Can not ignore the underlying functions and development platform of Windows 8

Windows 8 is based on Windows 7, and Microsoft has improved its performance, security, privacy, and system reliability. In terms of hardware requirements, Windows 8 is exactly the same as Windows 7. As mentioned before, in addition to the x86 and x64 architectures, Windows 8 adds support for ARM system-on-chip.

Connectivity and Wi-Fi and Mobile Broadband

Windows 8 automatically selects a network with a good signal to connect, and allows applications to control their bandwidth usage. On networks with traffic restrictions, Windows 8 automatically blocks network connections to prevent unnecessary charges.

Windows 8 has improved its Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity and will treat mobile broadband networks as metering networks. Users can also quickly control the wireless signal to achieve the computer's "flight mode".

Device Applications and Drivers

When users connect to new Windows-certified devices such as digital cameras or TVs, Metro style device apps can be launched to help users complete hardware-related tasks such as import/share. photo. Microsoft provides hardware vendors with a way to customize device application interfaces through MetadataXML information to achieve unique hardware experiences across devices, regions, and countries.

Windows 8 also has a large number of drivers for new devices, such as printers, various sensors, touch screens, etc. In most cases, you do not need to install a separate driver. The new HID class driver supports commonly used sensors such as heat, light, temperature, and pressure.

Security, Encryption/Decryption, SmartScreen

Windows 8 has improved the application's data access model, allowing users to control data and resource access for all applications. In the case of HMTL5+JavaScript applications, the security model is similar to scripts in the browser.

Windows 8 also simplifies the programming interface for encryption/decryption/digital signatures. Developers can also quickly add certificates to applications that use SSL encryption to provide users with an error-free experience.

Downloading or running a file, SmartScreen in Windows 8 scans to ensure that the requested URL or program does not pose a security threat to the computer. Windows 8 also has built-in WIndowsDefender security software, and Microsoft-certified third-party software can also load its own drivers during the boot process.

In addition, Windows 8 will also perform security detection when it starts. If a non-Microsoft normal signature component is detected, the system will enter the Windows recovery environment for automatic repair.

WindowsToGo

Enterprise ITPro can provide enterprise users with bootable USB storage devices containing Windows 8, running Windows 8 and enterprise applications, data and settings on USB storage devices. Reduce the risk of information leakage.

AppLocker

AppLocker will allow businesses to manage specific users or groups of users to use or disable a desktop or Metro style app.

Windows 8 has also improved other enterprise features, including: DirectAccess, BitLocker, deployment tools, Active Directory-based Windows activation, and client-side Hyper-V, and more rigorous system boot detection.

Windows Runtime and Application Models

Windows Runtime (WinRT for short) is a set of APIs for building Metro style apps that support JavaScript, C++, C#, and VB programming languages. The new WinRT also includes a subset of the traditional Win32, COM, and .NET Framework APIs, and developers can also develop with HTML5 and CSS3API.

Other Microsoft programming frameworks such as the .NET Framework or the WindowsCRuntime library can access WinRTAPI. Existing x86 applications need to be rewritten to run on ARM architecture, and new Metro style applications can run directly.

Metro Style Apps and Games

The development of Metro style apps in Windows 8 is divided into 3 scenarios:

— HTML5 and CSS3 to build interfaces, JavaScript for application logic ;

— XAML build interface, C++, C# or VB for application logic;

— game development can use C++ and DirectX11.1 to take full advantage of hardware performance, or HTML5 or XAML development Casual, lightweight games;

— WindowsShell integration, media and sensors;

When developing Metro style apps, developers can take advantage of new Windows 8 features such as AppBar, Edge, LiveTiles and application interaction.

WinRT can access audio or video data entirely through JavaScript or XAML, as well as camera capture, encoding, and PlayTo. WinRT also provides a component interface for quick access to sensor devices, and Win32API can also input sensor data with a small amount of code.

Internet Explorer 10 Development

Internet Explorer 10 provides web developers with development support for many modern standards such as HTML5, CSS3 and SVG, and hardware acceleration. The IE10 platform supports local storage, IndexedDB, application caching, asynchronous scripting, WebWorkers, WebSockets, HTML5 file API, drag and drop operations, history, sandboxing, and more.

LiveConnect

LiveConnect provides a set of controls and APIs that integrate WindowsLiveID single sign-on (SSO), access to SkyDrive, Hotmail, and Messenger information in your app. This can be seen as the next generation of Messenger Connect, and more will be covered in a new article.

Visual Studio 11, Expression Blend

Visual Studio 11 and Expression Blend will be the primary tools for Windows 8 application development. For the development of HTML5 applications, DirectX and HLSL games, and device-driven development, both VS and Blend have new improvements and a range of related tools. VisualStudio also supports one-click "Publish to Windows App Store".

Moreover, Microsoft's longest product name has appeared: Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview.