Windows 8.1 Preview

[parkd1]

Are you going to install the preview version of Windows 8.1 when it comes out later this month to test PL with it?

[BenYeeHua]

Good question.
I will wait for release version as it need to be installed, not update my Windows 8.
Maybe Virtual Machine for it if I have a faster download speed.

[parkd1]

What is going around is the final of Windows 8.1 out around 8-1-13.

[BenYeeHua]

What is going around is the final of Windows 8.1 out around 8-1-13.

Yes, but I don't want to face some BSOD for Windows again, everyone hate BSOD as it stop your work and make you forget what you has done.
I still remember at the first time, I boot up the Windows 8, and the BSOD is come and greet me.

[parkd1]

Hope they fix a lot of the bugs and things they broke that were working on 7.

[BenYeeHua]

Hope they fix a lot of the bugs and things they broke that were working on 7.

Me too, some function that are broken in Windows 8 is useful for me, so bad it don't works.
I hope this time they will hear for what customer want.

[parkd1]

That I agree with. Would be really nice to have it be like Windows 7 + Windows 8 = 8.1 or 9 We can just hope.

[BenYeeHua]

The only thing that Windows lack is customization, maybe they don't want to maintain too much code?

[BenYeeHua]

Changed the title to Windows 8.1 Preview, might change it back to Windows 8.1 depend on the discussion and pages, or open a new topic for Windows 8.1 Release Version.

Some Read first before download/install.
You should consider downloading the preview only if all of the following apply to you:

• You like to use the latest software and enjoy experimenting with new technology.
• You're comfortable backing up a PC, formatting a hard drive, and installing an operating system from scratch.
• You feel comfortable troubleshooting PC problems yourself.
• You don't mind updating software frequently.
• You have or can create installation or recovery media and have the knowledge to restore your previous operating system after you're done testing Windows 8.1 Preview.

Warning

• If you're running Windows RT you won't be able to restore Windows RT after you install Windows RT 8.1 Preview. You'll be able to upgrade to the final version of Windows RT 8.1.
• In order to use Windows 8.1 Preview you must sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account. The option to create a local account will be made available at the final release of Windows 8.1.

Language
Windows 8.1 Preview is available in Arabic, English (US), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview
Home page for Windows 8.1 Preview

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/download-preview
Ways to update from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 Preview, remember to backup.
You can update it now.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/iso-preview
ISO download page, will provide the download link for everyone after a few days.
The Product Key is:NTTX3-RV7VB-T7X7F-WQYYY-9Y92F

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview-faq
FAQ

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=302189
Windows 8.1 Preview Product Guide. (For people that are boring or like words more than Videos.)

For TechNet and MSDN Subscribers, you can download the ISO now.

TechNet and MSDN Subscribers: Download an ISO of Windows 8.1 Preview by visiting the TechNet Subscriptions site or MSDN Subscriptions site.

http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/manage/default.aspx
TechNet
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/aa336858.aspx
MSDN
----For IT professionals
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn140266
What's New in Windows 8.1

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/jj721676
FAQ

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/home?forum=w81previtpro
Support Forum


Parkd1, if you allow me to adding some information to the First Post, just say Yes, I allow for it.
You can also start edit the First Post for information about Windows 8.1, how to get it, some helpful article about it etc...

[BenYeeHua]

In order to use Windows 8.1 Preview you must sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account. The option to create a local account will be made available at the final release of Windows 8.1.

So I will say no this time.
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DirectX enhancements
With Windows 8.1 Preview, we’ve made a few changes under the hood to make your DirectX games look even better and run even more smoothly. New GPU scaling lets you dynamically resize your frame buffer to keep your 3D graphics smooth, while hardware multiplane overlay support keeps your gorgeous 2D art and interfaces looking their best in native resolution. Support for tiled rendering means you’ll get better performance from mobile and newer GPUs with little effort, and the new, low-level Direct3D Trim APIs for efficient device resource management make transitions from different hardware states smoother and faster.
Additionally, DirectX provides a map default buffer operation that lets you access a GPU’s default buffers directly from your app (if supported by the device) without the need for an expensive intermediate copy operation.

Desktop app advancements
The Windows desktop continues to evolve so developers can build outstanding productivity experiences that take full advantage of the latest hardware. Windows 8.1 Preview improves support for high-resolution (200 DPI) monitors. Improvements to DirectComposition enable smoother animations and effects. And updates to DirectManipulation increase app responsiveness and add ways to interact with apps.
--
En...
Better support for higher DPI?
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NFC Tap-to-pair Printing
Tap your Windows 8.1 device against an enterprise NFC-enabled printer and you’re all set to print. No more hunting on your network for the correct printer and no need to buy a special printer to take advantage of this functionality. Simply attach an NFC tag to your existing printers to enable this functionality.

Wi-Fi Direct Printing
Connect to Wi-Fi Direct printers without adding additional drivers or software on your Windows 8.1 device, forming a peer-to-peer network between your device and the printer.
--
Not bad, but NCF can be used on Tablet only, as you can't support NCF on laptop and "tap" it.

Mobile Broadband
At Windows 8 launch, the devices had embedded radios that were separate components within the devices.  Windows 8.1 supports embedded wireless radio, which gives you increased power savings, longer battery life, also enables thinner form factors and lower cost devices.

Broadband Tethering
Turn your Windows 8.1 mobile broadband-enabled PC or tablet into a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing other devices to connect and access the internet.
--
Useful for tablet, and some laptop user.

Malware Resistance
Windows Defender, Microsoft’s free antivirus solution in Windows 8, will include network behavior monitoring to help detect and stop the execution of known and unknown malware. Internet Explorer will scan binary extensions (e.g. ActiveX) using the antimalware solution before potentially harmful code is executed.
--
Network behavior monitoring, en....
It will be interesting...

Boot to Desktop
We have made configuration options available which will allow you to boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8.1.
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I think everyone know about this.

[edkiefer]

So does Win8/8.1 integrate MSE AV software in it now ?

[BenYeeHua]

So does Win8/8.1 integrate MSE AV software in it now ?

Yes, they also improved it, they add a Network Behavior Monitoring or Network Inspection System, monitoring the process network behavior, and also the IE11 will scan the Active-X.

The IE11 support the touchpad and touch screen more friendly and WebGL(finally), windows 7 can update to IE11 too.
Other than that, they are applying network priority for IE11(foreground tab network priority is highest one, and picture etc will be lower priority)and also prerender and prefetch if the website give them some hint, and back navigation caching for back to one page more faster(which Firefox and Chrome have long time ago).
F12, which you can see the rendering time(yup, even Firefox and Chrome don't has this feature yet, or I can say they know it, but they don't has a better plan for it) of the website, like can the website/HTML5/WebGL keep rendering 60FPS for a smooth touch experience?

They also giving some task priority, I think it only apply for Windows Store Apps, and I wonder did they has enable the GPU priority now?

DirectX 11.2, not too bad, they added some software feature and a hardware feature, will open a new Topic talk about it, let me rest first.

They starting to take care about High DPI Screen, which is one of the biggest weak point of Windows.

Will keep update after I has rest enough, sorry for no updating this topic.

[parkd1]

So MSE and Windows Defender are one now they still call it Windows Defender? The should just drop one and just work on the better one.

[edkiefer]

I kind of remember if MSE is installed then defender gets disabled but I think that is win7 ,not sure on win8 .

I have neither win8 or MSE so could be wrong here 

[parkd1]

You are right for 7. Not sure on 8. If that is the case then  they should just work on  MSE and drop Windows Defender. No need to work on two programs and they can save some money.

[parkd1]

Parkd1, if you allow me to adding some information to the First Post, just say Yes, I allow for it.
You can also start edit the First Post for information about Windows 8.1, how to get it, some helpful article about it etc...

Just saw this lol. Go ahead and do it. I do not have 8 so will now install the preview. Have learned from the past if you think it installed alright but then found out it did not when you try and uninstall it to put the final on you may have to start from scratch. That is only the really big thing I have seen go wrong.

[edkiefer]

Did a little check it seems windows defender found on win8 is a improved MSE version . so it loaded , only time its not is OEM who try an sell there AV package and if you uninstall there's you need to enable windows defender again .

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020260/how-to-activate-windows-defender-in-windows-8.html

[BenYeeHua]

I kind of remember if MSE is installed then defender gets disabled but I think that is win7 ,not sure on win8 .

I have neither win8 or MSE so could be wrong here 

Nope, MSE can installed to Windows 8 too.

Just saw this lol. Go ahead and do it. I do not have 8 so will now install the preview. Have learned from the past if you think it installed alright but then found out it did not when you try and uninstall it to put the final on you may have to start from scratch. That is only the really big thing I have seen go wrong.

Will do that after I has rested.
Just too bad they forced to using a MS acc to login and test windows 8.1.

Did a little check it seems windows defender found on win8 is a improved MSE version . so it loaded , only time its not is OEM who try an sell there AV package and if you uninstall there's you need to enable windows defender again .

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020260/how-to-activate-windows-defender-in-windows-8.html

Ya, I think Windows Defender is better than MSE, as it has been combined with Windows.