Microsoft launches Windows 8 this week – what to look out for

WP Central Microsoft launches Windows 8 this week – what to look out for

Yep folks it's finally hither, the week that volition run into Microsoft launch Windows 8, spearheading its massive 2022 product launch schedule. Information technology's keystone of the 'Three Screens & Cloud' play and this is where we see how it'due south all going to shake out.

The pre-orders for Surface have started and fifty-fifty run dry out in some regions, invites to the various launch events have gone out and at present information technology's time to put all the cards on the table. With such a wide ranging spruce-up of the unabridged production line from Xbox to Windows Phone, we're in for a wild ride. Windows eight will be at the centre of these launches, not just because it'due south Windows just because with information technology we volition run across a whole host of services light up to enable the entire eco arrangement.

The launch of Windows eight affects us Windows Telephone users deeply. Both are at present locked together by their mutual core and more importantly by their set of backend services similar Xbox Music and Video. It's the set of services backside Windows eight that volition enable the overarching dream of three screens and the deject to solidify. How well Microsoft can pull PC, panel and phone together will residuum on their power to leverage deject technologies to help enable a seamless experience beyond them all. What are nosotros waiting for?

Windows 8 sync client

Will nosotros run into the Windows Telephone viii and Windows 8 sync client?

We accept seen early on snaps of the Windows 8 Metro style synchronisation app and it's my promise that during launch nosotros volition finally hear more about this primal piece of integration. At present we're using the Zune desktop client which provides music management, playback, syncing and converting of music and video files. With the defended apps for music and video on Windows 8, volition be meet but a rudimentary client to sync photos and videos back and forth or will it be more than fleshed out, allowing conversion and other capabilities?

While it would be bully to hear more near this tie up during the Windows 8 launch, they may hold that ane back for the total launch of Windows Phone eight on the 29th. After all, there is then much nosotros practice know near the adjacent version of the mobile OS having a few surprised might be a good thing eh?

WP Central SmartGlass

SmartGlass

Some of that engineering is already in place, we can control the Xbox from our telephone or with Windows 8. What we haven't seen is the "glass" experience in final form. That's using your smartphone or tablet to fully navigate around the menus in Net explorer. If IE on the console is to be in any way useful this experience volition demand to exist top notch. Will they pull off a smooth and seamless effect when using it? I'd expect to meet an updated SmartGlass app for Windows 8 on launch twenty-four hour period to finally enable this. The potential to see Windows Phone 7 and 8 clients is there too but once again this could be held off for the full reveal on the 29th. Either way, an updated Windows 8 app will prove where this engineering science is heading to.

WP Central Xbox Music Cloud Services

Xbox Music and Video Services

We're about to see the Zune Music service dusted off and given a new lick of paint for the Windows viii launch. Recently the lights were switched off over at www.zune.net and key features of Xbox Music were outlined but nosotros have still yet to see them fully. The Xbox Music website is yet but a property folio and while the broad stroke of the enhanced service are there we still could run across much more get revealed.

Xbox, Windows and Windows Telephone will all share Video and Music services. In many ways how these line up and play out will determine how well this eco system will feel like to use. Jumping between a movie on the 360, phone and calculator or syncing playlists and songs to various devices, all of this will add to the feeling of harmony when using these disparate devices. We'd like to run into some demos of how well this will all fit together. Will the combination of SmartGlass and synchronised starting and stopping of cloud based music and video files be enough to pull it all information technology? Could be, eyes volition firmly be on these coming demos.

Fresh new start

Windows viii is likely the most radical release of Windows e'er, the changes run not only through the UI itself but in the devices and services that accompany information technology. The launch represents the outset of a serial of launches across their entire production line up and should point the way to what nosotros're likely to meet when Windows Phone viii launches the following week. By the cease of this month we're finally going to see how Microsoft'southward 'Epic Year' is going to pan out.

Excited about Windows eight or just groovy to see it out of the manner and so nosotros tin become to the meat and see Windows Phone launch? What are you keen to see with the launch of Windows 8? Tell us know yous feel in those comments below.

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