9 was just released in March IIRC, and unless MS bolts on a couple of new features and decides to call it IE 10, I don't think it is happening.

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Honestly, I think ISO mounting has a lot to do with the Windows App Store. I'm willing to bet Microsoft will try to boost the initial size of the store by including ISO files of exisiting software. That is, of course, unless they've stated the store will load appx packages exclusively, but I don't think I've heard that yet.

And Microsoft is trying to move much faster these days in terms of IE development, so I wouldn't doubt IE10 for Windows 8. It could probably only be a few engine improvments and some minor shuffling to the UI.

 

[Vic Vega]

Things like ISO mounting have traditionally been kept out of Windows to keep them from being taken to court. Some of you may remember when MS started incorporating features which were also performed by third party applications which resulted in the Fed getting involved. Since those days MS has been taking it easy as far as adding features accomplished by third party software.

I would love to see native PDF reading, native ISO mounting, built IM which works with several protocols, etc, but I won't get my hopes up. MS doesn't want a repeat of the late 90s.

 

[Modelworks]

With the exception of WinFS everything I see listed there is an application not really something that changes the OS. They could add all of that to windows 7 as a service pack.

How about a real change. OS that doesn't tie in with the browser or explorer. I want kernel changes not stuff tacked onto the same old design. Enforce the change to 64bit and let 32 bit go, nope not happening, still have to put up with two versions of everything.

Instead I think windows 8 will be the OS that is almost useless if it loses an internet connection.

 

[Snapster]

I'm very skeptical that we'll see IE 10 with Windows 8 assuming that Windows 8 is released in around a year. IE 9 was just released in March IIRC, and unless MS bolts on a couple of new features and decides to call it IE 10, I don't think it is happening.

The platform preview of IE 10 came out early April and I would expect to see the beta's pretty soon as well.

 

[Absolution75]

How about a real change. OS that doesn't tie in with the browser or explorer. I want kernel changes not stuff tacked onto the same old design. Enforce the change to 64bit and let 32 bit go, nope not happening, still have to put up with two versions of everything.

You actually can completely uninstall all of IE without any issues in W7 (and windows vista I believe).

Forcing 64bit compatibility really doesn't help anything - it would be a huge technical hurdle for just about everyone and really isn't needed. WoW64 runs nearly as fast as native 32bit or 64bit code.


But other than that - I agree with your post.

 

[Modelworks]

You actually can completely uninstall all of IE without any issues in W7 (and windows vista I believe).

Doesn't matter if you do uninstall it the OS still uses and makes calls to the browser system files. IE is hard coded into the OS and while you can remove the executable , you can't remove it completely.

Forcing 64bit compatibility really doesn't help anything - it would be a huge technical hurdle for just about everyone and really isn't needed. WoW64 runs nearly as fast as native 32bit or 64bit code.

It helps by reducing the number of different directories for program files , registry settings, and system folders. The OS has to maintain two basically identical copies of the OS .

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The platform preview of IE 10 came out early April and I would expect to see the beta's pretty soon as well.

Yeah, I saw that and am a bit surprised, but I'm wondering if it will be radically different or if MS is going to start taking smaller steps between versions in order to push them out more quickly.

 

[Absolution75]

Doesn't matter if you do uninstall it the OS still uses and makes calls to the browser system files. IE is hard coded into the OS and while you can remove the executable , you can't remove it completely.

The number actual windows programs that depend on IE's files is rather small. The OS can run perfectly fine without it, but there are some programs that specifically need the dependencies to still be installed. Though I would argue that these dependencies aren't really IE, but just libraries that IE happens to use [and so do other programs].

It helps by reducing the number of different directories for program files , registry settings, and system folders. The OS has to maintain two basically identical copies of the OS .

Yeah, but that isn't a problem. Its not really two copies, but rather just two separate places that information is stored. It is transparent to the user with the exception of installing programs in different program files directories - which doesn't really matter because its completely cosmetic.

 

[Modelworks]

The number actual windows programs that depend on IE's files is rather small. The OS can run perfectly fine without it, but there are some programs that specifically need the dependencies to still be installed. Though I would argue that these dependencies aren't really IE, but just libraries that IE happens to use [and so do other programs].

Run process monitor from sysinternals and set it to filter for dll files access. You might be surprised by the results. Designing an OS that depends on parts of a web browser to work is bad. Win8 will have even more web integration which is going to make it a haven for malware.

 

[airdata]

Iso mounting, portable workspace... nice.

I don't know that all of this warrants a new OS. I don't think MS should treat windows like the game makers treat modern warfare... we don't need a new very every year.

why can't some of these features be a part of a service pack?

 

[Smoove910]

I'm still waiting for the ability to install a program without having to reboot afterwards... I still have software on Win7 that requires a reboot. I thought that was supposed to go away with Vista...

 

[wirednuts]

i agree smoove. i remember vista touting "virtually no reboots" yet it was no different then xp at all in those terms

and i like how this article starts out by saying there is major changes to the kernel in win8, then they go on to explain none of it.

Windows Next, the OS release we've come to know as Windows 8 will look much like its recent predecessors on the surface, but looks to be getting a serious revamp from the kernel up.