Microsoft has made this leap year a memorable one. From the masses to the developers everyone got something to be excited about. First up, they eclipsed the entire Mobile World Congress announcements with the consumer preview of Windows 8. With over 100,000 new features, the newest operating system from Redmond is loaded to the hilt with amazing features.

Developing apps for Windows has always been a profitable venture for developers. With the new Metro style, for the first time ever, Windows developers have a chance to one up Mac apps in the eye candy quotient. Thanks to the new Visual Studio 11 beta, a new version of the .NET framework and a bunch of templates and tools, coding for Windows 8 is gonna be a whole lot easier.

After the break, let us check out the major attractions from a bird’s eye view. Read on!

Windows 8 is Here

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

This is a Windows blog, so you might not believe us when we rave about Windows 8. But how about a certificate of approval from David Pogue of New York Times? To sum up, he says:

“But one thing is knowable now: With Windows 8, Microsoft has sweated the details, embraced beauty and simplicity, and created something new and delightful. Get psyched.”

Internet Explorer 10 Consumer Preview

The fluid and intuitive interface is getting a lot of accolades. So is the Windows App Store (are we allowed to call it that way Apple?). Internet Explorer 10 consumer preview is part of the package too. The entire demo on stage was done from Windows 8 running on a USB thumb drive! From a bootable USB drive we have made a leap to running a full blown OS from a stick. Sweet!

You can download the consumer preview here. If you are downloading the Windows installer, you will have to install it on the same PC. Use the ISO links to burn an image if you are planing to install it on a different PC.

For an operating system that tries to tackle two different paradigms, the overall feedback is positive and reviewers of repute found Windows 8 to be wholesome and complete. Since we have posted a lot of nuggets over the past few weeks, we chose not to rehash them again. An in depth look of the Windows 8 on the desktop will be up in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Couple of Thoughts

Sure, every new version of Windows comes loaded with a boatload of features. But this is probably the first time the company veered off from some of the core fundamentals that have defined and at times made people look down at the OS. Windows apps are as powerful and functional as their Mac counterparts, but they have long been bogged down by how ugly they actually are to look at.

Over the years it has become uncool to use a Windows PC, largely due to the awkward user interfaces and poor usability of the apps. Yes, virus and malware is a concern for users, but it is this usability part that is contributing to the fast sliding mindshare. With Metro, things are going to make a U turn.

Apple can shout from rooftops that they have been outselling PCs year after year, but they cannot win a sizable marketshare even after hundred years. Windows 8 and Metro ensure that major potholes are fixed and it’s only going to make it harder for people to justify buying a costlier Mac (which comes with hardware, even when you don’t need it!). The next battlefront is the tablet market and for once Microsoft is sitting pretty not only with a massive war chest, but also with a gamut of battle hardened weapons to go with it!

Developer Goodies

Visual Studio 11

Visual Studio 11 beta version was announced the same day and it comes with templates, libraries and tools that help jumpstart the development of Metro style apps. In addition to the regular C# and Visual Basic languages, apps can be developed in HTML5 and javascript. This is a very thoughtful decision from Microsoft. A new talent pool of web developers can be tapped to craft apps, which means better apps for us consumers!

Share Your Thoughts!

How excited are you with Windows 8? Will you be trying it out before the final version hits the market later this year?