Screenshots: Windows 8 Developer Preview

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    Windows 8's Metro Start screen is the new Windows shell, relegating the old desktop to simply another application. Live Tiles show information, as well as launching applications.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    Metro applications don't have any visible chrome — you'll need to open up the app bar to see buttons and controls. With Internet Explorer 10, you get a very different view of the web.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    The Developer Preview comes with a suite of demonstration applications, written by Microsoft's summer interns, like this graphical weather application. Most Metro applications are either HTML or Silverlight.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    Even the venerable Control Panel gets a Metro makeover, with a scrolling list controlling a view pane. Just choose the functions you need to control, and you can quickly edit them via touch or mouse.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    Some Windows 8 applications are familiar, like Remote Desktop. Wrapped in a Metro skin, it's the same RDP client of old — although with added support for touch and 3D graphics. Just swipe a finger to reveal the Windows 8 'charms' to share screenshots and manage network connections.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    Task Manager also gets a Metro reworking, although it still runs on the familiar Windows desktop. You can use it to track system resources, as well as controlling running applications and processes.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    The bundle of sample applications in the Windows 8 Developer Preview includes a conference planner for the BUILD event where Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 and its development model. Applications like this can be built quickly and easily using HTML5 grid layout tools, with JavaScript links to Windows.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    One of Windows 8's more interesting features is the idea of 'contracts' — API calls that link applications through Windows. You can use the Control Panel to choose the applications you want to show up in the Windows 8 'charms'.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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    Microsoft makes it easy to wipe or refresh Windows 8 installations. If you're having problems, a refresh will reset the OS, replacing your applications, settings and data, so you can carry on working — with only a five-minute wait.

    Caption by: Simon Bisson

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Windows 8's Metro user interface is a big departure from the traditional recipe of windows, icons, mouse and pointer. Our gallery shows how the Developer Preview is shaping up.

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Windows 8's Metro Start screen is the new Windows shell, relegating the old desktop to simply another application. Live Tiles show information, as well as launching applications.

Caption by: Simon Bisson

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