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Windows 8 Release Preview : What’s New






It has been almost 3 months since Windows 8 Consumer Preview was released. Much on this has been around web blogs since recent session. Now its time to have the final beta look of Windows 8. This is named as Release Preview, and expected to have some final changes for Windows 8.

However there is no official confirmation about the release of this beta version. Some of the techies around web are talking about the leaked build in China. More on this can be checked here:

Windows 8 Release Preview (Build 8400) Leaked In China

Now let us talk why Microsoft is releasing Windows 8 Release Preview, indirectly what are the new things an end user should expect from this release? Well, here are some points to know:

Killing the legacy code that allows third parties to create Start Button

It seems like Microsoft is strictly do not want Windows users to depend on Start Button in any way. After the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, some third parties were able to create the running Start Button for Windows.

Most of users used these third party tools, but as far as Windows 8 Release Preview is concerned, this possibility is likely to kill. The message Microsoft wants to give third parties is:

“It’s our way or the highway”

Say Bye To Aero

Since Windows Vista, Aero is the charm of customization lovers. Now the news is that Microsoft has dropped the Aero in RP as well. So the transparency on taskbar and other frames and windows is going to vanish.

This may be hard to believe change, but I think there is no need to have such change for now. Also there is no relation between Aero and Metro UI for taskbar.

Shelf Keeping Units (SKUs)

Windows 8 Release Preview would be launched in three different SKU’s such as Windows 8 Release Preview, Windows 8 Release Preview Pro and Windows 8 Release Preview Enterprise.

Windows 8 Release Preview would be for home users, Windows 8 Release Preview Pro for professional users which would include Windows to go, Hyper V management and many more and in the last, Windows 8 Release Preview Enterprise which would include features for Enterprises.

Family Safety

With Windows 8 Release Preview and future versions of Windows 8, you would be able to control how much your child uses your Windows 8 PC and you can also see details of which Metro apps he used, which websites he visited and even how much time he spent on his computer.

All this would be controllable from Windows 8 and you would also get an email with details. You can also set the time for which your child can use the Windows 8 computer.

 New Metro Apps

As we all know, Metro Apps are the heart of Windows 8, so this section is likely to have huge updates. Many new Metro Apps are going to be released on Windows Store after the release of Release Preview.

If you are in love with Metro nowadays, this is probably a good news for you!

DVD Playback Support

Windows Media Player is not going to support the DVD playback in Windows 8 Release Preview. Instead you have to use Windows Media Center for this.

This is the biggest change WMP is receiving since its launch. However you will be able to play DVDs on third party tools like Media Player Classic, VLC Player etc.

Windows Media Center Is Payable

As we said above, WMP is not going to play DVDs, also WMC is not free. So the conclusion is that you should not rely on native Microsoft tools for playing DVD!

Since WMC is not free anymore, you’ll have to upgrade for WMC Pro after paying some charges, how much not cleared yet.

So these are the few changes which Windows 8 Release Preview will counter. Obviously you’ll be able to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Release Preview.

We’re expecting Windows 8 Release Preview to be official on June 1st. Download links will be updated here as soon as we got them. So stay tuned….. :)

See Also

This article was posted in "Windows 8'' section by Kapil Arya.
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5 Comments

  1. PojoWER

    where the hell download links are???????????????????????

  2. kizo124

    i agree.. aero should be untouched

    i m not going to dwld RP b’coz no good reson to dwnld.

  3. gera

    kapil, sholud i download this…

    i’ m running consumer preview already :)

  4. Kapil Arya

    ^^ Well its up to you. I don’t think there are any straight changes in this release. So I’m not downloading it anymore.

  5. Irina

    Jeanne, Thanks for the Windows 8 preview. It was very irsneetting and it is nice to hear about the new features from an expert. I’ll stay tuned for your next show so I can learn more.

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