REDMOND, Wash. - June 1, 2011 -
Today, at the D9 Conference, we demonstrated the next generation of
Windows, internally code-named "Windows 8," for the first time. Windows 8
is a reimagining of Windows, from the chip to the interface. A Windows
8-based PC is really a new kind of device, one that scales from
touch-only small screens through to large screens, with or without a
keyboard and mouse.
The demo showed some of the ways we've reimagined
the interface for a new generation of touch-centric hardware. Fast,
fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the
power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact.
Here are a few aspects of the new interface we showed today:
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Fast
launching of apps from a tile-based Start screen, which replaces the
Windows Start menu with a customizable, scalable full-screen view of
apps.
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Live tiles with notifications, showing always up-to-date information from your apps.
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Fluid, natural switching between running apps.
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Convenient
ability to snap and resize an app to the side of the screen, so you can
really multitask using the capabilities of Windows.
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Web-connected and Web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript that have access to the full power of the PC.
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Fully touch-optimized browsing, with all the power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10.
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We
also showed effortless movement between existing Windows programs and
new Windows 8 apps. The full capabilities of Windows continue to be
available to you, including the Windows Explorer and Desktop, as does
compatibility with all Windows 7 logo PCs, software and peripherals.
Although the new user interface
is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse
and keyboard. Our approach means no compromises - you get to use
whatever kind of device you prefer, with peripherals you choose, to run
the apps you love. This is sure to inspire a new generation of hardware
and software development, improving the experience for PC users around
the world.
Today, we also talked a bit about
how developers will build apps for the new system. Windows 8 apps use
the power of HTML5, tapping into the native capabilities of Windows
using standard JavaScript and HTML to deliver new kinds of experiences.
These new Windows 8 apps are full-screen and touch-optimized, and they
easily integrate with the capabilities of the new Windows user
interface. There's much more to the platform, capabilities and tools
than we showed today.
We are excited to bring
an innovative new platform and tools to developers and see how their
creativity jumpstarts a new generation of apps. Windows 8 apps can use a
broad set of new libraries and controls, designed for fluid interaction
and seamless connectivity. Apps can add new capabilities to Windows and
to other apps, connecting with one another through the new interface.
For example, we showed today how a developer can extend the file picker
control to enable picking from their own app content or from within
another Windows 8 app, in addition to the local file system and the
network. We're just getting started.
And this
isn't just about touch PCs. The new Windows experience will ultimately
be powered by application and device developers around the world - one
experience across a tremendous variety of PCs. The user interface and
new apps will work with or without a keyboard and mouse on a broad range
of screen sizes and pixel densities, from small slates to laptops,
desktops, all-in-ones, and even classroom-sized displays. Hundreds of
millions of PCs will run the new Windows 8 user interface. This breadth
of hardware choice is unique to Windows and central to how we see
Windows evolving.
The video below introduces a
few of the basic elements of the new user interface. Although we have
much more to reveal at our developer event,
BUILD (Sept. 13 - 16 in Anaheim, Calif.), we're excited to share our progress with you.
Today's demonstration
followed our announcements earlier this year about Windows 8 running on
System on a Chip (SoC) processors, and our browser engine innovations
and significantly increased standards support in Internet Explorer 10.
Windows 8 extends these innovations and reimagines every level of the
Windows architecture - the kernel, networking, storage, devices, user
interface - all building on the broadest and richest ecosystem of
software, peripherals and devices.
We have so
much more on the way! We're working very hard to get the product ready
for early testing, and we plan to kick off our engineering dialogue
through our team blog, just as we did for Windows 7.
So please stay tuned - we have a lot of cool innovation coming in the months ahead.