Windows 8: IE10, Touchscreen Keyboards and File System Access
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 2, 2011 12:18 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
- Microsoft
- Computex 2011
- Windows 8
Microsoft showed us IE10 on Windows 8, which honestly has a very iOS-like feel to it. You get smooth scrolling and panning, with a PlayBook style support for tabs. It's amazing how much of the Windows 8 UI looks a lot like RIM's first tablet.
The URL bar is hidden by default but it's actually at the bottom of the screen when revealed. Microsoft has a couple of touchscreen keyboard options, a standard mobile OS keyboard and a split version that lets you type with two thumbs while holding a tablet.
Microsoft also showed that you've got full access to the underlying file system regardless of whether you're in standard Windows mode or the new tile based start screen with lighter weight HTML5 apps.
Overall I'm very impressed with what Microsoft has shown thus far. It's a pretty well done mix of a tablet based UI without giving up the traditional Windows interface.
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jjj - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
don't think you mentioned it in your articles but here is the first vid with win 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I&Belegost - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
That really looks slick. I'm sure that's running on PC level hardware, so I don't know how smooth it will be on cutdown tablet hardware, but that was really a smooth demo.I think this will really make the touchscreen all-in-one PC useful. Now I could stick a little 22" machine in my kitchen and use it to look up recipes, watch videos, etc. Also great for reception desks, with the touchscreen placed flat on the desk.
And the split keyboard for thumb typing ... so bloody obvious I cannot believe I haven't seen it done for Android and iOS. I have a feeling it will be standard within a short time.
s44 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
"Thumb keyboard" for Android has been around for months.wewter - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
so?what is your point?
are you the Android "thumb keyboard" dev?
i don't care.
rs2 - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
...everything with "smooth scrolling and panning" is "very iOS-like" and just trying to copy Apple.yyrkoon - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
You mean. Just trying to copy Apple, ripping off BSD ?Funny how office 2007 was somehow a rip off of some OSX app, where to be perfectly honest. It looks like NOTHING in OSX I've ever seen.
Windows 7 was supposed to look similar to OSX in nature. And yet . . . I do not see any crappy desktop icons any where . . .
Oh, and looky now. OSX is getting nailed by tons of security exploits, they must be copying Microsoft !
Mac defender ? why does that sound familiar ?
Not to mention that Win8 is not slated for release until when exactly ? After that, I expect Microsoft will make their own systems to sell with their OS, and overcharge for them.
Move along people, nothing new to see here.
TEAMSWITCHER - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Apple's UI did not rip off BSD...OSX is not getting nailed by MacDefender..it's a minor exploit, easy to remove, even easier to avoid...
As for overcharging, you paid $100 for Windows 7 Home Premium. I paid $30 for Snow Leopard - Ultimate...
Nuf said.
araczynski - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
"even easier to avoid" that's true for those here, you forget joe consumer wouldn't know a virus/trojan/etc attempt even if it announced itself as such.in any case, if i was a crapware writer, i'd be focusing on the mac, its like a field of trusting virgins when the vikings come ashore, ripe for the picking.
ericore - Friday, June 3, 2011 - link
lmaoFritzr - Friday, June 3, 2011 - link
Oddly enough the memo from Apple telling Customer Support people to neither confirm nor deny Apple malware further advises them to tell people to buy anti-malware products offered for sale in Apple stores to combat the malware that is designed to attack Apple products.You can see a copy of the memo here:
www.bgr.com/2011/05/20/apple-instructs-support-reps-to-refute-malware-deny-assistance/