X

Inside the Windows 8 beta: photos

Take a peek inside the Windows 8 consumer preview, and see what Microsoft has in store for the iconic Windows operating system.
By Seth Rosenblatt, Contributor
photos1.jpg
1 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

This may be the Windows 8 beta, but it's far more stable than the name suggests. Much of its key architecture is in place, and we found it to be extremely usable.

photos2.jpg
2 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

The lock screen has been enabled to surface content from your apps, including unread emails and calendar appointments.

photos3.jpg
3 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Once you've logged in, the Windows 8 beta takes you to the Start screen. Essential apps like Mail, Calendar, Messaging and Weather are front and centre.

photos4.jpg
4 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

The People app is for organising your contacts across multiple services.

photos5.jpg
5 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Pinch to zoom out gives you a global view of your app groups, making it shockingly fast to switch between them.

photos6.jpg
6 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft SkyDrive will allow you to sync files. Microsoft hasn't revealed yet what the memory limit of the SkyDrive is.

photos7.jpg
7 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

The Windows Store is where you'll get all of your Windows apps. Apps bought through the store will sync across multiple Windows 8 devices, too.

photos8.jpg
8 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Internet Explorer 10 in Metro runs on a minimised interface that hides completely when you're not using it.

photos9.jpg
9 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Swipe up from the bottom edge of an app, and you'll get app-specific controls. In the case of IE 10, this means that your URL bar is on the bottom and the tabs thumbnails are on the top.

photos10.jpg
10 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

You can search through your apps in Windows 8 by clicking the right-edge Search icon — or just begin typing on a keyboard from the Start screen.

photos11.jpg
11 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Windows 8 is optimised for both tablets and PCs. It comes with several soft keyboards, and the main one is impressively responsive.

photos12.jpg
12 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

This quirky, split keyboard works best with thumbs. Think: tablet, held vertically with two hands.

photos13.jpg
13 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

The desktop tile will take you to the desktop view of Windows 8. It's like Windows 7, but with a cooler secret identity.

photos14.jpg
14 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Windows 8 offers some interesting dual-monitor support. You can go for a traditional extension, shown here, or you can display the Metro Start screen on one and the desktop view on another.

photos15.jpg
15 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

It's not all flash and bang in Windows 8. The decidedly unsexy Task Manager has been given a new coat of paint, and is easier to use, too.

photos16.jpg
16 of 16 Seth Rosenblatt/ZDNET

(Credit: Microsoft)

Task Manager processes are much easier to navigate, too.

Via CNET

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos