Windows 8: The Features We Know About So Far

The upcoming Windows 8 operating system is an important release for Microsoft for a number of different reasons. While Windows still rules the traditional PC desktop, the future of computing is moving towards a device-agnostic, mobile paradigm where platforms like iOS and Android have the upper hand. Microsoft has to nail Windows 8 to remain relevant, and they're pulling out all the stops to make sure their new touch-capable operating system is a success. Here are some of the main features users can look forward to.

Metro UI

Users of Windows Phone 7 will already be familiar with the panel-based Metro User Interface that Windows 8 relies on. Beginning with the simple and intuitive Windows 8 Start Screen, Metro provides a slick and seamless experience from beginning to end. Those familiar with Windows 7 should be able to make a fairly painless transition to Windows 8's Metro interface. It strips away unnecessary elements and leaves behind only the functionality you actually need. In a nutshell, Metro UI just makes navigating the layout of the operating system much faster and more efficient.

Internet Explorer 10

Microsoft has taken a lot of flack over the years for its Internet Explorer web browser. It hasn't always been the most secure browser, and its lack of adherence to widely accepted web standards has often frustrated developers. Internet Explorer 10 is an entirely different story. It's faster and easier to use, and it adds support for many new HTML5 technologies. More importantly, it's much more secure and stable than past versions of IE. If you have a sub-par web connection, you'll want to look into a faster plan from one of your local Internet service providers to get the most out of IE 10.

Support for ARM Platforms

Intel and AMD x86 CPUs have been the only real options in the desktop world ever since Apple decided to ditch IBM PowerPC chips. Mobile devices, on the other hand, rely on less powerful but far more efficient ARM RISC chips that preserve battery life while providing a decent level of computing performance. Windows 8 is the first major release from Microsoft that supports ARM chips, allowing it to be installed on smart phones and tablets. Thanks to its lower resource consumption, Windows 8 can run on less than 300 MB of RAM.

Microsoft Store

Apple's iTunes Store set the standard by which all other mobile software markets are judged. Microsoft's own app store will allow developers to publish and sell their Windows 8 programs in a fairly open and frictionless environment. While still in development, the early results are promising. Getting the most out of the Microsoft Store will require fast connections from Internet service providers and mobile carriers to make downloading and using applications quick and convenient.

Windows To Go

One of the easiest ways to make a full-fledged operating system more mobile is to make it capable of being booted from a USB drive. Users of Linux distributions like Ubuntu will be familiar with this functionality already, but Windows users will be no doubt appreciate the new feature. Basically, Windows To Go gives users the power to create a self-contained installation of Windows 8 on a Flash drive and take it will them everywhere, bringing their files, programs, and settings with them.

Closing Thoughts

Considering the vast financial resources of Microsoft and Windows 8's solid reviews from critics and developers alike, it seems likely that the new mobile-centric version of Windows will be successful. For Microsoft's sake, it has to be. The Redmond, Washington, technology giant has to make a smooth transition to the mobile world if they want to remain relevant in the coming years. Based on what we've already seen from Windows 8 in its pre-release form, it looks like they're going to succeed.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find internet service providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.

Pimp My Cube Contest

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Contest Factory for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
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Now take a video of your office area, and visit the PMC online website also enter the Pimp My Cube Contest. Upload those nasty video and once it is agreed move ahead and initiate receiving your relatives and friends to cast their votes meant for your video.

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A concept that doubles the life of batteries

While most portable devices are equipped with rechargeable batteries, the batteries are far from obsolete. Especially since inspired many designers continue to develop ideas for improvement. The latter concept is called date One =  Two Battery.

These batteries is unusual. Its body is like a spring at the ends of which are a positive terminal and a negative terminal. This battery has the advantage of being more efficient than others. According to its designer, its lifespan is twice that of normal cells. One = Two Battery is based on the same principle as conventional batteries.

25 USB drives that have personality - VIII

Dr. Martens Boots USB

Offered to fans of the famous English brand of all-terrain boots to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand, the 2GB USB model replicates an 18-hole Dr. Martens and is still for sale on the online store at a price of 19 euros.

How to Use Your iPad to Control Your Finances

Guest Post Written By :  Eva k

The iPad is a very popular gadget for a number of reasons. It's a flexible device that lends itself to a number of functions and is useful in a range of situations, due mostly to the wide variety of apps that are available for download. Many of these deal with financial control or organisation, so it's no surprise that you can now use your iPad to manage your money and ensure your finances aren't spiralling beyond your control.

For a start, many high street banks have apps that make online banking easier. You simply download the app and then, at your leisure, log in securely to access your banking details. From there, you'll be able to see what's going into and out of your account and view your balance. This is extremely useful as a first step towards financial control.

Beyond simply monitoring your finances, you can use your iPad to actively keep track of upcoming expenditures. Examples include bills and other regular outgoings that are relatively simple enough to keep on top of, but can be a headache if you lose track of them. Bills On Your Table is one app that allows you to track bills and the dates on which they are due. The app lets you organise the bills by category and use your calendar to get things arranged into a schedule. The app also lines up your more pressing bills by arranging them in a timeframe.

If your finances feel as though they're in complete disarray, creating a spreadsheet on your iPad should allow you to exercise more control and get things back in order. The Spreadsheet app enables you to put together, as the name suggests, a number of spreadsheets. These, when created on your iPad, are little different to ones made in Excel on a free laptop and if you're familiar with these you shouldn't find it too hard to get things organised. These spreadsheets are useful when it comes to crafting budgets or working out exactly what expenses you can claim, since they enable mathematical calculations to be performed quickly.

Even small transactions can be managed using the iPad. For example, there is the iHandy Tip Calculator, which aims to save you the hassle and time of manually working out how much you should tip in restaurants or after a cab ride. Simply get out the iPad, load up the app and enter the relevant values. You'll soon have the correct amount to tip at hand.

The iPad is also useful if you're interested in making financial investments. For a start, you can use the iPad's internet access to receive the latest news on stock markets and on the value of your investments. The iPad enables easy access to news websites and feeds, so the latest information is never far away. The StockWatch app gives you a simple way to follow the state of stocks and investigate how mutual funds and bonds are doing. This information is presented in a number of ways, including charts and access to news services, that can then be shared across to other devices.

The iPad's greatest strengths lie in its versatility. When it comes to financial control, this flexibility extends from managing your monthly outgoings and bills all the way to tracking the investments you've made. In this way, it's similar to a free laptop: what you can do with it in terms of financial organisation is almost unlimited.

About the Author:

The above article is composed and edited by Eva k. She is associated with many technology and designing communities including Broadband Expert as their freelance writer and adviser. In her free time she writes articles related to free laptop technology, mobile applications, etc.