Windows 8 - Top New Features

by Martin Noble
9 August 2012

It's nearly here. The new version of Microsoft Windows 8 is going to see some cool new features. This is what you can expect to see.

You can get a copy to try out from the Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview page and the Product Guide (PDF) can be found online too.

Easy Restore

An extension of the Previous Versions (Volume Shadow Copy) seen in previous versions of Windows, this feature allows quick "reset" of a PC back to factory settings without the need to re-install the OS.

Account Integration

On a domain, roaming profiles and account information using Active Directory is the norm. On standalone machines, off a domain, local accounts have always been your only option. Now you can link you "local" account to your Microsoft account and take advantage of the roaming profile.

Native USB 3.0 Support

It's been around for a while, and Windows 8 will introduce native USB 3 support.

New User Interface

Until recently called Metro (Microsoft are currently in a legal battle over that term!)

The main reason for this most fundamental of redesigns is the expected and hoped use of touchscreen systems with Windows 8. The first hints of the interface were seen on Windows Phone 7 released last year. An extension to this is the "picture pin". Instead of a password you have a picture which you touch in a specific way and that unlocks the machine - much harder to break as there are many, many more combinations of touch than there are with keyboard characters.

Virtualisation

Windows 8 includes the Microsoft hypervisor, Hyper-V. This allows the client to act as a virtual host and is a significant improvement for super-users. Coupled with this, a new virtual hard format, .vhdx that allows support for 16 TB virtual disks.