Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing (RTM), which means development and testing of the product has been completed. And so, the countdown to
Oct. 26th begins.
The general public will be able get the latest version of the Windows operating system starting on
October 26th, either by upgrading for
$39.99 or by buying a new PC or Windows-powered device.
Furthermore, if you buy an eligible Windows 7 PC
today, you will be able to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for
$14.99 through the Windows Upgrade Offer.
There is little mystery surrounding what
Windows 8 will be like. A preview release has been available as a
public download for months, and bootleg copies of the RTM version have already surfaced on several file sharing sites.
IT professionals and Microsoft partners will be able to download Windows 8 RTM legally, starting
August 15th, and the software will become available for Microsoft Volume License customers starting
September 1st.
Meanwhile,
BBC News reported this week that Microsoft has dropped "Metro-style" as the name for the new Windows 8 user interface. The decision was reportedly related to a trademark dispute with the German retailer
Metro AG. Microsoft, however, says "Metro-style" was just a code name, like "Chicago" or "Longhorn."
Controversy, however, will surround the new Windows 8 user interface regardless of what the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant calls it. The elimination of the familiar Start Menu is only one of many unsettling changes Windows 8 will introduce.
Beta versions of Windows 8 allowed users to boot directly to the desktop, like Windows 7 and previous Windows versions. Sadly, that option is gone in the RTM release. Keyboard shortcuts will now be the only way to circumvent the tiled interface, which is bound to frustrate users.
Windows + D jumps to the regular desktop, while Windows + B jumps from the Start screen to the currently active desktop application. Finally, Windows + M loads the traditional Windows desktop from the start screen, and minimizes all applications.
Microsoft's heavy-handed approach with the new interface is all too familiar. The company took a similar stance with the "ribbon" menu that was introduced with Office 2007. When you control the operating system most PCs in the world use and provide the No. 1 office suite to boot, you can pretty much do as you please.
Windows 95 or
Windows XP were hugely successful because they were obvious improvements over previous versions.
Windows 8 is disruptive, unless your computer has a touch-screen. The changes are likely to provoke a backlash among the operating system's installed customer base.
It's too soon to say it's Windows Vista all over again, but I suspect the adoption rate for Windows 8 will be slow. Change is good, but not when productivity suffers.
I hope I'm wrong, but you know what they say about even-numbered Windows releases. No worries. They'll fix it in Windows 9.
Feature-loaded smart camera includes remote control app
The
Samsung WB850F is a compact digital camera capable of using Wi-Fi. The unit also features a 3-inch diagonal AMOLED display, GPS with digital compass, and a f2.8 Scheneider-KREUZNACH 21x optical zoom that is equivalent to a 23-483mm zoom on a 35mm SLR.
The image sensor is BSI CMOS with a size of 1/2.3 inch. You can capture 16.2 effective megapixels. Pictures are stored in JPEG format, while videos are MP4 (1920 by 1080 and 30 fps).
With Windows 8, computers boot to a new user interface, formerly known as 'Metro.'
Samsung's WB850F SMART camera allows you to zoom-in close, using a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor.
Samsung W300 mini-camcorder shoots video at depths up to 10 ft., repels dust and sand, and withstands shock, making it perfect for family adventures.
