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Microsoft Announces Two New Operating Systems: Windows 8 and Metro |
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November 30, 2011
In September, Microsoft gave an early preview of Windows 8 at the Build conference in Anaheim, California. The new version is more than just a new operating system for PCs, it will also run on ARM tablets. From a developer’s standpoint, Win 8 is a dual OS. The first version resembles its predecessor Windows 7, offering the same user interface and programming capabilities for desktop computers. The second version, Metro, introduces a new user interface and new programming APIs for tablets.
The Metro UI replicates the style of the Windows Phone UI. If you aren’t familiar with the interface, it has been said to “out-apple the Apple,” according to Gizmodo. It offers the “minimalist interface aesthetics and animations that are inviting, elegant, and never superfluous.” It also hosts a new set of applications, which run on top of a new API system called the Windows Runtime or WinRT.
Will Windows 7 applications work on Windows 8?
Yes. Microsoft guarantees “backward compatibility.” In the new Win 8, there will be two modes – standard Windows with a few enhanced icons (such as Explorer) and the new, updated look of Metro. Metro will have touch screen capabilities, a new runtime system, and new approach to programming. Metro will be designed and optimized for tablets but also available for standard PCs.
Have questions or want to get a sneak peek at the new look? Check out the article at The Guardian.
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