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[center]New OS blurs the lines between tablets and desktops.[/center]
Yesterday at D9, Microsoft officially revealed Windows 8 to the world. Taking hints from their desktop and mobile operating systems, Windows 8 is clearly created for use on a tablet although can be utilized on a PC as well.
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[/center]The UI for Windows 8 borrows heavily from the Metro UI seen on the Windows Phone 7 devices, complete with live tiles and a minimalistic design. Command input can be done using a keyboard and mouse setup but it is obvious that touch command is the preferred method.
Applications for Windows 8 will come in two flavors: traditional desktop programs and mobile apps by way of HTML5 and JavaScript. Both types of apps will be accessible through the UI, so you'll be able to use desktop versions of programs like Microsoft Excel and Word alongside mobile apps for things like weather and Twitter. Browsing on Windows 8 will be brought to you by Internet Explorer 10.
Navigation through the system relies on a gesture-based system and swiping apps and menus in and out is not unlike what we've seen on HP's webOS. Multitasking is included and allows you to "snap" multiple applications onto a single screen for viewing, an extremely handy feature that we have yet to see implemented well on a mobile device.
