System Requirements for Windows 8

Essentially, those who are running a PC with a Windows 7 logo sticker on it will be cleared for takeoff for Windows 8. Of course, since the Windows 7 requirements were no more demanding than those for Windows Vista, anyone with even a semi-modern PC from the last handful of years should be able to run Windows 8 – at least the Consumer Preview.

Microsoft recommends:

• 1 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
  

There are several more "fine print" requirements and recommendations peppered throughout Microsoft's post (italicized portions straight from Microsoft):

For Metro Apps

One new element to Windows 8 is the requirement that Metro style applications have a minimum of 1024x768 screen resolution, and 1366x768 for the snap feature. If you attempt to launch a Metro style app with less than this resolution (e.g. 800x600, 1024x600) you will receive an error message.

Virtualized Environments

Our recommendation for the Consumer Preview is to run it natively on hardware if you intend to run Windows 8 on hardware when the product is final. Some of you will run virtualized environments for enterprise workloads or specialized purposes, but we strongly recommend that you experience Windows 8 on hardware, as it was designed to run for the majority of consumer experiences.

For Touchscreen Users

Although there are a number of existing Windows 7 touch devices and many are fully supported, we do recognize the touch experience of Windows 8 places a greater demand on a high quality experience than could have been foreseen when manufacturers were developing hardware for Windows 7. Our data is showing that a vast majority of Windows 7 touchscreens will perform well for Windows 8. This means that touch drivers continue to load, and you’ll be able to perform basic touch interactions with a reasonable degree of success. The following systems are a few that we have been using widely in our internal testing and self-hosting, although of course, this is not a specific endorsement of these PCs:

• HP Elitebook 2760p convertible (Note: This PC is 1280x800 and so does not support snap.)
• ASUS EP121 tablet (Note: his PC is 1280x800 and so does not support snap.)
• Dell Inspiron Duo convertible
• Lenovo x220t convertible
• 3M M2256PW 22” display (Note: The raised bezel can make it harder to swipe along the edges)
• Samsung Series 7 slate (Note: This PC has two models, one was provided to attendees at //build/ and the other is a commercial release; the latter has slightly different peripherals and firmware.)
  

Specific Hardware Requirements

(Note: be careful whenever you adjust your BIOS settings.)

• Secured Boot requires a new UEFI BIOS, which is not available broadly on PCs yet, but is starting to be made available. If your machine does have UEFI, you can enable it via BIOS settings.
• BitLocker does not require but performs more seamlessly if your PC has a Trusted Platform Module(TPM). Machines that have this sometimes require it to be enabled via BIOS settings. BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive that meets performance criteria evaluated at installation time.
• Hyper-V requires a 64-bit system with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities and an additional 2 GB of RAM. You can also enable SLAT via a BIOS setting.
• Some games and other software require graphics capabilities compatible with DirectX 10 or higher (including some games available in the Consumer Preview and in the Windows Store. We will continue to improve the verification of your system prior to downloading or running software with these requirements). Some games and programs might require a graphics card for optimal performance.
• If you clean install instead of upgrade (see below), you should check your PC manufacturer's website to make sure you install any specific drivers that they provide there. Many laptops will get better battery life with a power-optimized driver that is specific for that PC (often known as ACPI, Power, or Chipset driver).
  

Upgrading and Clean Installing

For those of you who have already been running the Windows 8 Developer Preview, you can install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the migrate option (just keep personal files), but not the upgrade option (keep personal files, apps, and settings). Or if you prefer, you can of course do a clean installation (keep nothing). The Consumer Preview release does permit upgrading from Windows 7, and will run the integrated upgrade advisor to check on any things you might need to look into. Please keep in mind that there is no rollback after an upgrade installation. We also strongly recommend that you perform a system backup prior to an upgrade, migrate, or clean install of Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Also note that the final release of Windows 8 will not support upgrading from any prior Windows 8 "Preview" release, though the migrate option will still be supported. In any upgrade scenario, you can run the Disk Cleanup Wizard to remove the previous installation in order to free up disk space. The download will also support boot from USB for a completely clean installation as well.

Windows 8 hardware requirements

Microsoft has been releasing the hardware certification requirements for upcoming operating systems for many years now, and the latest guidelines to be quietly detailed cover tablets running the upcoming operating system, due for launch later this year.

The information was recently spotted by Within Windows, although Microsoft published the documents quietly in December without any further announcement. The information contains Microsoft’s minimum hardware guidelines in order to successfully meet Windows performance, quality and feature criteria to provide an optimum experience using Windows 8.

Some of the requirements make perfect sense, like the NFC “touch mark” concept. In order to successfully pass validation, any tablet with Near Field Communication (NFC) will be required to have either a sticker, or be embossed in some form with the location of the NFC chip to make the experience of pairing it with the NFC readers easier.

Microsoft also requires all tablets to feature exactly five buttons. They are for power, rotation lock, volume up, volume down and a Windows button. The Windows key must be at least 10.5mm in diameter although it is the manufacturer's own preference for its shape.

As Windows users will have become accustomed to over the years, the CTRL + ALT + DEL method will be replaced with the new combination of using the power + Windows button.

The minimum hardware requirements have also been detailed as follows:

Storage: capacity must have at least 10GB of free space after installation of the operating system
The system firmware must use UEFI, and have secure boot locked down for ARM tablets
Network: WLAN and BlueTooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
Mobile broadband: If fitted, an assisted GPS radio is also required
NFC: A visual marking of its location on the outer body is required
Graphics: Direct 3D 10 device with WDDM 1.2 driver
Display: Must be at least 1366x768 pixels at a depth of 32bits
Touch Support: It must pass all tests offering at least five touch points
Camera: Must all be capable of at least 720p
Ambient light sensor: 1-30k LUX capable with dynamic range of 5-60K
Sensors: Magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope
Connectivity: At least one USB 2.0 controller and exposed USB 2.0 port on frame
Speakers
Microsoft also requires that all tablets running Windows 8 support no-reboot upgrades of WDDM graphics drivers, as well as a two second resume time from standby. Although only Intel-based Windows 8 tablets are required to do this, ARM models will likely have this feature added as it matures on the Windows platform.

One aspect that will likely cause considerable negative feedback is a mandatory Secure Boot feature for ARM-based Windows 8 devices, preventing users from loading alternative operating systems such as Android. Intel-based tablets will not be required to be locked down in the same manner.


There is no word on minimum processing power, or RAM requirements but more details will emerge as we draw closer to the launch of Windows 8.

Newest Verson

Version 2.0.1
- redone accent color picker
- added a transparency switch for accent colors
- added a white accent color option
- added a black accent color option
- added a custom wallpaper picker:
The wallpaper picker allows you to choose between 10 of your favorite wallpapers with ease. Just go into the OS7 settings, scroll right and you'll find your selection of wallpapers. To choose between your own wallpapers, go to /var/mobile/Library/OS7/Images/Wallpapers/ and put them in here. The wallpapers have to be named wallpaper1.png, wallpaper2.png, wallpaper3.png... wallpaper10.png to be choosable in the settings.
- added a custom tile background picker:

Just like the wallpaper picker, the custom tile background picker allows you to choose between 10 different backgrounds. They too can be found in the OS7 settings. To choose between your own backgrounds, go to /var/mobile/Library/OS7/Images/Backgrounds/ and put them in here. The tile backgrounds have to be named background1.png, wallpaper2.png, background3.png... background10.png to be choosable in the settings. They should also have a size of 115x115 for non retina devices, 230x230 for retina ones.

- first integrated tile:

Integrated tiles are tiles that offer functionality that cannot be achieved by regular html tiles, are more user-friendly and use less RAM. Those tiles are easily activated by editing the tile's info.plist file.

Integrated tiles in this version:

Live iPod Tile - The live iPod Tile shows the artwork of the song that is currently playing and it comes in three different variants.

Os 7 New Version

OS7:Revive is a project which goal it is to further improve WyndWarrior's genius OS7 Theme.
If you already know OS7, chances are that you also know your way around this theme. If not, please go ahead and take a look at the OS7 Mods Thread, which provides a collection of tutorials, explanations, static and live tiles. Credit for the mods thread goes to GaN-MaN

Version 1.0.0
- The home screen is now fully scrollable
- The background is now visible on both pages and automatically dims when you scroll left
- New pin/unpin menu: the menu now resembles the original Windows Phone menu and drops down at the touch location

Version 1.0.1
- The grey text on the right page should be fixed
- The app identifier now shows again (pin menu only)

Version 1.1.0
- You are now able to convert your tile to a live tile for the time a badge number is shown, for example, the SMS icon only wiggles when you've got a new message. Simply call the .html file that holds your animation "TileWithBadge.html". Here's an awesome tile made by falcon212 I made compatible, place it in your tiles directory and you can test it: Wiggling SMS.zip

NOTE: For this to work your tile's info.plist has to have the same lines that the TileWithBadge.png needs to work (<key>badgeX</key, <key>badgeY</key>, <key>badgeFontSize</key>, <key>badgeHeight</key>)

Version 1.2.0
- Added the bounce animation to the arrow when you hit the bottom of your tile/app list
- Introducing OS7 Settings. You will now find a new icon when you scroll to the right page which will take you directly to the OS7 Settings page. From there you can choose between different options.
- In version 1.2.0 these options include the WP7 light or dark theme and the option to choose your tile background color. All colors that you would find on a WP7 device are available.

Windows 8 tablet hardware requirements

Microsoft has been releasing the hardware certification requirements for upcoming operating systems for many years now, and the latest guidelines to be quietly detailed cover tablets running the upcoming operating system, due for launch later this year.

The information was recently spotted by Within Windows, although Microsoft published the documents quietly in December without any further announcement. The information contains Microsoft’s minimum hardware guidelines in order to successfully meet Windows performance, quality and feature criteria to provide an optimum experience using Windows 8.

Some of the requirements make perfect sense, like the NFC “touch mark” concept. In order to successfully pass validation, any tablet with Near Field Communication (NFC) will be required to have either a sticker, or be embossed in some form with the location of the NFC chip to make the experience of pairing it with the NFC readers easier.

Microsoft also requires all tablets to feature exactly five buttons. They are for power, rotation lock, volume up, volume down and a Windows button. The Windows key must be at least 10.5mm in diameter although it is the manufacturer's own preference for its shape.

As Windows users will have become accustomed to over the years, the CTRL + ALT + DEL method will be replaced with the new combination of using the power + Windows button.

The minimum hardware requirements have also been detailed as follows:

Storage: capacity must have at least 10GB of free space after installation of the operating system
The system firmware must use UEFI, and have secure boot locked down for ARM tablets
Network: WLAN and BlueTooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
Mobile broadband: If fitted, an assisted GPS radio is also required
NFC: A visual marking of its location on the outer body is required
Graphics: Direct 3D 10 device with WDDM 1.2 driver
Display: Must be at least 1366x768 pixels at a depth of 32bits
Touch Support: It must pass all tests offering at least five touch points
Camera: Must all be capable of at least 720p
Ambient light sensor: 1-30k LUX capable with dynamic range of 5-60K
Sensors: Magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope
Connectivity: At least one USB 2.0 controller and exposed USB 2.0 port on frame
Speakers
Microsoft also requires that all tablets running Windows 8 support no-reboot upgrades of WDDM graphics drivers, as well as a two second resume time from standby. Although only Intel-based Windows 8 tablets are required to do this, ARM models will likely have this feature added as it matures on the Windows platform.

One aspect that will likely cause considerable negative feedback is a mandatory Secure Boot feature for ARM-based Windows 8 devices, preventing users from loading alternative operating systems such as Android. Intel-based tablets will not be required to be locked down in the same manner.


There is no word on minimum processing power, or RAM requirements but more details will emerge as we draw closer to the launch of Windows 8.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is now available for public download, and it offers a very
different experience from what Windows users are accustomed to. However, while the operating
system isoptimized for touchscreen input, that doesn't mean Microsoft forgot about users who are
confined to traditional keyboards and mice.
In fact, the Windows 8 Consumer Preview supports a ton ofkeyboard shortcuts to help make input
and interaction a little easier. Some of the new shortcuts are touchscreen-related, such as pressing
Windows-O to lock the orientation of the device, while others relate to new features, such as
pressing Windows-C to open the Charms bar.
Below is a chart of the keyboard shortcuts we know about, including shortcuts unchanged from
Windows 7, as well as a list of brand-new shortcuts. If you're using Windows 8 with a keyboard and
mouse or laptop touchpad, these will go a very long way toward improving your experience

Hotkeys unchanged from Windows 7

Key combination Windows 7 functionality

Windows--- Display or hide the Start menu.

Windows-Left Arrow ----Dock the active window to the left half of the screen (does nothing to

Metro-style applications).

Windows-Right Arrow Dock the active window to the right half of screen (does nothing to Metro-

style applications).

Windows-Up Arrow Maximize the active window (does nothing to Metro-style applications).

Windows-Down Arrow Restore/minimize the active window (does nothing to Metro-style

applications).

Windows-Shift-Up

Maximize the active window vertically, maintaining width (does nothing to

Arrow

Metro-style applications).

Windows-Shift-Down

Restore/minimize the active window vertically, maintaining width (does

Arrow

nothing to Metro-style applications).

Windows-Shift-Left

Move the active window to the monitor on the left (does nothing to Metro-

Arrow

style applications).

Windows-Shift-Right

Move the active window to the monitor on the right (does nothing to Metro-

Arrow

style applications).

Windows-P Display projection options.

Windows-Home Minimize all nonactive windows; restore on the second keystroke (does not

restore Metro- style applications).

Launch or switch to the program located at the given position on the

Windows-

number

taskbar. (Example: Use Windows-1 to launch the first program.)

Launch a new instance of the program located at the given position on the

Windows-Shift-

number

taskbar.

Windows-B Set focus in the notification area.

  

Windows-Break Display the System Properties dialog box.

Windows-D Show the desktop; restore on the second keystroke (does not restore Metro-

style applications).

Windows-E Open Windows Explorer, navigated to Computer.

Windows-Ctrl-F Search for computers (if you are on a network).

Windows-G Cycle through Windows Desktop Gadgets.

Windows-L Lock your computer  (if you're connected to a network domain), or switch

users (if  you're not connected to a network domain).

Windows-M Minimize all windows.

Windows-Shift-M Restore minimized windows to the desktop (does not restore Metro-style

applications).

Windows-R Open the Run dialog box.

Windows-T Set focus on the taskbar and cycle through programs.

Open Windows Media Center. Note that Windows Media Center must be

Windows-Alt-Enter

installed for this key combo to function; in many Windows 8 builds, it is

not present.

Windows-U Open Ease of Access Center.

Windows-X Open Windows Mobility Center.

Windows-F1 Launch Windows Help and Support.

Windows-N Create a new note (OneNote).

Windows-S Open screen clipper (OneNote).

Windows-Q Open Lync. Note that in Windows 8 the Search function overrides this key

combo.

Windows-A Accept an incoming call (Lync).

Windows-X Reject an incoming call (Lync). Note that this key combo does not function

if Windows Mobility Center is present on the machine.

Windows-Minus Zoom out (Magnifier).

Windows-Plus Zoom in (Magnifer).

Windows-Esc Close Magnifier.

New hotkeys for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Key combination Windows 8 functionality

Windows-Space Switch input language and keyboard layout.

Windows-O Lock device orientation.

Windows-, Temporarily peek at the desktop.

Windows-V Cycle through toasts.

Windows-Shift-V Cycle through toasts in reverse order.

  

Windows-Enter Launch Narrator.

Windows-PgUp Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the

left.

Windows-PgDown Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the

right.

Windows-Shift-. Move the gutter to the left (snap an application).

Windows-. Move the gutter to the right (snap an application).

Windows-C Open the Char ms bar.

Windows-I Open the Settings char m.

Windows-K Open the Connect charm.

Windows-H Open the Share charm.

Windows-Q Open the Search pane.

Windows-W Open the Settings Search app.

Windows-F Open the File Search app.

Windows-Tab Cycle through apps.

Windows-Shift-Tab Cycle through apps in reverse order.

Windows-Ctrl-Tab Cycle through apps and snap them as they cycle.

Windows-Z Open the App Bar.

Windows-/ Initiate input method editor (IME) reconversion.

Windows-J Swap foreground between the snapped and filled apps.

Can Microsoft Windows 8 Fail?

In anticipation of the Windows 8 release, there has been speculation on Microsoft's future. Will the company break out of its slump? Will it get a new image? How will Windows 8 do? What if nobody likes it? What happens next?
Let's get a few things straight. Even if Windows 8 is a huge dog and bombs the way Vista did, it will not matter. There is still nothing out there that can take Microsoft out of the game. Apple has the only other quality operating system out there, and it is proprietary and still more expensive. Money and cost are important.

 Linux may have a chance, but it is held back by all sorts of factors. I've been using Linux but still prefer Windows. The reasons are minor, except for the fact that Adobe refuses to put its Creative Suite on Linux, where it could probably perform faster. A Linux box, as it now stands, is good for light word processing, order entry, and Web surfing. It would be perfect in certain office environments.
The Linux OS also has a peculiar feel that is hard to explain but it never feels the way Windows and Macintosh feel. This is something that concerns me because I cannot put my finger on it. Others will say the same thing.
The backstory: The programming language Forth that creates code gives me the same dubious feeling. I always get into trouble when I mention this, but since the 1980s, I've complained about it. It's a specialty language that seems to be popular to this day among people who write code for control mechanisms. Every so often, a desktop application shows up coded in Forth and I generally spot it because of its muddy feel. There is no other way to describe it. It is very subtle but uncomfortable.
Digital Research had one of the first PC-oriented GUIs called GEM that predated Windows. Microsoft is credited with destroying it in the market when Bill Gates personally went around telling people not to use it because Windows was going to be better, which it wasn't, until years later. This didn't matter, though. I used GEM and it was extremely muddy. Trying to use the unresponsive pointer was as frustrating as trying to control a helium balloon.
The point is that Microsoft and Apple both got the feel right and have maintained that edge over everything else that has since come along.
Before Microsoft ever fails in the marketplace, many things have to happen. Mainly, Microsoft has to shoot itself in the foot over and over, not just once or twice. It doesn't tend to do this. It will botch a product such as Vista or Windows ME and come right back with a fixer like Windows 7 or Windows 2000. Losing ideas such as the Zune, Microsoft Bob, or its VCR had very minimal impact on the company. The failure list for Microsoft is a long one, but its cash cows have continued to pump profits out.