Latest in windows 8

Whether you're limited to Modern UI or just contemplating its general usefulness, you need really good apps to help you take advantage of it. The Windows 8 Store has been growing by leaps and bounds, and it's now possible to find a great selection of Modern apps. From news apps to email apps, there's almost nothing that isn't available for the Modern UI. But how do these apps compare to their desktop predecessors? Are they really worth the trouble? Turns out they are.
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Logging into your Windows 8 computers with a Microsoft account enables access to the Windows Store and other Modern apps, but it's also used to sync Windows 8 settings with the Cloud. Your settings will be synced between all your Windows 8 computers and tablets, or backed up with your Microsoft account. Syncing is enabled by default. However, you can choose to disable sync entirely or sync only certain types of settings between your computers and tablets.
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Is Windows 8 a failure? People who dislike Windows 8 generally say it is. But has Windows 8 really failed in the marketplace, or do we just think Windows 8 has failed? One thing's for sure: Windows 8 definitely hasn't succeeded in the short term. However, Microsoft is playing the long game with Windows 8 -- they're laying the groundwork for future success. Whether they'll succeed is unclear, but Windows 8 hasn't failed yet -- it's preparing for the battle to come.
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When I became the proud owner of a Nokia Lumia 920, I was delighted to learn that I would be the lucky beneficiary of a free wireless charging pad, apparently worth about £100. Although there were a few hoops to jump through, the pad eventually came a few weeks later, enabling me to simply put my phone down to charge it, rather than struggle working out which way the USB cable connects to my phone.
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If you discover that Windows 8 isn't quite your cup of tea, and you have no feasible path to downgrade, it may be a good idea to dual boot with Linux to have an alternative operating system you can use. For most people, using Ubuntu is an excellent choice because of its popularity, software selection, hardware support, and ease of use. However, if you want to dual-boot, you need to do a few things before you’re ready to enjoy your Linux installation.
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To tile or not to tile? One of the most divisive elements of Windows 8 is the Start screen's tiles. These square or rectangle-shaped buttons are effectively shortcuts to launching apps, and are often displaying additional data about the app they represent. This makes them vital, whatever you might think of them, and far superior to shortcut tiles. There are several very easy to use apps and utilities that can be used to create aesthetic and functional Windows 8 Start screen tiles.
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If it's about time you purchase a new computer, that computer is probably going to come with Windows 8. Microsoft hasn't included a tutorial with Windows 8 -- aside from the cryptic "move your mouse into any corner" line -- so you'll need to do a bit of research to get up to speed with the latest version of Windows. Most users agree the key to getting along with Windows 8 is ignoring as much of the new interface as possible. Start with finding the desktop.
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Microsoft removed a variety of features from Windows 8. Many of them aren't great losses to most people, but they are if you depended on them. Luckily, Windows 8 isn't yet a locked-down mobile operating system, no matter how hard Microsoft is trying to make it into one. Most important features can be restored with high-quality alternatives, but replacements for other features are nowhere near as polished as Microsoft has removed the necessary theming code.
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So you’ve installed Windows 8. You’ve figured out how to get your favorite desktop programs working, and now you’re wondering what the Metro environment has to offer. Say what you will about the new Windows 8 Metro interface – called “Modern” by Microsoft – but one thing it’s done is create an ecosystem of apps. [...]
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We sometimes forget with all the focus on Windows 8's new "Modern" interface, but Windows 8 has a variety of great desktop improvements. One of them is File History, a built-in backup feature that functions similarly to Apple's much-loved Time Machine. Enable File History and Windows will automatically back up your files to an external or network drive. You'll be able to restore previous versions from these backups.
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You insert a DVD into your Windows 8 computer – you want to watch a movie. Nothing happens. You try opening Windows Media Player. It can't play the disk. What's going on with Windows 8 and DVDs? And for that matter, Blu-ray discs? You're not the first person to ask this, and you won't be the last. The answer, basically, is that Windows 8 cannot play DVDs or Blu-Ray disks out of the box.
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What's up with user accounts in Windows 8? It's not complicated - Microsoft wants everyone to use an online account to sign into their desktop operating system. Sure, they offer an offline equivalent, but they also made a few features available only to online accounts – the entire app store, for example. It's clear Microsoft would rather you use an online account, regardless of what you yourself would prefer.
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Windows 8 uses a new "hybrid boot" feature to improve boot times. When you shut down, your computer doesn't actually shut down normally - it performs a sort of limited "hibernate" that stores a state with drivers, services, and other software loaded into memory. When your computer boots, it doesn't need to reinitialize all your hardware, load drivers, and load services - it simply loads the state from your hard drive and continues the boot-up process.
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Over the past few months I've been getting to grips with Windows 8 in its most ideal format, on a touchscreen device. The experience has been largely favorable, although as far as the new Metro/Modern UI goes, I tend to restrict its use to the tablet display while enjoying traditional computing through an external monitor. This setup works for me, enabling me to get on with work while able to quickly check news, weather or listen to the radio.
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Windows has always had an active community of enthusiasts who customize everything about it, including its desktop theme. Although Microsoft tries to prevent this, Windows 8's desktop can be themed just like Windows 7's. We've covered tweaking your Windows 8 PC's appearance before, but you can go much farther than just changing the desktop theme's colors.
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