Windows 8 Features
Windows 8 was launched with numerous new
features. This new version of Windows was built for touchscreen devices and
offers enhanced cloud computing capabilities. Here are some of the main
features of this new OS. Learn more about the Start screen, Cortana, Slide to
shut down, and more. The new OS offers a plethora of new features and is well
worth checking out.
Start
screen
The Start screen in Windows 8 is the new way to
navigate the PC. It replaces the old Start menu and features shortcuts to
programs and applications displayed in tiles. Although not all of them are
visible at first glance, the user can access all of them by swiping up from the
bottom edge of the screen or by right-clicking on the background. The Start
screen is also easily accessible by pressing the Windows key.
The Start screen allows the user to easily
access the programs and tasks that are most important to them. It's also
customizable, allowing the user to arrange the tiles in a way that best suits
their needs. For example, they can use a tile to display the weather in
real-time, while another tile shows the number of unread messages in the email
client.
In Windows 8, the Start screen can be
customized by renaming groups and relocating them. Another change is the new
down arrow button at the top-left corner of the Start screen. This button will
appear always when the user is using a touch-enabled device, while on
non-touch-enabled devices, it will appear only when the mouse cursor is in the
left-hand corner.
Another change in the Start screen is the
ability to rename individual app tiles. Users can name app tile groups, such as
the one for Microsoft Office. They can also reorder app tiles by clicking the
minus button on the right-hand side of the options bar. The "Name
group" box is displayed above each tile group.
The Start screen of Windows 8 is designed for
touchscreens. The app switcher and Charms bar is located on the edges of the
Start screen, where the thumbs will naturally be positioned when the tablet is
held.
Cortana
Cortana is a voice assistant that works with
Windows 8. The assistant is built into Windows and responds to natural
language. It can help with a variety of tasks, such as setting reminders,
planning calendar events, and even calculating math problems. Users can control
access to Cortana, including managing which settings are visible to them. Users
can activate Cortana by saying, "Hey, Cortana."
Cortana can be activated in the Windows 8
settings by clicking on the bottom right part of the screen, labeled
"Next." You can also ask Cortana to perform a search for you, and you
can also activate notifications through the virtual assistant. You can open
apps, take notes, and search for files using Cortana without using the search
bar. Be aware that Cortana uses Bing, so you won't be able to use Google's
search bar with Cortana.
Cortana is also compatible with Windows 8.1. If
you have an iPhone, you can download Cortana from the App Store. Alternatively,
you can download the app from Microsoft's website. However, you need to have an
account to use the program. However, the trial version of the software is free.
You can limit the amount of data that Cortana
collects. You can do this by changing the settings for "Cortana" in
the "Cortana" panel. The panel includes toggles and a section for
adjusting cloud settings. Click on the "Personal Information" page to
view the information that Cortana has access to.
Windows 8 users who want to use Cortana should
update to Windows 10 as soon as possible. To update your Windows 8 computer to
Windows 10, you need to sign in to the Start Menu and navigate to Control
Panel. In the Control Panel, click on the Windows Update link and select
"Check for updates." After that, press the Update button and wait for
it to download. You can choose when to complete the update, or you can
reschedule it for a later date.
Improved
search
One of the new features in Windows 8 is
improved search. Unlike Windows 7, where users can only search for applications
from the Start menu, the search in Windows 8 can be adjusted to be more
app-specific. For example, users can change the search settings to search
within a folder or a mobile app.
Another new feature in Windows 8 is File
Explorer. It is similar to the Windows Explorer tool in previous editions of
Windows. The File Explorer has a built-in search function. However, it will
only search within the folder or location you're currently in. The Windows
Explorer search feature will not search system-wide.
Users can also search within Metro-style apps
with the new search functionality. Previously, searching within the Start Menu
was not as effective as the search functionality in Windows 8 or Windows 7. The
search functionality in Windows 8 is stronger and displays matching files and
apps instantly. If you are looking for a specific app, you can type the name
into the search bar to find it.
Another useful feature is the ability to save
searches as files. Searches are saved to your computer and can be accessed by
double-clicking them. This feature also has an additional feature where users
can search by type. For example, users can type "size:" without
quotes to find a file in the folder they're looking for. Alternatively, users
can search using folders by typed names or file properties.
Windows 8 also has a new feature called Windows
Desktop Search. It can be accessed using the Windows Taskbar mounted Deskbar or
by using the Win+ Shift+F keyboard shortcut. This feature offers a text field
to type a query and results in a flyout pane. This feature is also integrated
as a Windows Explorer window. It displays a preview of the file selected. In
addition, users can use the Search charm to narrow down their searches.
Slide
to shut down feature
If you have a Windows 8.1 PC, you can use the
Slide to Shut Down feature to shut your system quickly. It's a prebuilt feature
of Windows 8.1 that's hidden away in the System32 folder. Using this feature
will allow you to shut down your system with a single click.
To use the Slide to Shut Down feature, you need
to create a shortcut to it in your taskbar. To do this, right-click the icon
and select "Change icon." Next, you need to choose an icon. Choose an
icon and click OK. The shortcut icon will change to a different one and can be
dragged to the taskbar.
You can also use the lock screen to shut down
your PC quickly. Simply drag the lock screen down and press the Enter key. The
slide-to-shut-down feature works best on touchscreen devices. If you're using a
mouse, you can also use the lock screen to slide the screen down.
The Slide to Shut Down feature can be used from
the Taskbar or the Start Menu. In Windows 10, you can access Slide to ShutDown
by creating a shortcut to it. Alternatively, you can use a keyboard shortcut
for the feature to launch it from your keyboard. If you're running Windows 10,
you can also use the same shortcut to shut down your computer with a single
click.
Slide to Shut Down is similar to the
traditional Shut command in Windows. In order to close Windows, you must slide
the upper part of the screen downward. However, you have to make sure that you
don't accidentally click the upper part of the screen, or else Windows will
start shutting itself down.
App
Locker
App Locker is a security solution available for
Windows. It can block applications from running on your PC. However, it will
still allow previously blocked applications to run on your computer if you
disable its Application Identity services. You can test App Locker rules by
running applications that have been blocked by the security solution. If they
fail to run on your PC, a warning event will appear in the App Locker logs.
You can enable or disable App Locker by
changing the settings in your Computer Configuration. This will allow you to
control which applications are available on your PC and on which you can block
them. You can also manage the applications you can install through App Locker.
This security solution has several benefits and can be a good solution for your
Windows computer.
Firstly, App Locker will prevent you from
running outdated or unlicensed applications. In addition, it will block
applications that are a security risk, a time-waster, or a productivity drain.
It also allows you to whitelist apps and restrict their use. App Locker can be
managed with PowerShell.
Lastly, you can create rules to set App Locker
restrictions. This can be done for Windows applications, Windows installers,
and Scripts. You can also create rules for Windows Store-packaged applications.
If you're using Windows Server 2003 or 2008, you'll need a domain controller to
enable App Locker.