PC users have been speculating on the features that might be offered by Windows 8 for some time. However, thanks to Microsoft planning documents shared with HP and other OEM partners that were leaked online recently, we've been to take a wholly unexpected sneak peak at Windows 8.
Log-in with your face and keep personal data safe
See also: Microsoft Windows 8 review
Microsoft only released Windows 7 last year, but it hasn't stopped PC users speculating on what the next OS, Windows 8, will offer.
Luckily for the public, Microsoft planning documents shared with HP and other OEM partners were leaked recently, providing a wholly unexpected Windows 8 sneak preview.
Thanks to Win7Vista.com, I was able to download the documents, consisting of more than 15 confidential slides Microsoft has shared with partners in the last few months.
Some of the details are sparse, and Microsoft's plans are likely to change significantly between now and the actual release of Windows 8. But, based on Microsoft's current planning, here's a look at 8 amazing things you'll be able to do with Windows 8:
Log in to your PC with your face, instead of a password
By 2012 sensors such as microphones, cameras, GPS, accelerometers, and temperature and magnetic sensors will be common in most PCs, allowing Windows 8 to interact with the user's environment in new and interesting ways.
One scenario uses facial recognition software to verify a user's identity.
"Amish walks into his home office," Microsoft writes in one of many fictional scenarios outlined in the Windows 8 slide.
"The proximity sensor on his PC detects motion, and wakes the PC. By the time Amish sits down, his PC is powered up. It scans his face and logs him in. Finally, when Amish gets up and leaves, his PC notices that he's gone and locks itself and powers down."
Windows 8 may also eliminate the need for remembering passwords across multiple websites.
"Password pain has reached a tipping point," Microsoft says.
"Windows 8 could include a way to securely store usernames and passwords, simplifying the online experience"
Make Windows 8 follow you across devices
Microsoft wants to make your Windows identity user-centric, rather than machine-centric, meaning your settings and preferences would roam with you as you move from a desktop to a laptop, and to smaller devices like slate machines (read: a Windows 8 version of Apple's iPad).
"Windows accounts could be connected to cloud to make it easy to roam settings and preferences," Microsoft says.
Users of tomorrow may have a laptop for productivity applications, writing e-mail and organising photos, movies and music, and a slate optimised for web and media consumption, causal gaming, IM and social networking, and reading and sorting email. With the same Windows 8 login across devices, a user might start a game on one machine and then finish it on another.
Importantly, the software licence will roam with a user, Microsoft says in one slide.
- Laptop buying advice
- See all Laptop reviews
- Log-in with your face
- Pad–like touchscreens
- Keeping data safe
NEXT PAGE: iPad–like touchscreens >>
Comments
Incony said: Not mentioned but what if Amish leaves the room for two minutes and his PC powers down How detailed will the face recognition be will someone in a face mask fool itWhat happens if Amish needs a face bandage or has a new scarIf such events require manual logon with a password or worse prevent Amish from loging in then i will stick with passwords the computer is my control not the computer controlling me
tricky said: All I want is an operating system that works well simply quickly and never crashes
John Smith said: Colin Richards I agree Mo money mo money America is Gods Perfect Country America is so great America is the greatest country on the earth Ohh dont make me lol I puke instead Dont make me puke How about getting rid of some of that money and giving it to impoverished peoples and places Puh-lease
seeyouentee said: How far do we need it to go Can wipe my arse No
Colin Richards said: I can see it all now More space on the hard drive slower boot up more crashes endless updates more incompatibility the anticipation of Windows 9101112 etc designed to relieve you of cash with pretty and useless functions
John Smith said: 33Amish Surely they are not refering to AmishThe proximity sensor on his PC detects motion and wakes the PC By the time Amish sits down his PC is powered up It scans his face and logs him in Finally when Amish gets up and leaves his PC notices that hes gone and locks itself and powers downVery futuristicWith the same Windows 8 login across devices a user might start a game on one machine and then finish it on anotherEven better why not use it across machines for better performanceMicrosoft is telling partners it will outdo Apple Oh myEnough with the HD films already 3D I also dont careno relation to me ltSARCASMgtYour last name is JonltSARCASMgt
John Smith said: 13Cyteck No1 All this speculation is fine BUT it is just speculation until you actually have windows 8 in your hands - How do I have software in my hands Its not a physical thingthey brake or go wrong - Microsoftthinks your someone else - How good could it be What if I am an identical twindoes actually manage to loose all - Your job to backupfeatures amp functions going wrong More anger and wasted money and time energyMy guess is that windows 8 will be 64bit ONLY - arent they making 128-bit now May as well just wait and upgrade to that instead of to 64 then to 128 when you have toI wonder who long it will take for virus writers amp hackers to port their malware into true 64bit coded versions - Theyre probably already working on it
John Smith said: 23Ron Graves I havent even installed Win7 yet - Me too Im still on XPsubstantial hardware upgrade - All techNOlogy needs updating and upgrading eventually Seems a real waste of time money effort space energy and etc to me Im not Amish though lol And Im still not really sure what The CloudCloud Computing isare anyway D Wiseman Oh please Continue We all LOVE M here PNMHORBURY lets see some real innovation rather than copying what others are already doing - Agreed M is crap with ideas I sort of remember being tought not actually remember the thing so I may be wrong that M back in the day made a computer with some boost button on to make it go faster why didnt it just go faster anyway Thats not an idea Thats a pointless pain And copying Apples App Store please Get your own ideas And dont steal them from Sci-Fi either
Cyteck said: I wonder who long it will take for virus writers amp hackers to port their malware into true 64bit coded versions
Cyteck said: My guess is that windows 8 will be 64bit ONLY which means you will definitely have to ditch that old copy of windows 7 on 32bit architecture You wont get away with just buying an additional or replacement graphics card Its a whole new machine The only possible upgrade path that MS might make available for windows 8 will be from a true 64bit windows 7 machine but that will be your lot Windows 8 NEW MACHINE end of story
NMHORBURY said: So what is new good I have a Laptop and can log in with my face - easy to fool with a photo working in dark conditionsI dont want the same desktop at home as at work backgrounds of you amp your child after a water fight are great at home but not professionalI have a touch screen and it works great as it did in XPWatch HD movies on wireless TV - sounds like lots of extra hardware expenseDownload Apps more ways for Microsoft to make moneyKilling a virus - I trust my AV provider more than Microsoft keep backing up your dataInstant on - Hah a clean OS on latest hardware anything less and it will take timeTaking more control of your machine you can do this now if you know what you are doing that has always been the beauty of Microsoft you can use it without knowing what you are doing so few users will want thisAs has been said many of these features will change but lets see some real innovation rather than copying what others are already doing
oldcoder said: More features more changes more additions to programming languages - supposedly making for easier coding In reality it is REALLY difficult to keep up to date If you miss learning new technology for even a few months you can end up with a defunct career Im a VB6 programmer and 57 yrs old Im all but done folks
D Wiseman said: Wow it all sounds amazing please excuse my sarcasm
Ron Graves said: Who cares I havent even installed Win7 yetHowever it does look as if 8 is going to require a substantial hardware upgrade and by the way they can shove The Cloud thank you so much
Gordon Braid said: All sounds great until you realise that Microsoft cannot even update its MSE program in Windows 7 without it failing to load on hundreds of thousands of PCs
Cyteck said: More features more complexity more complexity more chances of features amp functions going wrong Yet more features amp functions does NOT always make for a better operating system Vista was a case in point When will Microsoft get it less features amp functionality might even make a much better product
Someone92 said: Hmmm taking all of these feature Microsoft mention with a pinch of salt Kind of reminds me back in 2001 when XP was brand new and Microsoft were going on about all the new initutions in Longhorn but when Vista was finished many of them promised features either didnt make or were cut back horribly So I wouldnt be surprised if the same thing happened with Windows 8
Cyteck said: No1 All this speculation is fine BUT it is just speculation until you actually have windows 8 in your handsNo2 Most people seem to forget that new features amp new technologies are fine until they brake or go wrong Then someone as to know amp fully understand how this technology works fits together and finally find a way to fix it Often not easyFor example- Re windows 8 what happens if your PCs motion censor fails amp your PC doesnt boot up and what if your facial recognition doesnt recognize you thinks your someone else We tech support people have to be able to fix that see where Im coming fromAnother example- What if you press the windows 8 reset to factory defaults but windows 8 does actually manage to loose all your personalization settings or so your supposed saved personal data