Microsoft Telemetry data shows that majority of Videos user watch on their Screen are from Online Sources like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu etc. Traditional DVD, Blu-ray optical media consumption are declining day by day. Based on these research, Microsoft has decided not to include DVD playback support in Media player any more. Instead of media player, Windows Media center will be capable of providing DVDs, Blu-ray and other media experience.

Unlike Windows 7, Windows Media center won’t be pre-installed in Windows 8. The User who are still interested in Windows Media Center can Install Windows Media Center addon pack  via ‘Add features to Windows 8 Control panel or Windows Anytime Upgrade’.

There will be two ways a user can acquire Media Center pack:

In the starting, Media Center won’t be pre-installed in Windows 8 Editions.  An End user upgrade will be required to install Media Center Pack on Windows 8 PC. Windows 8 Pro users can directly upgrade to Windows 8 Media Center Pack whereas Windows 8 editions user will be require to install Windows 8 Pro pack which will also include Media Center pack.

Windows Media Center will support all previous features including including DVD playback (in Media Center, not in Media Player), broadcast TV recording and playback (DBV-T/S, ISDB-S/T, DMBH, and ATSC), and VOB file playback. Media Center Pack pricing details is not yet announced.

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Microsoft Account is Re-imagined or updated version for Windows Live Services (announced on November 2005) which didn’t met the Microsoft Expectation of  a truly Connected Experience. Users will be able to use Microsoft Account for various Microsoft Product and services including Windows Login Authentication, Xbox Live, Zune or App Store, Mail, People, Photos, Messaging  etc.

Windows Live services and apps were built on versions of Windows that were simply not designed to be connected to a cloud service for anything other than updates, and as a result, they felt “bolted on” to the experience. This created some amount of customer confusion, which is noted in several reviews and editorials.  The names we used to describe our products added to that complexity: we used “Windows Live" to refer to software for your PC (Windows Live Essentials), a suite of web-based services (Hotmail, SkyDrive, and Messenger), your account relationship with Microsoft (Windows Live ID), and a host of other offers. 

Unlike Windows Live services, there won’t be any separate Microsoft Account brand to access same services on different platform. Microsoft Account will be deeply integrated with Windows 8, Windows Phone, Metro Style apps and other web platform services. So that user can have seamless  Windows Experience on any platform you choose. For Example, when you add a contact in one place, it shows up in the cloud and shared across Windows Phone, Windows 8, Hotmail, Messenger, and SkyDrive so on.

Once you are login to Windows 8, you are already connected to the cloud. Your PC setting roam along with you. So you can log in to a new PC and get start from where you left.Along with a Microsoft account, everyone gets a SkyDrive, which is cloud storage for documents, photos, your phone’s camera roll, and settings from your PC.

The chart below breaks down Microsoft’s software and services in the new world of Windows 8:

Some of these Applications powered by cloud services include Mail, Calendar, People, Photos, Messaging, and SkyDrive are now available in Windows 8 Consumer Preview and also  Windows Phone comes with the same set of apps, powered by cloud services, and connected to your Microsoft account.

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The below chart Highlights key features on three main edition: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows RT (this list should not be considered an exhaustive list of features):

Source: Microsoft

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Windows 8  is intend for basic Windows users. Windows 8 will include all core Windows 8 features plus update Windows Explorer, Task Manager,better multi- monitor support, VPN client, Start Screen, Internet Explorer 10 etc.

Windows 8 Pro is designed for Tech Enthusiasts and business,  technical professionals and will be including all features in Windows 8 plus additional capabilities for Encryption for system file, ability to boot from VHD, BitLocker and BitLocker to go, PC Management and Domain connectivity.  Windows Media Centre users need to Install an Economical ‘Media Pack’ add-on which will be available for Windows 8 Pro only.

Windows RT aka Windows On ARM or WOA will be available as  pre-installed on Tablets and PCs powered by ARM processors. Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

In addition to these Editions, there will be a Windows 8 Enterprise Edition for Enterprise customers containing everything  in Windows 8 Pro  with additional features like PC Management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios and much more.

Check out the Windows 8 features comparison chart  that Highlights key features on three main edition: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows RT (this list should not be considered an exhaustive list of features). Pricing and other promotional details to be revealed in upcoming months, till then you can download and check out Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

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You can download Microsoft Office mobile app using Nokia Software Update tool on your smartphone or also you can do it by connection your device to the Nokia Suite on your PC. Office Mobile apps will also be available from the Nokia Store in just a few weeks.

Last year we have blogged about the Microsoft apps to Join Symbian smartphone, few of them mentioned apps like OneNote, Lync 2010, Document Connection and PowerPoint Broadcast were debut in February this year for Symbian Smartphones. Now applications like Microsoft Word mobile, PowerPoint mobile and Excel mobile are the latest apps to join the suite of Microsoft Apps built for Symbian Smartphones.

Microsoft Office mobile apps will be also made available for Nokia N8, Nokia E6 or Nokia 500. he Nokia 808 PureView will also come with all these apps when it begins selling.

Via Nokia Conversations

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Windows 8 Consumer Preview should run on the same hardware that powers Windows 7 today. In general, you can expect Windows 8 Consumer Preview to run on a PC with the following:

• 1 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
• 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution

Note before you download:

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is pre release software that may be substantially modified before it’s commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here. Some product features and functionality may require additional hardware or software. If you decide to go back to your previous operating system, you’ll need to reinstall it from the recovery or installation media that came with your PC.

For those who eagerly waiting to try it, check out below download links:

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview

OR

Try below Direct Links:

Product Key:   DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J

English

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit (x64)

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit (x86)

Chinese

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit (x64)

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit (x86)

French

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit (x64)

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit (x86)

German

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit (x64)

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit (x86)

Japanese

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit (x64)

Direct Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit (x86)

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In current Windows system, users can add additional display language through Windows Update or Microsoft Download center, which make no sense. In Windows 8 Microsoft has added new Language preference section in the control panel, which means no more need to look for the languages  around the websites. You get list of available languages in one place i.e New Language preference section.

The main view of Language preference section display the list of languages enabled on your system. In above Screenshot, Hindi and English languages are enabled on Windows 8 system. You may add or change, switch to another languages if you want. To add new language click on Add a Language tab.

Select the language you want to use. Once selected, language is added to your list but does not download and install the display language until  you choose.

In addition to this, Microsoft has added English UK as a standalone language plus 14 new additional  languages for Windows 8 , generating total count to 109 languages for Windows 8.

Microsoft also broaden their language support with the addition of 13 new Language Interface Packs includes  Punjabi (Pakistan), Sindhi (Pakistan), Central Kurdish (Iraq), Uyghur (People’s Republic of China), Belarusian (Belarus), Kinyarwanda (Rwanda), Tigrinya (Ethiopia), Tajik (Tajikistan), Wolof (Senegal), K’iche’ (Guatemala), Scottish Gaelic (United Kingdom), Cherokee (United States), Valencian (Spain).

Image credit: Microsoft

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“The Windows logo is a strong and widely recognized mark but when we stepped back and analyzed it, we realized an evolution of our logo would better reflect our Metro style design principles and we also felt there was an opportunity to reconnect with some of the powerful characteristics of previous incarnations.”  said Sam Moreau, Principal Director of User Experience for Windows.

The new redesigned Windows logo is a Window not a flag. If we trace back the evolution of Windows Logo, Microsoft Logo designing team has bring back Windows Logo to its  original meaning – reimaging the Windows Logo as just that, A Window.

How ITs Re-Designed

• Microsoft wanted the new logo to be both modern and classic by mixing International Typographic style using bold flat colors, clean lines and shapes based on Metro Style design philosophy.
• Microsoft wanted the new logo carries Metro principle of being “Authentically Digital”.  It means it does not try to emulate faux-industrial design characteristics such as materiality (glass, wood, plastic, etc.). It has motion – aligning with the fast and fluid style you’ll find throughout Windows 8.
• An last goal was for the new logo to be humble, confident. Welcoming you in with a slight tilt in perspective and when you change your color, the logo changes to reflect you. It is a “Personal” Computer after all.

The New logo is modern, metro style, reimagined – what do you think ? tell us below in comment box.

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According to the announcement:

Mozilla Firefox on Metro will be similar to other Metro Apps – run in full mode, focused on touch interactions connected to the rest of the Metro environment through Windows 8 contracts.

Firefox on Metro will features an Appbar that would contains common navigation controls such as back, reload, etc. the Awesomebar, and some form of tabs.

Firefox On Metro will support three "snap" states — full screen, ~1/6th screen and ~5/6th screen depending on how the user "docks" two full screen apps.

In order to provide users with access to other content, other apps, and to Firefox from other content and apps, Firefox on Metro will be integrated with the share contract, the search contract, the settings contract, the app to app picking contract, the print contract, the play to contract, and possibly a couple more.

Firefox on Metro will also offer a live tile with user-centric data like friends presence or other Firefox Home information updates.

Microsoft is going to release Windows 8 Consumer Preview for public on 29th February 2012. The first version of Firefox on Metro could be release on same time or slightly later .

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Microsoft Exchange Client Bandwidth Calculator Beta is designed to work with both Exchange on-premises and Office 365 deployments. With the help of this tool you can predict how much client network bandwidth requires for an organisation.The calculator needed to deal with Outlook, OWA and Mobile Devices, both on-premises and for Office 365 scenarios.

Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, OWA 2010, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone are few clients are included in this beta, rest will be added soon.

How it Works

Based on new prediction algorithm, The Calculator will analyse each client’s behaviour individually. After which, a bandwidth model will be created for each client scenario in terms of scalability and flexibility.

Input data is based on existing user profile metrics, such as messages sent and received per user per day and average message size. Once these parameters are provided the calculator is able to predict how much bandwidth each client will require to perform adequately.

Check here how to use it.

Download Exchange Client Network Bandwidth Calculator Beta

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