Bundled appsA number of apps are included in the standard installation of Windows 8, including Mail (anemail client),People(acontact manager), Messaging (anIM client),Calendar(acalendaring app), Photos (animage viewer),Music(anaudio player),Video(avideo player), Camera (awebcamordigital cameraclient),SkyDrive, Reader (ane-book reader), and six other apps that exposeBingservices (Search, News, Finance, Weather, Travel and Sports).Windows 8 also includes a Metro-style system component called PC Settings which exposes a small portion ofControl Panelsettings. Windows 8.1 improves this component to include more options that were previously exclusive to Control Panel.

Start screen

The new Start screen in Windows 8 replaces the Start menu seen in previous versions of WindowsWindows 8 introduces a new form ofstart menucalled Start screen, which resembles the home screen ofWindows Phone, and is shown in place of the desktop on startup. The Start screen serves as the primary method of launching applications and consists of a grid of app tiles which can be arranged into columnar groups. App tiles can either be small (taking up 1 square) or large (taking up 2 squares) in size and can also display dynamic content provided by their corresponding apps, such as notifications and slide shows. Users can arrange individual app tiles or entire groups. An additional section of the Start screen called "All Apps" can be accessed via a right click from the mouse or an upward swipe and will display all installed apps categorized by their names. Asemantic zoomfeature is available for both the Start screen and "All Apps" view which enables users to target a specific area or group on the screen.The Start screen can uninstall apps directly.

SearchIn Windows 8, searching from the Start screen or clicking on the Search charm will display search results within a full-screen interface. Unlike previous versions of Windows where searching from the Start menu returned results from multiple sources simultaneously, Windows 8 searches through individual categories: apps, settings, and files.By default, Windows 8 searches for apps after a user begins searching from the Start screen or Search charm, but can also search other categories from the user interface or via keyboard shortcuts.PressingWin+Qopens the Search charm to search for apps,Win+Fsearches for files, andWin+Wsearches for settings.Search queries can also be redirected between specific categories or apps after

User loginWindows 8 introduces a redesigned lock screen interface based on the Metro design language. The lock screen displays a customizable background image, the current date and time, notifications from apps, and detailed app status or updates.Two new login methods optimized for touch screens are also available, including a four-digitPIN, or a "picture password," which users allow the use of certain gestures performed on a selected picture to login. These gestures will take into account the shape, the start and end points, as well as the direction. However, the shapes and gestures are limited to tapping and tracing a line or circle. Microsoft found that limiting the gestures improved the speed of sign-ins by three times compared to allowing freeform methods.Wrong gestures will always deny a login, and it will lock out the PC after five unsuccessful attempts, until a text password is provided being entered.

Notifications

A Windows 8 toast notification informing the user that a removable drive has been attached. Clicking or tapping the notification brings up theAutoPlaydialog, allowing users to configure actions that Windows should take after the insertion of a removable media device.Windows 8 introduces new forms of notifications for Metro-style apps and for certain events inFile Explorer. Toast notifications:alert the user to specific events, such as the insertion of removable media Tile notifications:display dynamic information on the Start screen, such as weather forecasts and news updates Badge notifications:display numeric counters with a value from 1-99 that indicate certain events, such as the amount of unread e-mail messages or amount of available updates for a particular app. Additional information may also be displayed by a badge notification, such as the status of a music app.

Display screen

Windows 8 displaying the multi-monitor taskbar in "Duplicated on all taskbars" modeWindows 8 includes improved support for multi-monitor configurations; thetaskbar can now optionally be shown on multiple displays, and each display can also show its own dedicated taskbar. In addition, options are available which can prevent taskbar buttons from appearing on certain monitors. Wallpapers can also be spanned across multiple displays, or each display can have its own separate wallpaper.

Internet ExplorerWindows 8 ships withInternet Explorer 10, which can run as either a desktop program (where it operates similarly toInternet Explorer 9), or as an app with a new full-screen interface optimized for use on touchscreens. Internet Explorer 10 also contains an integrated version ofFlash Player, which will be available in full on the desktop, and in a limited form within the "Metro" app.

Touch keyboardWindows 8 introduces a revised virtual (also known as on-screen) keyboard interface optimized for touchscreen devices that includes wider spacing between keys and is designed to prevent common typing errors that occur while using touchscreens.

Password inputWindows 8 displays a "peek" button for passwordtext boxeswhich can optionally allows users to view passwords as they are entered in order to ensure that they are typed correctly.

Versions of Windows 8Windows RTDesigned to compete with the iPad and other popular tablets, Windows RT relies on the Start screen and its family of apps. Windows RT comes pre-installed on tablets or laptops; you cant buy it separately, and you cant move it from one device to another. Microsofts new Surface tablet will run Windows RT when released earlier this year.

Windows 8 ProAimed at small businesses and home enthusiasts who wanteverything, Windows 8 Pro includes everything found in Windows 8, as well as advanced features like the Remote Desktop, encryption, virtual hard drives, and other feature rarely used by home users. (Microsofts second version of its Surface tablet, expected in 2013, will run Windows 8 Pro.)

Windows 8 EnterpriseSold only by license to large businesses, Windows 8 Enterprise offers extra networking features to help technicians run large networks. Windows 8 Enterprise is mostly Windows 8 Pro with a few technical programs, but Microsofts licensing program gives businesses a bulk buy discount.

System requirement:. Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2 (more info). RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit). Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit). Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.

LONG QUIZZ1.Date release of windows 8.2-6.system requirement.7-10.versions of windows 8.11.codename of windows 812-20.fatures of windows 8.Answer:1.oct 2012.2-6.. Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2 (more info). RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit). Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit). Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.7-10.R.TEnterprisePro11.jupiter12-20 Bundle apps Start screen User login Notifications Start screen Password input Internet explorer Touch keyboard