Windows 8 ARM

[Chippiewill]

We've been getting some mixed signals about Windows 8 for ARM-based devices as of late, but Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky has now returned with another of his exhaustive Building Windows 8 blog posts and cleared up some of the confusion. The short of it is that Windows for ARM promises to offer the same out of the box experience as the x86 edition of Windows 8. That includes the full Windows desktop (complete with File Explorer and the like), and the same desktop Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint (but only Office applications, it seems). So-called Metro-style apps from the Windows Store will also be able to support both Windows on ARM and Windows for x86/64, and you can expected hardware-accelerated HTML5 support with Internet Explorer 10.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/microsoft-details-windows-for-arm-at-length-desktop-application/
Sauce:http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/02/09/building-windows-for-the-arm-processor-architecture.aspx

It appears that the news that the ARM version of Windows wouldn't have the full desktop UI were false which is pretty cool, whilst it won't be able to run the same applications and least we can run around with our power-efficient ARM tablets and still have a start menu.

[xxMATTGxx]

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/microsoft-details-windows-for-arm-at-length-desktop-application/
Sauce:http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/02/09/building-windows-for-the-arm-processor-architecture.aspx

It appears that the news that the ARM version of Windows wouldn't have the full desktop UI were false which is pretty cool, whilst it won't be able to run the same applications and least we can run around with our power-efficient ARM tablets and still have a start menu.

Yeah I still think it's a pretty good thing of having a Windows version for ARM even though with that app situation some people aren't happy about.

[Chippiewill]

even though with that app situation some people aren't happy about.
Microsoft can't really do to much about that without running a power intensive emulator, I also expect they want to force developers to use the Metro UI stuff since it is more efficient and much nicer for non-power-users. I'm personally looking forward to an ARM version of steam because Steam would look seriously good in that UI.

Hopefully with their work on the Android version of steam they'd be up for doing that as I understand they've simplified the backend for steam making it easier to have different platforms (I think they even have a steam friends API now?)

[xxMATTGxx]

Microsoft can't really do to much about that without running a power intensive emulator, I also expect they want to force developers to use the Metro UI stuff since it is more efficient and much nicer for non-power-users. I'm personally looking forward to an ARM version of steam because Steam would look seriously good in that UI.

Hopefully with their work on the Android version of steam they'd be up for doing that as I understand they've simplified the backend for steam making it easier to have different platforms (I think they even have a steam friends API now?)

Yeah I've seen a concept of steam in the metro UI and it looks fantastic. Hope they do release something like that, would be pretty dam awesome.

http://www.winsupersite.com/content/content/140629/Store-Mockup-v0a.jpg;pv5c93205e873695af

http://www.winsupersite.com/content/content/140629/Store-Product-mockup-v1a.jpg;pva9e68012f4cb9493

http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/steam-metro-140629

[Chippiewill]

*drools* this is what the Windows Phone Steam app should look like whenever they get round to making it. That is soo sexy. It's also seems more casual-game friendly and more light-weight than the current desktop UI.

[Recursion]

HELLO. I think I know what my iPad replacement will be ;)

[Chippiewill]

HELLO. I think I know what my iPad replacement will be ;)
An iPad 3?

[Recursion]

An iPad 2?

Out. Now. :P

[Chippiewill]

Out. Now. :P
You sir, just got ninja'd.

It'll personally be replacing my laptop since all I do is web browse and watch videos on it. Hopefully they'll be hitting some good price-points on release. Hopefully a reasonably priced £300-£400 one as I'd be perfectly willing to pay for one of those.

I've just been reading the "Building Windows 8 blog" and it's really interesting all the stuff they've done, like the task manager looks really slick now.

[xxMATTGxx]

Not ARM related but more Windows 8 in general. There's reports that the following is the new logo for the operating system:

http://mattgarner.net/upload/images/Q5jxn.jpg

To show off the metro style, I don't hate it and can see the understanding of changing the logo but I also like the logo they use currently! I think it's confirmed, not too sure but I guess we will all know for real very soon.


Microsoft is preparing to change the style of its famous Windows flag for the next version of its popular operating system. Currently nearing a Consumer Preview release, Windows 8 will swap out the traditional red, green, blue, and yellow flag for a 2D Metro style version. Chinese site cnBeta first published mockup pictures (see above) of the new flag earlier this week and we have been able to verify the authenticity of a new design.

The four-pane Windows logo, typically found projected onto a waving flag, has been replaced with a more flattened, angled, and window-like appearance. The new flag will appear in the charms bar, activated by touch, mouse or keyboard. It is also expected to replace other instances of the traditional flag in Windows 8, marking a fundamental change of design aesthetic combined with Microsoft's Metro style Start Screen. The flag change will tie into Microsoft's "Windows reimagined" marketing for the new operating system and is expected to be the first of many changes to the way that Microsoft markets Windows and its brand identity throughout 2012.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/microsoft/2012/2/14/2797077/windows-8-flag-metro-style

[Chippiewill]

I can't seem them putting it on the start button.. yet, it's the only place I see it nowadays so if not then I'm happy about the change because it just gives me shivers of ye olde vista days.

[xxMATTGxx]

I can't seem them putting it on the start button.. yet, it's the only place I see it nowadays so if not then I'm happy about the change because it just gives me shivers of ye olde vista days.

What start button? ;)

[Chippiewill]

What start button? ;)
The one not on the metro UI but on the desktop UI obviously. Smartass.

[xxMATTGxx]

The one not on the metro UI but on the desktop UI obviously. Smartass.

You mean the one that's hidden? :P

[Chippiewill]

You mean the one that's hidden? :P
*google*
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE!
"we expect its removal is final."

http://meetmylaptop.com/tutorials/windows-xp/images/xp-start-menu-control-panel.JPG
Never forget.

[xxMATTGxx]

*google*
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE!
"we expect its removal is final."

http://meetmylaptop.com/tutorials/windows-xp/images/xp-start-menu-control-panel.JPG
Never forget.


Ew XP, get out. Yes I know what you are saying about it not being "final" and all. But in one of the builds recently, the button is no longer there until you move your mouse over that area and it brings up a graphic that looks a bit like the start menu (metro one) and then you click that to take you there.

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/2985149/win8consumer2_gallery_post.jpg

I don't think the start menu as we know it will be enabled by default. There may be an option built in for us to have it back but if not there will be hacks and ways around it like there was in the Dev Preview!

[Chippiewill]

ewww, internet explorer on the super-bar?

I'm sure there will be the option as there was the choice to make the super bar narrower as it used to be and to add the titles back to each item in the superbar.

[xxMATTGxx]

ewww, internet explorer on the super-bar?

I'm sure there will be the option as there was the choice to make the super bar narrower as it used to be and to add the titles back to each item in the superbar.

Haha, Internet Explorer is fantastic! I joke :P

[xxMATTGxx]

http://windowsteamblog.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Blogs-Components-WeblogFiles/00-00-00-59-23-metablogapi/5315.winlogo_2D00_history3_5F00_thumb_5F00_20CF425 A.jpg

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/02/17/redesigning-the-windows-logo.aspx

[peteyt]

Ew XP, get out. Yes I know what you are saying about it not being "final" and all. But in one of the builds recently, the button is no longer there until you move your mouse over that area and it brings up a graphic that looks a bit like the start menu (metro one) and then you click that to take you there.

I don't think the start menu as we know it will be enabled by default. There may be an option built in for us to have it back but if not there will be hacks and ways around it like there was in the Dev Preview!

I read the other day after being curious about the start menu that it was going to be possibly completely removed for the new thing.

Is it just me or are people going about operating systems the wrong way. They should make an operating system for the desktop and then change it slightly for tablets, mobiles etc. To me it seems like they are simply making operating systems now with loads of handy features for mobiles forgetting about the desktop users.

[xxMATTGxx]

http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-29-43-metablogapi/4113.Hindi_2D00_is_2D00_now_2D00_the_2D00_primary_ 2D00_language_5F00_thumb_5F00_4295D85E.jpg

Languages just got a whole lot easier for users in Windows 8! English (United Kingdom) will also now be a display language and will let us have "colour" instead of "color".


We are proud to announce the addition of English for the United Kingdom to the list of Windows display languages. We admit that this is something we should have done a long time ago. Windows users in the UK have gotten by with the US English version of Windows, and while we Americans knew this was not their favourite, that is clearly no defence. We believe that this version of Windows will also be widely used in India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland and many other places.

We are releasing English for the United Kingdom as a standalone language. Standalone languages contain all the user interface components needed to be independent versions of Windows. Standalone languages can be used by OEMs to image a PC, or can be purchased as boxed software.

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It also looks like SkyDrive will be built into the operating system, it's a bit like DropBox but Microsoft's own:

http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-01-29-43-metablogapi/2821.6_2D00_SkyDrive_2D00_explorer_5F00_thumb_5F00 _10B51963.png

[Richie]

I can tell I'm not going to like it. Technology is advancing but things like operating systems should take small approaches before leaping right in.