The transition from Windows 7 to Windows 8 introduces a number of new features across various aspects of the operating system. This includes a greater focus on optimizing the operating system for touch screen-based devices (such as tablets) and cloud computing.
Video Features new to Windows 8
Development platform
Language and standard support
Windows 8 introduces a new Windows Runtime (WinRT) platform, which can be used to create new types of apps officially known as Windows Store apps and commonly called Metro-style apps . Such apps run in a secure sandbox and share data with other apps through the public API. WinRT, being a COM-based API, allows the use of multiple programming languages ​​for encoding applications, including C, C/CX, C #, Visual Basic.NET, or HTML5 and JavaScript. Metro-style apps are packaged and distributed via APPX, a new file format for package management. Unlike desktop apps, Metro-style apps can be redirected, subject to license terms. Windows 8.1 update allows sideloading applications on all Windows 8.1 Pro devices that join Active Directory domains.
In Windows 8 up to two applications can snap to the widescreen to allow multi-tasking, forming a sidebar that separates applications. In Windows 8.1, the application can be continuously resized to the desired width. The captured app can occupy half the screen. Large screen allows up to four apps unplugged. After launching the app, Windows allows the user to select the conflict display that the app will open.
The term "Metro-style app" refers to "Metro", a design language that is clearly used by Windows 8 and other latest Microsoft products. Reports appear that Microsoft employees are notified to stop using the term because of potential trademark issues with an unspecified partner. But a Microsoft spokesman, denied these reports and stated that "Metro-style" is just a codename for a new app platform.
Windows 8 introduced APIs to support near field communication (NFC) on Windows 8 devices, enabling functionality such as launching URLs/applications and sharing information between devices via NFC.
Windows Store
Windows Store is a digital distribution platform built into Windows 8, which in a way similar to Apple's App Store and Google Play, allows for the distribution and purchase of apps designed for Windows 8. Developers will still be able to advertise desktop software through Windows Store as well. To ensure that they are safe and of high quality, the Windows Store will be the only way to distribute WinRT-based applications for consumer-oriented Windows 8 versions.
In Windows 8.1, the Windows Store has a redesigned interface with improved app discovery and recommendations and offers automatic updates for apps.
Maps Features new to Windows 8
Shell and user interface
Windows 8 has a redesigned user interface built on the Metro design language, with optimizations for touch screens.
Metro-style apps can run in full-screen environments, or are banged to the side of the screen alongside other apps or desktops; bluff requires screen resolution 1366ÃÆ' â € "768 or higher. Windows 8.1 lowers the snapping requirements to a screen resolution of 1024x768. Users can switch between apps and desktops by clicking in the top left corner or by swiping the left side of the touch screen to enable the sidebar that displays all Metro-style apps that are currently open. Right-click on the top left corner provides a context menu with options to switch between open applications. Traditional desktops can be accessed from tiles on the Start screen or by launching desktop applications. Row Alt Tab? shortcut cycle through all programs, regardless of type.
The interface also incorporates a taskbar on the right side of the screen known as "the charms", which can be accessed from any app or desktop by swiping from the right edge of a compatible touchscreen or trackpad, by moving the mouse cursor to one of the right-hand corners of the screen , or by pressing ? Win C . Its charms include Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings appeal. Start Spells to call or reject the Start screen. Other charms invite context sensitive sidebars that can be used to access apps and system functions. Due to the above mentioned changes involving the use of hot corners, navigating the user interface in Windows 8 is fundamentally different when compared to previous versions of Windows. To help new users of the operating system, Microsoft includes tutorials that appear during Windows 8 installation, as well as during the first entry of new user accounts, which visually instructs the user to move the mouse cursor to each corner of the screen (or slide the angle on the device with the touch screen) to interact with the operating system. Tutorials can be disabled so they do not show up for new user accounts. Windows 8.1 introduces navigation instructions with instructions displayed during the first use of the operating system, and also includes help and support applications.
In Windows 8.1, the above mentioned hotspots in the top right and upper left corner can be disabled.
Menekan ? Win X atau klik kanan di sudut kiri bawah layar membuka menu Quick Link. Menu ini berisi cara pintas ke area yang sering digunakan seperti Control Panel, File Explorer, Program dan Fitur, Run, Search, Power Options, dan Task Manager. Di Windows 8.1, menu Tautan Cepat menyertakan opsi untuk mematikan atau memulai ulang perangkat.
Windows 8.1 updates introduce changes that facilitate a mouse-oriented tool to switch between and close Metro-style apps, which are patterned on the mechanisms used by desktop programs in the Windows user interface. Instead of the latest app sidebar, computer icons for open applications can be displayed on the taskbar; as with desktop programs, shortcuts to apps can also be embedded into the taskbar. When the mouse is connected, the titlebar that hides automatically with the minimize and close buttons is displayed inside the app when the mouse is moved to the top of the screen.
Bundled apps
A number of applications are included in the standard Windows 8 installation, including Mail (Mail client), Person (contact manager), Messaging (IM client), Calendar (calendar app), Photos (image viewer), Music (audio player), Video (video player ), Cameras (web camera or digital camera), SkyDrive, Reader (e-book reader), and six other applications featuring Bing services (Search, News, Finance, Weather, Travel, and Sports).
Windows 8.1 add Calculators, Alarm Clock, Voice Recorder, Reading List, Food & amp; Beverage, Health & amp; Fitness, Help Tips, Scan and file manager integrated in SkyDrive app.
Windows 8 also includes a Metro-style system component called PC Settings that exposes a small part of the Control Panel settings. Windows 8.1 enhances this component to include more options previously exclusive to the Control Panel. Windows 8.1 updates add additional options to PC settings.
Start screen
Windows 8 introduces a new form from the start menu named Start screen, which resembles the Windows Phone home screen, and is displayed on-site desktop at startup. The Start Screen serves as the primary method for launching the app and consists of an application tile box that can be set into columnar groups; groups can be set with or without group name. Application tiles can be small (take 1 square) or large (take 2 boxes) and can also display dynamic content provided by appropriate applications, such as notifications and slide shows. Users can set individual or entire group app tiles. Additional parts on the Start screen called "All Apps" can be accessed via right click of the mouse or scratch upwards and will show all installed apps with their names. The semantic zoom feature is available for the Start screen and "All Apps" view that allows users to target specific areas or groups on the screen. The Start Screen can delete applications directly.
Windows 8.1 makes the following changes to the Start screen:
- The "All Apps" section, now accessed with a hidden down arrow or upward motion motion, displays a visible search bar that can show results for apps or other items. This section is closed by the same key as the up arrow. Option to display the "All Apps" section automatically instead of the Start screen available.
- On a high resolution display monitor with a large enough physical screen size, the option to display additional tiles on the Start screen is available.
- Starts screen tiles can be locked in place to prevent accidental tile manipulation.
- The uninstall command lets the Windows Store app be uninstalled from multiple computers.
- More size options for tiles directly on the Start screen: small, medium, wide, and large. The "small" size is one quarter of the default size in Windows 8.
- Extended color options on the Start screen, which now allows users to customize the colors and colors of your own choice rather than choosing from limited colors.
- New background options for the Start screen, including animated backgrounds and the ability to use desktop wallpapers.
- Enhanced sync settings, including app tile settings, tile size, and background.
- In a multi-monitor configuration, Windows 8.1 can optionally display the Start screen only on the home screen monitor rather than the currently active monitor when ? Win is pressed.
- Some desktop apps can be selected from the Start screen and pinned to the taskbar at once, or some Metro-style desktop apps and apps can be selected from the "All Apps" view and pinned to the Start screen at once. The Windows 8.1 update adds this capability by allowing Metro-style apps to be pinned to the taskbar. The Start menu in earlier versions of Windows only allows one desktop application to be selected and/or embedded at one time.
- By default, Windows 8.1 no longer shows newly installed applications and related entries on the Start screen; users must manually pin this item.
- Windows 8.1 introduces an option to categorize apps listed in the "All Apps" section of the Start screen. Applications can be categorized by their name, installation date, frequency of use, or by their category. When sorted by category, desktop apps can be optionally prioritized in the interface. Windows 8.1 update allows additional app tiles to be displayed in the "All Apps" section of the Start screen.
- The ability to highlight recently installed apps has been upgraded in Windows Update 8.1, which now displays the total number of recently installed apps in the lower left corner of the Start screen besides highlights. Windows 8.1 update also allows semantic zoom when clicking or tapping the title of the app category.
- The ability to highlight recently installed apps has been upgraded in Windows Update 8.1, which now displays the total number of recently installed apps in the lower left corner of the Start screen besides highlights. Instead, the Start menu interface that is included in earlier versions of Windows only highlights the app.
Windows 8.1 restores two changes that are displayed in Windows 8. Windows 8 removes the Start button on the taskbar that supports other ways to enable the Start screen. Windows 8.1 restores this button. Windows 8 also shows the Start screen at logon, compared to other Windows editions that feature the desktop. In Windows 8.1, users can now choose which one is first viewed. Windows 8.1 Update boot to desktop by default on non-tablet devices and introduce the ability to switch to the taskbar from the Start screen or from an open Metro-style app by hovering the mouse cursor to the bottom of the screen.
Windows 8.1 introduces a new "slide to shutdown" option that allows users to drag a partially revealed screen image to the bottom of the screen to shut down the operating system. Windows 8.1 update introduces the visible power button on the Start screen. This power button does not appear on any type of hardware device. By default, the new account profile in Windows Update 8.1 also receives four additional tiles embedded into the Start screen: this PC, PC Settings, Documents, and Images. In Windows RT, only PC Settings tiles are added.
Search
In Windows 8.1, the search no longer opens a full-screen interface; the results are instead displayed in the Metro style flyout interface. Windows 8.1 also returns integrated local search results, and can optionally provide results from Bing. Nicknamed "Intelligent Search," Windows 8.1 and Bing can optionally analyze users' search habits to restore relevant content stored locally and from the Internet. When enabled, Intelligent Search displays additional search categories in the user interface: web images and web videos, and can be accessed via a new keyboard shortcut, : 1px solid #aaa; -moz- border-radius: 0.2em; -webkit-border-radius: 0.2em; border-radius: 0.2em; -moz-box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0,0,0,0.1); -webkit -box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0,0,0,0,1); box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0,0,0,0,1); background-color: # f9f9f9; background-image: -moz-linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); background-image: -o-linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); background- image: -webkit- linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); background-image: linear-gradient (down, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); padding: 0.1em 0.3em; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.85em; ">? Win S . The new "full screen" hero interface supported by Bing can display multimedia aggregates (such as photos, YouTube videos, songs/albums on Xbox Music) and other content (such as news articles and Wikipedia entries) related to search queries. Like its predecessor, Windows 8.1 allows users to search through settings and file categories, but the option to search through categories for apps is removed from the interface; keyboard shortcuts previously associated with this function, : border: 1px solid #aaa; -moz-border-radius: 0.2em; -webkit-border-radius: 0.2em; border -radius: 0.2em; -moz-box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0,0,0,0.1); -webkit-box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0.0,0 , 0.1); box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.2em rgba (0,0.0.0.1); background-color: # f9f9f9; background-image: -moz-linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, # eee); background-image: -o-linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient (top, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); background -image: linear-gradient (down, #eee, # f9f9f9, #eee); padding: 0.1em 0.3em; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.85em; ">? Win Q , now displaying integrated search results. Search charm also no longer can search from within the app directly or display a list of compatible apps. To search for in-app content, the user must first open the app and, if available, use the search feature from within the application's interface.
Windows 8.1 updates improve the Smart Bing Search feature by providing support for natural language questions, which can detect misspellings and display applications or settings relevant to the query. For example, typing "get apps for Windows" will display a shortcut to the Windows Store. The Windows 8.1 update also introduces a visible search button on the Start screen that serves as a shortcut to the Metro style flyout interface.
Login user
Windows 8 introduces a redesigned lock screen interface based on the Metro design language. The lock screen displays customizable background images, current date and time, notifications from apps, and status updates or app updates. Two new login methods optimized for the touch screen are also available, including a four-digit PIN, or "image password", which allows users to use certain gestures made on selected images to enter. This gesture will consider the shape, starting and ending points, and directions. However, the shape and movement are limited to tapping and tracing lines or circles. Microsoft found that restricting movement increased entry speed by three times compared to allowing free form methods. The wrong signal will always reject the login, and it will lock the PC after five failed times, until a text password is given.
Windows 8.1 introduces the ability to display photo slide shows on the lock screen. This feature can display images from local or remote directories, and includes additional options to use photos optimized for the current screen resolution, to disable slideshows while the device is running on battery power, and to display slide show screen locks instead of rotating from the screen after the user's inactive period. The lock screen can also display interactive toast notifications. For example, a user can answer a call or instant message received from a Skype contact, or close an alarm notification from the lock screen. Users can also take photos without closing the lock screen.
Notifications
Windows 8 introduces a new notification form for Metro-style apps and for specific events in File Explorer.
- Notice of toast: notify users about certain events, such as insertion of removable media
- Tiled notifications: show dynamic information on the Start screen, such as weather forecasts and news updates
- Badge notifications: display numerical counter with a value from 1-99 that indicates a particular event, such as the number of unread email messages or the number of updates available for a particular app. Additional information may also be displayed by badge notifications, such as the status of the Xbox Music app.
The PC Setup component includes the option to globally disable all toast notifications, app notifications on the lock screen, or notifications; notifications can also be disabled based on per app. In Setup charm, Windows 8 provides additional options for suppressing toast notifications for 1 hour, 3 hours, or 8 hour time intervals.
Windows 8.1 introduces the Quiet Clock feature, also available on Windows Phone, which allows users to suppress notifications by day time (for example, notifications can be disabled from 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM).
Microsoft account integration
Windows 8 allows users to link profiles with Microsoft accounts to provide additional functionality, such as data synchronization and user settings, including those included on the desktop, and allows integration with other Microsoft services such as Xbox Live, Xbox Music, Xbox Video (for games and multimedia) and online file storage SkyDrive.
Display screen
Windows 8 includes enhanced support for multi-monitor configurations; taskbar can now be optionally displayed on multiple screens, and each screen can also show a special taskbar. In addition, an option is available that can prevent the taskbar button appearing on a particular monitor. Wallpapers can also be displayed on multiple screens, or each screen can have their own separate wallpapers.
Windows 8.1 includes increased support for high-resolution monitors. The desktop scale feature now helps resize items on the desktop to resolve visibility issues on the screen with very high native resolutions. Windows 8.1 also introduces DPI per-display scaling, and provides options for up to 200% scale.
File Explorer
Windows Explorer, which has been renamed to File Explorer, now incorporates a ribbon toolbar, designed to display the most commonly used commands for easy access. The "Rise" button (which prompts the user back level in the folder hierarchy) removed from Explorer after Windows XP has also been restored. In addition, File Explorer has a redesigned preview panel that takes advantage of the widescreen layout. File Explorer also provides built-in functions for installing ISO, IMG, and VHD files as virtual drives. To facilitate the management of files and folders, Windows 8 introduces the ability to move selected files or folders through drag and drop from the parent folder to the subfolders listed in the breadcrumb hierarchy of the address bar in File Explorer.
The progress of windows for file operations has also been redesigned; offers the ability to display multiple operations at once, charts to track transfer rates, and the ability to pause and resume file transfers. The new interface has also been introduced to manage file name collisions in file operations, allowing users to easily control which files conflict is being copied.
Libraries, introduced in Windows 7, can now have their own icons that are changed through the user interface. Previously, the user had to manually change the icon by editing the configuration file. However, Windows 8.1 no longer creates any default libraries for new users, and does not display the Library list in File Explorer by default. In contrast, Windows 8.1 introduces shortcuts to the default user profile folder (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc.) inside the File Explorer location of this PC.
Internet Explorer
Windows 8 ships with Internet Explorer 10, which can run either as a desktop program (where it operates similar to Internet Explorer 9), or as an application with a new full-screen interface optimized for use on the touch screen. Internet Explorer 10 also contains an integrated version of Flash Player, which will be completely available on desktop, and in limited form in the "Metro" app.
Windows 8.1 is shipped with Internet Explorer 11 that includes tab sync, WebGL and SPDY support, along with expanded developer tools. The Metro version also adds access to multiple favorites and split-screen snapping tabs; additional options for always displaying the address bar and tabs are also available. Metro versions can also detect and highlight phone numbers on web pages and turn them into clickable links, when clicked, start a call with a compatible app like Skype.
Task Manager
Windows 8 includes a Task Manager overhaul version, which displays the following changes:
- Task Manager by default to a simple view that only shows a list of computer programs with windows. The expanded view is the latest version of the previous Task Manager with multiple tabs.
- Resource utilization on the Processing tab is displayed using a hot map, in yellow shades that indicate heavier usage.
- The Performance tab is divided into sections of CPU, memory, disk, Ethernet, and wireless network (if any). There is a whole graph for each, and clicking one reaches the details for a specific resource
- The CPU tab no longer displays individual graphs for each logical processor on the system by default. It may display data for each NUMA node.
- The CPU tab displays a simple percentage on the hot mapping tiles to display the utilization for multiple systems with (64 or more, up to 640) logical processors. The colors used for this hot map are blue, with darker colors indicating heavier usage
- Hover over any logical processor graph showing the NUMA node of the processor and its ID.
- The new Startup tab lists the startup program and its impact on boot time. Windows Vista includes features for managing deleted startup applications in Windows 7.
- The Processes tab now lists application names, application status, and overall usage data for CPU, memory, hard disk, and network resources for each process. New options to restart File Explorer in its options are provided.
- Task manager recognizes when the Windows Runtime app is in the "Suspended" state.
- Process information found on the Processes tab of the old Task Manager can be found in the Details tab.
Touch keyboard
Windows 8 introduces a virtual keyboard interface (also known as on-screen) that is optimized for touch-screen devices that span a wider range of keys and is designed to prevent common typing errors that occur when using the touch screen. Pressing and holding the button reveals related keys that can be accessed via press or friction, and suggestions for incomplete words are available. Emoji characters are also supported. Windows 8.1 introduces the ability to swipe the space bar in the desired direction of the suggested word to switch between on-screen suggestions.
Windows 8.1 update introduces a new movement that allows the user to double-tap and hold the second tap to drag and drop highlighted text or object. A visible option to hide or display a virtual keyboard is also available.
Enter password
Windows 8 displays a "peek" button for a password text box that can optionally allow users to see passwords when they are entered to ensure that they are typed correctly. This feature can be disabled through Group Policy.
Infrastructure
File History
File History is a component of ongoing data protection. File History automatically creates additional backups of files stored in the Library, including for users who participate in the HomeGroup, and user-defined folders to different storage devices (such as other internal or external hard drives, Storage Space, or network shares). The specific revisions of the files can then be tracked and restored using the "History" function in File Explorer. File History replaces Backup and Restore and Shadow Copy (known in Windows Explorer as "Previous Version") as the primary backup tool of Windows 8. Unlike Shadow Copy, which does file-level tracking, File History uses USN Journal to track changes, and only copy the revised file to the backup location. Unlike Backup and Restore, File History can not back up files that are encrypted with EFS.
Hardware support
Windows 8 adds native support for USB 3.0, which enables faster data transfer and enhanced power management with compatible devices. This original stack includes support for newer and more efficient USB Attached SCSI (UAS) protocols, which are enabled by default even for USB 2.0 devices, although this must have firmware/hardware support to make use of them. Windows 8.1 improves support for power saving features from USB storage devices, but this addition is not without problems, with some bad hardware that degrades the user experience by hanging and disconnecting.
Support for hard disks Advanced Format without emulation included for the first time.
The Windows port for the ARM architecture is also created for Windows 8. Known as Windows RT, it is specifically optimized for mobile devices like tablets. Windows RTs can only run third-party Windows Store apps, but come with preinstalled versions of Office 2013 that are specifically designed for touch-screen use.
Windows 8.1 improves hardware support with DirectX 11.2.
Installation
Along with existing WinPE-based Windows Setup (which is used for boot-initiated installations from DVD, USB, or network), Upgrade Assistant is offered to provide a simpler and faster process to upgrade to Windows 8 from previous versions of Windows. The program runs a compatibility check to scan device hardware and software for Windows 8 compatibility, and then allows users to purchase, download, create installation media with DVD or USB flash drive and install Windows 8. The new installation process also allows users to transfer data users into a clean Windows installation. Similar programs, labeled as Windows 8 Setup , are used for installations where the user already has a product key.
Windows 8 implements OEM Activation 3.0, which enables Microsoft to redistribute Windows licenses digitally to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Windows 8 devices store product keys directly in the firmware rather than printed on Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) stickers. The new system is designed to prevent OEM product keys from being used on unlicensed computers, and also allows the installer to automatically detect and receive product keys in case of a re-installation.
Windows 8.1 updates add a new installation mode known as "WIMBoot", where WIM images containing the remaining Windows installations are compressed rather than extracted, and the system is configured to use files directly from within the system image. This installation method is primarily designed to reduce the footprint of Windows installations on devices with small amounts of storage. The system image also doubles as a recovery image, speeding up Refresh and Reset operations. It is only supported in systems with Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), where Windows is located on a solid-state drive or eMMC.
Network
Windows 8 combines increased support for mobile broadband as a "first class" internet connectivity method. After insertion of the SIM card, the operating system will automatically determine the user operator and configure the relevant connection settings using the Access Point Name database. The operating system can also monitor the use of cellular data, and change its behavior accordingly to reduce bandwidth usage on the meter network. Operators can also offer their special Windows Store app for account management, which can also be installed automatically as part of the connection process. This function is indicated by the AT & amp; T, which can also display monthly data usage statistics on its live tiles. Windows 8 also reduces the need for third-party drivers and software to deploy mobile broadband by providing generic drivers, and by providing integrated airplane mode options.
Windows 8 supports geolocation. Windows 8.1 adds support for NFC printing, mobile broadband tethering, auto-triggered VPNs, and geofencing.
The Windows 8.1 update provides an option to charm the "Network" setting to show approximate data usage for the selected network, and to set the network as a measurable connection.
Startup
Windows 8 default to "boot boot" mode; when the operating system is shut down, it hibernates the kernel, allowing it to boot faster on the next startup. This fix is ​​further compounded by using all processor cores at startup by default. To make a smoother transition between Power-on self-test and Windows startup process, the manufacturer's logo can now be displayed on the Windows boot screen on UEFI compatible systems.
The Advanced Startup menu now uses a graphical interface with the mouse and touch support instead of the text-based menu used by earlier versions. Because upgrading the boot speed of devices with UEFI can make it difficult to access them using keyboard shortcuts on boot, the menu can now be launched from within Windows - using the PC Settings app, holding Shift when you click the Restart option in the Power menu, or by using a new "-o" switch on shutdown.exe. although the legacy version of the Advanced Startup menu can still be enabled.
UEFI firmware can be exposed to Windows through the class driver. The updated firmware capsule can be distributed as an update to this "driver" in packets signed with INF files and security catalogs, similar to those for other devices. When the "driver" is installed, Windows prepares an update to install on the next boot, and Windows Boot Manager provides status information on the device boot screen.
Video subsystem
Windows 8 includes WDDM 1.2 and DirectX Graphics Infrastructure (DXGI) 1.2. Desktop Window Manager now runs all the time (even on systems with unsupported graphics cards where DWM now also supports rendering software), and now also includes support for stereoscopic 3D content.
Other key features include preemptive multitasking with finer details (DMA buffers, primitives, triangles, pixels, or instruction levels), reducing memory footprint, increasing resource sharing, and improving detection and recovery timeouts. The 16-bit color surface format (565, 5551, 4444) is mandatory in Windows 8, and Direct3D 11 Video supports the video format YUV 4: 4: 4/4: 2: 2/4: 2: 0/4: 1: 1 with 8, 10, and 16-bit precision, as well as 4 and 8-bit palette formats.
Windows 8.1 introduces WDDM 1.3 and adds support for Miracast, which allows wireless or wired delivery of standard or high-definition video compressed to or from desktops, tablets, phones, and other devices.
Windows 8 adds support for architectural versions of printer drivers 4. It adds a Metro-friendly interface as well as changes to the way the architecture is written.
Windows 8.1 adds support for Wi-Fi direct printing, NFC printing, and native APIs for 3D printing through XML-based 3D Manufacturing Format (3MF).
Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, which consists of command line shell and related scripting language built on the.NET Framework. PowerShell provides full access to COM and WMI, allowing administrators to perform administrative tasks on local and remote Windows systems. Windows 8 includes Windows PowerShell v3.0. Windows 8.1 comes with Windows PowerShell v4.0 featuring a number of new commands for managing the Start screen, Windows Defender, Windows components, hardware and networking.
Windows To Go
Windows To Go is an exclusive feature for the Enterprise version of Windows 8 that allows organizations to provide bootable USB flash drives with Windows installations, enabling users to access their managed environment on a compatible PC. Windows 8.1 updates this feature to enable booting from USB composite devices with smart card storage and functionality.
Maintenance
The Action Center introduced in Windows 7 is expanded to include controls and notifications for new categories, such as SmartScreen status, drive health status, File History, device software updates, and new Auto Maintenance features, which can periodically perform some maintenance tasks, such as diagnostics , updates, and malware scans to improve system performance.
The PC Settings application in Windows 8 can be used to interact with Windows Update, although the traditional interface of the Control Panel is maintained. Windows 8 is able to distribute firmware updates on compatible devices and can be configured not to download Windows updates automatically over the network being measured. A new set of Windows PowerShell cmdlets enables the addition or deletion of Windows features, such as the Programs and Features applet in the Control Panel. The Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Deployment utility in Windows 8 includes all the features previously available in ImageX and is able to periodically check for corruption and repair component stores. It can report the amount of disk space used by the WinSxS folder and can also determine whether the cleaning should be done.
Windows 8 can now detect when a system has problems that prevent the system from functioning properly, and automatically launch the Advanced Startup menu to access diagnostic and repair functions.
For system recovery, Windows 8 introduces a new function known collectively as the "Reset push button", which lets users reinstall Windows without the need to use the installation media. This feature consists of "Reset" and "Refresh" functions, accessible from within the advanced boot options menu and PC Settings. Both of these options reboot the system into the Windows Recovery Environment to perform the requested operation; Refresh retains user profiles, settings, and Windows Store apps, while Reset performs a clean Windows installation. The reset function can also perform disk wipe and special formatting procedures for additional security. Both operations will remove all installed desktop applications from the system. Users can also create special disk images for use with Refresh and Reset.
Security
Biometric
Windows 8 introduces virtual smart card support. Smart card digital certificates can be saved to a user's computer and protected by the Trusted Platform Module, thus eliminating the user's need to physically insert a smart card, even if entering a PIN is still required. Virtual smart card support enables new two-factor authentication scenarios. Windows 8.1 enhances this functionality by simplifying the device registration process for virtual smart cards and introducing additional virtual card functionality for Metro-style applications, as well as registration and management features through the WinRT API.
In Windows RT, logging in with a Microsoft account automatically enables passive device encryption, a limited version of BitLocker that encrypts mobile device content seamlessly to protect its content. In Windows 8.1, device encryption is also available for x86-based Windows devices, which automatically encrypts user data as soon as the operating system is configured. When a user signs in with a Microsoft account or on a supported Active Directory network, a recovery key is created and saved directly to the user's account. Unlike BitLocker, device encryption on x86-based devices requires that the device meet the Standby Connected specification (which, among other requirements, requires the device to use solid state storage and has RAM soldered directly to the motherboard) and has the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip.
Device lock
Windows 8.1 introduces Assigned Access, formerly called Kiosk mode, which restricts Windows devices to run predefined Metro-style apps.
Windows 8.1 is scheduled to include a Provable PC Health feature that will allow the owner of the subject device to connect to the network for remote PC analysis. Under Provable PC Health, connected devices will periodically send a variety of configuration-related information to the cloud service, which will provide suggestions for remediation after detecting a problem. However, the feature was dropped before the general availability of the operating system.
Family Security
Windows 8 integrates Windows Live Family Safety into the operating system, enabling parents to restrict user activity through web filtering, application restrictions, and time limits on computer use. The parental control function, introduced in Windows Vista, was previously partially removed in Windows 7 and part of Windows Live Family Safety. An important change in Family Safety is that administrators can now set a time period for computer use. For example, administrators can restrict user accounts so they can only stay logged in for an hour-long total. In older versions of Windows, administrators can only limit accounts based on the time of day.
Security startup
Windows 8 introduces four new features to offer security during the startup process: UEFI secure boot, Trusted Boot, Measured Boot, and Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM).
Of the four, safe booting is not the original feature of Windows 8; it is part of UEFI. It uses the public key infrastructure process and private key provided by the operating system vendor to verify the integrity boot loader, preventing malware from infecting the system before the operating system loads. Prior to the release of Windows 8, Microsoft announced that certified computers had to ship with a Microsoft private key in their UEFI database and with secure boot enabled. However, after the announcement, the company was accused by critics and supporters of free and open source software (including the Free Software Foundation) to try to use secure boot to block or directly prevent the installation of alternative operating systems such as Linux. Microsoft denies that a secure booting requirement is intended to serve as a locking and clarify form that an x86 certified system (but not an ARM system) must allow secure boot to enter custom mode or be disabled.
Trusted Boot is a Windows boot loader feature and ensures the integrity of all Microsoft components loaded into memory, including ELAM, which was last loaded. ELAM ensures that all third party boot drivers are reliable; they are not loaded if ELAM check fails. ELAM can use Windows Defender or a compatible third-party antivirus. During the Build 2011 conference in Anaheim, California, Microsoft showed a Windows 8 machine that could prevent infected USB flash memory from compromising the boot process.
The Measured Boot can prove the state of the client machine by sending details about its configuration to the remote machine. This feature depends on the authentication feature of the Trusted Platform Module and is designed to verify the integrity of the client boot.
Windows Binary Table Platform
The Windows Binary Table Platform allows executable files to be stored in UEFI firmware for execution at startup. Microsoft claims that this feature is intended to "allow essential software to survive even when the operating system has changed or been reinstalled in a 'clean' configuration"; in particular, anti-theft security software, but also has been misused, including by Lenovo with their "Lenovo Service Engine" feature.
Windows Defender
Windows 8 includes an updated Windows Defender, an antivirus program that defends the system against various malware including computer viruses, computer worms and spyware. Windows 8.1 adds to the network inspection system (NIS), network intrusion detection system. This feature has been present at Microsoft Security Essentials since July 2010.
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Source of the article : Wikipedia
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