80-410: PC Tools may refer to: PC Tools (company) , a security software company, best known for Spyware Doctor PC Tools (magazine) , a UK-based computer magazine PC Tools (software) , a collection of software utilities for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
160-466: A Microsoft account , which can be used to access services and synchronize applications and settings between multiple devices. A client app for Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service allows apps to save files directly to SkyDrive. However, a SkyDrive client for the desktop and File Explorer is not included in Windows 8, and must be downloaded separately. Bundled multimedia apps are provided under
240-511: A ribbon in place of the command bar. File operation dialog boxes have been updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files. A new "File History" function allows incremental revisions of files to be backed up to and restored from a secondary storage device, while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on
320-473: A sandboxed environment , and require permissions to use certain other functionalities, such as accessing the Internet or a camera. Retail variants of Windows 8 are only able to install these apps through Windows Store – a namesake distribution platform that offers both apps, and listings for desktop programs certified for comparability with Windows 8. A method to sideload apps from outside Windows Store
400-695: A "General Availability Cumulative Update" (which included fixes to improve performance, compatibility, and battery life) was released on Tuesday , October 9, 2012. Microsoft stated that due to improvements to its testing infrastructure, general improvements of this nature were to be released more frequently through Windows Update instead of being relegated to OEMs and service packs only. Microsoft began an advertising campaign centered around Windows 8 and its Surface tablet in October 2012, starting with its first television advertisement premiering on October 14, 2012. The advertising budget of US$ 1.5–1.8 billion
480-562: A 720p webcam and higher quality speakers and microphones, while all certified devices that support Wi-Fi must support Bluetooth as well. As of 2015, all certified devices must contain Trusted Platform Module 2.0 chips. Windows 8 is available in three different editions, of which only the base edition, branded simply as Windows 8 , and Windows 8 Pro , were sold at retail in most countries, and as pre-loaded software on new computers. Each edition of Windows 8 includes all of
560-461: A Control Panel applet called "Windows 7 File Recovery". Shadow Copy , a component of Windows Explorer that once saved previous versions of changed files, no longer protects local files and folders. It can only access previous versions of shared files stored on a Windows Server computer. The subsystem on which these components worked, however, is still available for other software to use. Support for older XPDM and VGA display adapter drivers
640-706: A Metro-style web browser in the same package as the desktop variant, which has access to functionality unavailable to other apps, such as being able to permanently run in the background, use multiple background processes, and use Windows API code instead of WinRT (allowing for code to be re-used with the desktop variant, while still taking advantage of features available to Windows Store apps, such as charms). Microsoft advertises this exception privilege "New experience enabled" (formerly "Metro-style enabled"). The developers of both Chrome and Firefox committed to developing Metro-style variants of their browsers; while Chrome's "Windows 8 mode" (discontinued on Chrome version 49) uses
720-479: A character known in English-speaking markets as "Allison Brown", whose fictional profile (including personal photos, contacts, and emails) was featured on in-store demo units of Windows 8 devices. In May 2013, Microsoft launched a new television campaign for Windows 8 illustrating the capabilities and pricing of Windows 8 tablets in comparison to the iPad , which featured the voice of Siri remarking on
800-438: A customizable array of tiles linking to various apps and desktop programs, some of which can display constantly updated information and content through "live tiles". As a form of multi-tasking , apps can be snapped to the side of a screen. Alongside the traditional Control Panel , a new simplified and touch-optimized settings app known as "PC Settings" is used for basic configuration and user settings. It does not include many of
880-506: A folder-by-folder basis. For easier management of files and folders, Windows 8 introduces the ability to move selected files or folders via drag and drop from a parent folder into a subfolder listed within the breadcrumb hierarchy of the address bar in File Explorer. Task Manager has been redesigned, including a new processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running applications and background processes,
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#1732793929409960-581: A full-screen version of the existing desktop interface, Firefox's variant (which was first made available on the "Aurora" release channel in September 2013) uses a touch-optimized interface inspired by the Android variant of Firefox . In October 2013, Chrome's app was changed to mimic the desktop environment used by ChromeOS . Development of the Firefox app for Windows 8 has since been cancelled, citing
1040-652: A heat map using different colors indicating the level of resource usage, network and disk counters, grouping by process type (e.g. applications, background processes and Windows processes), friendly names for processes and a new option which allows users to search the web to find information about obscure processes. Additionally, the Blue Screen of Death has been updated with a simpler and modern design with less technical information displayed. New security features in Windows 8 include two new authentication methods tailored towards touchscreens ( PINs and picture passwords),
1120-458: A keyboard and mouse rather than a touchscreen. Despite these shortcomings, 60 million licenses were sold through January 2013, including upgrades and sales to OEMs for new PCs. Windows 8 was succeeded by Windows 8.1 in October 2013, which addressed some aspects of Windows 8 that were criticized by reviewers and early adopters and also incorporated various improvements. Support for RTM editions of Windows 8 ended on January 12, 2016, and with
1200-446: A lack of user adoption of the beta versions. Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system's user interface, many of which are aimed at improving its experience on tablet computers and other touchscreen devices. The new user interface is based on Microsoft's Metro design language and uses a Start screen similar to that of Windows Phone 7 as the primary means of launching applications. The Start screen displays
1280-689: A launch promotion, Microsoft offered Windows 8 Pro upgrades at a discounted price of US$ 39.99 online, or $ 69.99 for a retail box; afterward the Windows 8 price has been $ 119.99 and the Pro price $ 199.99. Those who purchased new PCs pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013, could digitally purchase a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for US$ 14.99. Several PC manufacturers offered rebates and refunds on Windows 8 upgrades obtained through promotions on select models, such as those of Hewlett-Packard (in
1360-494: A mobile broadband device is integrated into a tablet or convertible system, then an assisted GPS radio is required. Devices supporting near field communication need to have visual marks to help users locate and use the proximity technology. The new interrupt button combination, to replace Ctrl + Alt + Del , is Windows Key + Power. Updated certification requirements were implemented to coincide with Windows 8.1. As of 2014, all certified devices with integrated displays must contain
1440-464: A new application framework for Windows 8 codenamed "Jupiter", which would be used to make "immersive" applications using XAML (similarly to Windows Phone and Silverlight ) that could be distributed via a new packaging system and a rumored application store . The earliest available build of Windows 8 is build 7700, compiled in January 2010. The build was almost identical to Windows 7 except for
1520-521: A new set of APIs known as Windows Runtime , which supports programming languages such as C , C++ , Visual Basic .NET , C# , along with HTML5 and JavaScript . If written in some "high-level" languages, apps written for Windows Runtime can be compatible with both Intel and ARM variants of Windows, otherwise they are not binary code compatible . Components may be compiled as Windows Runtime Components, permitting their use by all compatible languages. To ensure stability and security, apps run within
1600-484: A part of the connection process and offer usage statistics on their respective tile. Windows 8 introduces a new style of application, Windows Store apps . According to Microsoft developer Jensen Harris, these apps are optimized for touchscreen environments and are more specialized than current desktop applications . Apps can run either in a full-screen mode or be snapped to the side of a screen. Apps can provide toast notifications on screen or animate their tiles on
1680-529: A public build since its debut on Windows 95 ; according to Windows manager Chaitanya Sareen, the Start button was removed to reflect their view that on Windows 8, the desktop was an app itself, and not the primary interface of the operating system. Windows president Steven Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer version went public. The day after its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview had been downloaded over one million times. Like
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#17327939294091760-453: A single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices are hidden or removed, leaving the display as the only input mechanism. On March 12, 2013, Microsoft amended its certification requirements to only require that screens on tablets have a minimum resolution of 1024×768 (down from the previous 1366×768). The amended requirement is intended to allow "greater design flexibility" for future products. If
1840-702: A smaller blacklist of sites with known compatibility issues instead, allowing Flash to be used with most sites by default. The desktop variant does not contain these limitations. Windows 8 also incorporates improved support for mobile broadband ; the operating system can now detect the insertion of a SIM card and automatically configure connection settings (including APNs and carrier branding), and reduce its Internet usage to conserve bandwidth on metered networks . An integrated airplane mode setting enables users to globally disable all wireless connectivity. Carriers can also offer account management systems through Windows Store apps, which can be automatically installed as
1920-696: A touch-optimized Windows shell and start screen based on Microsoft's Metro design language, integration with online services, the Windows Store , and a new keyboard shortcut for screenshots . Many of these features were adapted from Windows Phone . Windows 8 also added support for USB 3.0 , Advanced Format , near-field communication , and cloud computing , as well as a new lock screen with clock and notifications. Additional security features—including built-in antivirus software , integration with Microsoft SmartScreen phishing filtering, and support for Secure Boot on supported devices—were introduced. It
2000-408: Is accessed via a tile on the Start screen. The Start button on the taskbar from previous versions of Windows has been converted into a hotspot (or "hot corner") in the lower-left corner of the screen, which displays a large tooltip displaying a thumbnail of the Start screen. Windows 8.1 added the start button back to the taskbar after many complaints, but removed the preview thumbnail. Swiping from
2080-511: Is available as "full version software" as both a packaged DVD and online for download, and does not require a previous version of Windows in order to be installed. Pricing for these new copies remains identical with that of Windows 8. With the retail release of Windows 8.1 returning to being full version software, the "Personal Use License" exemption was removed from the OEM SKU, meaning that end users building their own PCs for personal use must use
2160-471: Is available to devices running Windows 8 Enterprise and joined to a domain ; Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT devices that are not part of a domain can also sideload apps, but only after special product keys are obtained through volume licensing. The term "Immersive app" had been used internally by Microsoft developers to refer to the apps prior to the first official presentation of Windows 8, after which they were referred to as "Metro-style apps" in reference to
2240-763: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages PC Tools (company) PC Tools (formerly known as WinGuides ) was a software company founded in 2003 and acquired by Symantec in 2008; the new owner eventually discontinued the PC Tools name. Company headquarters were in Australia, with offices in Luxembourg, the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Ukraine. The company had previously developed and distributed security and optimization software for
2320-463: Is free antivirus software for Intel based Apple Macintosh computers running Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) and Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) initially released in June 2008, used to detect and remove malware , spyware and malicious exploits , using both signature-based and heuristic detection. AntiVirus was criticized because it only scans for Macintosh viruses, ignoring Windows and Linux viruses. It
2400-585: Is included as two variants – a desktop program and a touch-optimized app. It also includes increased support for HTML5 , CSS3 , and hardware acceleration . The app does not support plugins or ActiveX components, but includes a variant of Adobe Flash Player that is optimized for touch and low-power usage. Initially, Adobe Flash would only work on sites included on a "Compatibility View" whitelist ; however, after feedback from users and additional compatibility tests, an update in March 2013 changed this behavior to use
2480-435: Is only available through volume licensing . A port of Windows 8 for ARM architecture , Windows RT , is marketed as an edition of Windows 8, but was only included as pre-loaded software on devices specifically developed for it. Windows 8 was distributed as a retail box product on DVD , and through a digital download that could be converted into DVD or USB install media. From its launch until January 31, 2013, as part of
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2560-495: Is similar to that of Windows 7 . Several notable features were removed in Windows 8; support for playing DVD-Video was removed from Windows Media Player due to the cost of licensing the necessary decoders (especially for devices which do not include optical disc drives at all) and the prevalence of online streaming services. For the same reasons, Windows Media Center is not included by default on Windows 8, but Windows Media Center and DVD playback support could be purchased in
2640-528: The Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows platforms. By 29 November 2006 software owned by PC Tools had been downloaded over 125 million times. PC Tools Browser Defender, also called Browser Defender for short, is a browser toolbar for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers on Windows based computers. Browser Defender allows for safe web surfing. iAntivirus was updated in 2012 and rebranded under Symantec 's Norton brand. PC Tools iAntiVirus
2720-553: The Metro design language . The term was phased out in August 2012; a Microsoft spokesperson denied rumors that the change was related to a potential trademark issue, and stated that "Metro" was only a codename that would be replaced prior to Windows 8's release. Following these reports, the terms "Modern UI-style apps", "Windows 8-style apps", and "Windows Store apps" began to be used in various Microsoft documents and material to refer to
2800-434: The "Pro Pack" (which upgrades the system to Windows 8 Pro) or the "Media Center Pack" add-on for Windows 8 Pro. As with prior versions, third-party DVD player software can still be used to enable DVD playback. Backup and Restore , the backup component of Windows, was deprecated . It still shipped with Windows 8 and continues to work on preset schedules, but it was pushed to the background and can only be accessed through
2880-538: The Developer Preview, the Consumer Preview expired on January 15, 2013. Many other builds may exist or were released until Japan's Developers Day conference when Sinofsky announced that Windows 8 Release Preview (build 8400) would be released during the first week of June. On May 28, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview (Standard Simplified Chinese x64 edition, not China-specific variant, build 8400)
2960-602: The Release Preview to the final version. These included updated versions of bundled apps, the renaming of Windows Explorer to File Explorer, the replacement of the Aero Glass theme from Windows Vista and 7 with a new flat and solid-color theme as seen in build 8432, and the addition of new background options for the Start screen, lock screen, and desktop. Prior to its general availability on October 26, 2012, updates were released for some of Windows 8's bundled apps, and
3040-507: The Skylake support policy until the end of support for Windows 7 and 8.1 (2020 and 2023, respectively). Microsoft released minimum hardware requirements for tablet and laplet devices to be "certified" for Windows 8 and defined a convertible form factor as a standalone device that combines the PC, display, and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in
3120-612: The Start screen with dynamic content. Apps can use "contracts"; a collection of hooks to provide common functionality that can integrate with other apps, including search and sharing. Apps can also provide integration with other services; for example, the People app can connect to a variety of different social networks and services (such as Facebook, Skype , and People service ), while the Photos app can aggregate photos from services such as Facebook and Flickr. Windows Store apps run within
3200-525: The U.S. and Canada on select models) and Acer (in Europe on selected Ultrabook models). During these promotions, the Windows Media Center add-on for Windows 8 Pro was also offered for free. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 was distributed at retail only under "Upgrade" licenses, which require an onboard version of Windows to install. The "full version software" SKU, which
3280-420: The United States and Canada into a Windows-branded store-within-a-store that would showcase Microsoft products, services, and Windows devices. New features and functionality in Windows 8 include a faster startup through UEFI integration and the new "Hybrid Boot" mode (which hibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the subsequent boot), a new lock screen with a clock and notifications, and
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3360-452: The Windows logo was changed to resemble a set of four window panes. Additionally, the entire logo is now rendered in a single solid color. On February 29, 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the beta version of Windows 8, build 8250. Alongside other changes, the build brought over the big change from build 8195: removing the Start button from the taskbar for the first time in
3440-568: The Xbox brand, including Xbox Music , Xbox Video , and the Xbox SmartGlass companion for use with an Xbox 360 console. Games can integrate into an Xbox Live hub app, which also allows users to view their profile and Gamerscore . Other bundled apps provide the ability to link Flickr and Facebook . Due to Facebook Connect service changes, Facebook support is disabled in all bundled apps effective June 8, 2015. Internet Explorer 10
3520-488: The ability for enterprise users to create live USB variants of Windows (also known as Windows To Go ). It also includes native support for USB 3 devices, which allow for faster data transfers and improved power management with compatible devices, and hard disk 4KB Advanced Format support, as well as support for near field communication to facilitate sharing and communication between devices. Windows Explorer , which has been renamed to File Explorer, now includes
3600-671: The above minimum specifications. Included in this standard are a number of security-specific requirements designed to improve physical security , notably against Cold Boot Attacks . 32-bit SKUs of Windows 8 only support a maximum of 4 GB of RAM. 64-bit SKUs, however, support more: Windows 8 x64 supports 128 GB while Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise x64 support 512 GB. In January 2016, Microsoft announced that, effective July 17, 2018, it would no longer support Windows 8.1 or 7 on devices using Intel's Skylake CPU family, and that all future CPU microarchitectures, as well as Skylake systems after this date, would only be supported on Windows 10 . After
3680-554: The actions of malware in a fully automated mode. As of March 2015 the latest version was beta version 1.0.1.0 of 1 March 2008. There have been no updates since March 2008, and the Web site seems inactive. On 18 August 2008, Symantec announced the signing of an agreement to acquire PC Tools such that PC Tools would maintain separate operations. The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Symantec acquired PC Tools for US$ 262,000,000 on 6 October 2008. Symantec withdrew
3760-409: The addition of antivirus capabilities to Windows Defender (bringing it in parity with Microsoft Security Essentials ). SmartScreen filtering integrated into Windows, Family Safety offers parental controls , which allows parents to monitor and manage their children's activities on a device with activity reports and safety controls. Windows 8 also provides integrated system recovery through
3840-544: The advanced options still accessible from the Control Panel. A vertical toolbar known as the charms (accessed by swiping from the right edge of a touchscreen, swiping from the right edge of a touchpad, or pointing the cursor at hotspots in the right corners of a screen) provides access to system and app-related functions, such as search, sharing, device management, settings, and a Start button. The traditional desktop environment for running desktop applications
3920-556: The capabilities and features of the edition preceding it, and add additional features oriented towards their market segments. For example, Pro added BitLocker , Hyper-V , the ability to join a domain , and the ability to install Windows Media Center as a paid add-on. Users of Windows 8 can purchase a "Pro Pack" license that upgrades their system to Windows 8 Pro through Add features to Windows . This license also includes Windows Media Center. Windows 8 Enterprise contains additional features aimed towards business environments, and
4000-399: The company rewrote from scratch, received some negative commentary. CNET's Download.com reviews , justifies the 3-star rating by saying, "in our trial scans, Spyware Doctor repeatedly flagged several dozen harmless cookies as potential threats, more than any other antispyware product we tested. We were also unable to learn more about each threat or why Spyware Doctor flagged each." Symantec
4080-586: The deadline, only critical security updates would be released for users on these platforms. When this new policy faced criticism from users and enterprise customers, Microsoft partially retracted the change and stated that both operating systems would remain supported on Skylake hardware through the end of their extended-support lifecycle. Windows 8.1 remains officially unsupported on all newer CPU families, and neither AMD or Intel will provide official chipset drivers for Windows operating systems other than Windows 10. However, in August 2016, Microsoft again extended
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#17327939294094160-416: The device's boot process. Some pre-built devices may be described as "certified" by Microsoft; these must have secure boot enabled by default, and provide ways for users to disable or re-configure the feature. ARM -based Windows RT devices must have secure boot permanently enabled. Windows 8 provides tighter integration with online services from Microsoft and others. A user can now log into Windows with
4240-488: The entire PC Tools security portfolio, comprising PC Tools Internet Security, Spyware Doctor and Spyware Doctor with Antivirus, on 18 May 2013; PC Tools was not sold and could not be renewed from 4 December 2013. Symantec said that this would not affect PC Tools Utilities products. Spyware Doctor received the PC World Best Buy award in the October 2007 issue of the magazine saying "PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 5.0
4320-546: The exception of Windows Embedded 8 Standard users, all users are required to install the Windows 8.1 update. Mainstream support for the Embedded Standard edition of Windows 8 ended on July 10, 2018, and extended support ended on July 11, 2023. Development started in 2009 while Microsoft was finishing work on Windows 7 . At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2011, it was announced that
4400-514: The first day of the first build conference on September 13, 2011. The first public beta build of Windows 8—Windows Developer Preview (build 8102)—was released at the event. A Samsung tablet running the build was also distributed to conference attendees. The build was released for download later that day in 32-bit and 64-bit variants, and a special 64-bit variant which included SDKs and developer tools ( Visual Studio Express and Expression Blend ) for developing Metro-style apps. The Windows Store
4480-640: The first software PC Tools released, scanned the Windows registry to find errors. Version 11, released on 31 October 2011, is the last one. PC Tools Spyware Doctor, is anti-malware software. Spyware Doctor detects malware based on indicators of compromise using its spider technology. The most recent version of Spyware Doctor is 9, which was released on 31 October 2011. Symantec is no longer offering this product as of 18 May 2013. Former employees noticed an increasing number of malware, spyware and other threats targeting macOS and Apple devices. As of 2019, Spyware Doctor has been remade on macOS and included as part of
4560-456: The iBoostUp with Spyware Doctor Mac application suite. Spyware Doctor for Mac has been tested and certified OPSWAT Platinum. PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus has the same features as Spyware Doctor, with added anti-virus capabilities. Symantec has not sold this since 2013; v9 is the last one available. The ThreatExpert Web site says that it is an advanced automated threat analysis system (initialized ATAS ) built to analyze and report
4640-519: The iPad's limitations in a parody of Apple's " Get a Mac " advertisements. On June 12, 2013, during game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals , Microsoft premiered the first ad in its "Windows Everywhere" campaign, which promoted Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 , and the company's suite of online services as an interconnected platform. Microsoft also announced that it would partner with electronics store chain Best Buy to convert PC departments at locations in
4720-466: The left edge of a touchscreen or clicking in the top-left corner of the screen allows one to switch between apps and Desktop. Pointing the cursor at the top-left corner of the screen and moving down reveals a thumbnail list of active apps. Aside from the removal of the Start button and the replacement of the Aero Glass theme with a flatter and solid-colored design, the desktop interface on Windows 8
4800-513: The new "Refresh" and "Reset" functions, including system recovery from USB drive. Windows 8's first security patches would be released on November 13, 2012; it would contain three fixes deemed "critical" by the company. Windows 8 supports a feature of the UEFI specification known as "Secure boot", which uses a public-key infrastructure to verify the integrity of the operating system and prevent unauthorized programs such as bootkits from infecting
4880-509: The new apps. In an interview on September 12, 2012, Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software division) confirmed that "Windows Store apps" would be the official term for the apps. An MSDN page explaining the Metro design language uses the term "Modern design" to refer to the language as a whole. Exceptions to the restrictions faced by Windows Store apps are given to web browsers . The user's default browser can distribute
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#17327939294094960-454: The next version of Windows would add support for ARM System-on-chips alongside the existing 32-bit processors produced by vendors, especially AMD and Intel . Windows division president Steven Sinofsky demonstrated an early build of the port on prototype devices, while Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the company's goal for Windows to be "everywhere on every kind of device without compromise." Details also began to surface about
5040-440: The title PC Tools . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. References [ edit ] External links [ edit ] Onlyfans Tools PC Tools Definitions Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=PC_Tools&oldid=1223803884 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
5120-468: The wallpaper being different—the same one from the Beta and Release Candidate. In addition, there were a few references to Windows 8 in this build's Local Group Policy Editor Utility. In late 2010, an optional 3D desktop user interface for high-end systems named "Wind" was rumored. Two milestone releases of Windows 8 and one of Windows Server 2012 leaked to the general public. Milestone 1, Build 7850,
5200-463: Was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012, made available for download via MSDN and TechNet on August 15, 2012, and generally released for retail on October 26, 2012. Windows 8 introduced major changes to the operating system's platform and user interface with the intention to improve its user experience on tablets , where Windows competed with mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS . In particular, these changes included
5280-412: Was released to manufacturing with the build number 6.2.9200.16384, and Microsoft planned to hold a launch event on October 25, 2012 before releasing it for general availability the next day. However, only a day after its release to manufacturing, a copy of the final version of Windows 8 Enterprise N (a variant for European markets which lacks bundled media players to comply with an antitrust ruling )
5360-512: Was also announced during the presentation, but was not available in this build. According to Microsoft, there were about 535,000 downloads of the developer preview within the first 12 hours of its release. Originally set to expire on March 11, 2012, in February 2012 the Developer Preview's expiry date was changed to January 15, 2013. On February 17, 2012, Microsoft unveiled a new logo for Windows 8. Designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher ,
5440-480: Was discovered that Metro existed in this build, after disabling the Redpill feature lockout. The start screen was very primitive, being a screen with a white background and gray tiles. The charms bar was also included, but was unusable. The OS still reads as "Windows 7". Milestone 2, Build 7955, was leaked on April 25, 2011. The traditional Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) was replaced by a new black screen, although it
5520-748: Was later replaced, and the circling dots as featured in the final build (although the final version comes with smaller circling dots throbber). It also had the text Welcome below them, although this was scrapped. On June 1, 2011, Microsoft unveiled Windows 8's new user interface, as well as additional features at both Computex Taipei and the D9: All Things Digital conference in California. The "Building Windows 8" blog launched on August 15, 2011, featuring details surrounding Windows 8's features and its development process. Microsoft would unveil more Windows 8 features and improvements on
5600-504: Was later reverted to a different blue color. This build introduced a new ribbon in Windows Explorer . The "Windows 7" logo was temporarily replaced with text displaying "Microsoft Confidential". Both builds 7850 and 7955 leaked alongside Windows Server 2012 build 7959. On June 17, 2011, build 7989 64-bit edition was leaked. It introduced a new boot screen featuring the same Betta fish as the default Windows 7 Beta wallpaper, which
5680-511: Was leaked on April 12, 2011. It was the first build where the title of a window was written centered instead of aligned to the left. It was also probably the first appearance of the Metro-style font, and its wallpaper had the text shhh. let's not leak our hard work . However, its detailed build number reveals that the build was created on September 22, 2010. The leaked copy was Enterprise edition, with other editions leaking later. In 2020, it
5760-537: Was leaked online on various Chinese and BitTorrent websites. On May 31, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview was released to the public by Microsoft. Major items in the Release Preview included the addition of Sports, Travel, and News apps, along with an integrated variant of Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer . Like the Developer Preview and the Consumer Preview, the release preview expired on January 15, 2013. On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 (build 9200 )
5840-527: Was leaked online, followed by leaks of the final versions of Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise a few days later. On August 15, 2012, Windows 8 was made available to download for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, and was made available to Software Assurance customers on August 16, 2012. It was made available for students with a DreamSpark Premium subscription on August 22, 2012, earlier than advertised. Windows 8 became generally available for retail purchase on October 26, 2012. Relatively few changes were made from
5920-572: Was more expensive but could be installed on computers without an eligible OS or none at all, was discontinued. In lieu of a full version, a specialized "System Builder" SKU was introduced. The "System Builder" replaced the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) SKU, which was only allowed for use on PCs meant for resale but added a "Personal Use License" exemption that officially allowed its purchase and personal use by users on homebuilt computers . Retail distribution of Windows 8 has since been discontinued in favor of Windows 8.1 . Unlike Windows 8, 8.1
6000-698: Was praised for its speed and low usage of system resources. PC Tools Internet Security, was the combination of the Spyware Doctor product the Firewall product and the Anti-Spam product. It provided the functionality of all three stand alone products into a single seamless product. Symantec is no longer offering this product as of 18 May 2013. It was payware designed for Windows 8 (32-/64-bit), Windows 7 (32-/64-bit), Windows Vista (32-/64-bit) and Windows XP (32-bit). PC Tools Registry Mechanic,
6080-776: Was removed in favor of heightened kernel stability, GPU scheduling performance and security. The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 are higher than those of Windows 7 . The CPU must support the Physical Address Extension (PAE), NX bit , and SSE2 . Windows Store apps require a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher to run; a resolution of 1366×768 or higher is required to use the snap functionality. To receive certification, Microsoft requires candidate x86 systems to resume from standby in 2 seconds or less. Microsoft's Connected Standby specification, which hardware vendors may optionally comply with, sets new power consumption requirements that are higher than
6160-508: Was significantly larger than the US$ 200 million campaign used to promote Windows 95 . As part of its campaign, Microsoft set up 34 pop-up stores inside malls to showcase the Surface product line, and provided training for retail employees in partnership with Intel . In an effort to make retail displays of Windows 8 devices more "personal" by exemplifying real-world usage, Microsoft developed
6240-420: Was the winner, outperforming the competition at detecting and removing our test set of adware and spyware samples." Spyware Doctor has received several Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine, including one for Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5 in 2008. The product has also received numerous other awards from around the globe. Not all reviews have been positive and early versions of Spyware Doctor 5.0, which
6320-505: Was the first Windows version to support ARM architecture under the Windows RT branding. CPUs without PAE , SSE2 and NX are unsupported in this version. Windows 8 received a mostly negative reception. Although the reaction to its performance improvements, security enhancements, and improved support for touchscreen devices was positive, the new user interface was widely criticized as confusing and unintuitive, especially when used with
6400-462: Was unsuccessfully sued by a Washington resident for running fake scans to get people to pay for subscriptions to PC Tools's Registry Mechanic, Performance Toolkit, and Norton Utilities The lawsuit claims the company intentionally ran the fake scans and the results were not real. Windows 8 Windows 8 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft . It
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