Microsoft asking students for suggestions on Windows 8

In one of the posts on the Microsoft official facebook page for students,Microsoft is asking the students about their opinions and suggestions for the next generation OS codenamed Windows 8. The post reads as

You’ve all seen the ads, "Windows 7 was my idea". On that premise, what is your opinion on what should be included in the next release of Windows?

The link added their redirects to the Microsoft Student lounge page which reads as follow:

What’s your opinion? What features do you think need to be in Windows 8?

You’ve all seen the ads, "Windows 7 was my idea".

On that premise, what is your opininon on what should be included in the next release of Windows?

Sky is the limit … thinking about the development platform, the usability, the visual aspects. What do you think Microsoft needs to include in Windows 8?

Can’t wait to see your comments!

Some innovative comments have been posted by the students, so if want any feature to be included in Windows 8.

HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS:-

1>Don’t make windows 8 like the other operating system ,make it gorgeous/beautiful/splendid,cheap and capable of running in normal PC using less REM (256MB)and Hard disk(as low as possible).

2>there should be an option for taskbar switch to mac style or windows style making graphical interface more attractive.

3>well windows 8 will be supporting 128bit computing and the major different with other windows OS releases will be “no taskbar” new winFS platform and will be “fully customizable”.

Windows 8 to be RTMed by July 2011 ?

Chris Green , a product manager at Microsoft,has published a roadmap,estimating the Product Support Life Cycles for various product. He has not just published the life cycle of various released products but have even mentioned about the Windows8,Windows Server 2012 and several other upcoming products.

Some important dates which was published in the roadmap are

Windows 8

• Support normal: 1st July 2011 to 1st July 2016
• Extended Support: 1 July 2016 to 1 July 2021

Windows Server 2012

• Support normal: July 2, 2012 to June 30, 2017
• Extended support: July 3, 2017 to 1 July 2022

So,if going by these dates,the RTM version of Windows 8 would be available by July 2011. Windows 8 being a major release, a radical change is expected and it seems bit impossible that Windows 8 would be RTMed by July 2011.

Chris has clearly posted below the pdf file that This information is provided as a guide only and is likely to contain errors so we may hope some changes in the roadmap.

Windows 8 Common engineering Criteria (CEC) established

One of the job posts on the Microsoft Career site states that the Common engineering Criteria (CEC) has already been

established. I would be worth interesting to know what all is included in the CEC , though at present no more information is available till yet. Here is what the Microsoft Career job post site read-

Job Category: Software Engineering: Development
Location: United States, WA, Redmond
Job ID: 714117 13305
Division: Server & Tools Business

WCF, edge based services, SQL Azure, Azure blob storage, .NET 4.0, MEF, Geneva. The Information Experience Platform (IXP) team is building a content service for managing technical documentation for STB and beyond. Come join our team and help us deliver our v2 platform. Our v1 platform has already been recognized across the company and its use is already part of the CEC requirements for Windows 8 development. We are now building the next version of our platform and are looking for a development lead with outstanding technical skills to put their stamp on the design and to drive on the delivery.
The ideal candidate will have 10+ years experience delivering high quality, high performance, and highly secure enterprise applications. Previous management experience is a plus, but we will also consider experience as a technical lead. The successful candidate must be able to design, schedule, and deliver while leading a team of skilled developers in all phases of the software development life cycle. You must also work well with PM and Test disciplines and have strong communication and cross team collaboration skills.
Requirements:
- Degree in Computer Science or related field (equivalent experience may be considered)
- 10+ years experience delivering enterprise scale applications
- Strong knowledge of C# and the .NET Framework (6 years minimum)
- 3+ years experience with SQL Server
- Experience with internet security practices (token services, security certificates, etc.)
- Experience implementing solutions with LiveId
- Strong debugging skills (windbg)
- Experience with software architecture and design
- Web technologies experience – WCF, XML, XSLT, XHTML, CSS
- Experience with content management systems is a plus
- Previous management or technical lead experience
- Experience with vendor management – SOW creation, etc.

Thanks to the guys at CodenameWindows for the news

Early (Codename) Windows 8 build compiled

According to wzor,the early Windows 8 builds has been compiled.Though at present, besides build strings no more information is available,

Here are the builds that has been compiled the latest being build 7705-

7702.0.100126-1751
7703.0.100127-1845
7704.0.100128-1900
7705.0.100129-1930

We would be posting more information whenever available..

Home » Windows 8 Server Windows 8 Server to include a new PowerShell Automation platform

A new job post has been posted on the Microsoft Career site,stating that a new Powershell Automation platform would be added for managing Windows Servers.

Here is what the job posted on Microsoft Career site read-

Job Category: Software Engineering: Development
Location: United States, WA, Redmond
Job ID: 707889 10199
Product: (Not Product Specific)
Division: Server & Tools Business

Windows Server is the top-selling server operating system and is growing share in a growing market. Central to the success of Windows Server is the experience of IT Professionals managing Windows Server. For our next release, we are taking that experience to the next level by helping to make IT Professionals more effective and more productive by shipping a product they will love to use.
We work closely with a passionate PM & Test team to deliver world-beating next generation of PowerShell for managing Windows Servers. For Windows 8 Server, we are planning, architecting and building a new PowerShell Automation platform around themes that are key to the success of the entire Server product line.
We are looking for a Senior Software Development Engineer to help design, implement and deliver the next generation of this Automation Platform. In this role, you will deliver new features for the Windows Server Management which will help in the data center automation. You will work closely with many other teams delivering in Windows Server. You will take on the challenge of bridging the existing with the new and have an understanding and appreciation of lower level protocols and higher level user interaction design, using the automation platform as a middle tier. You will also have a record of technical leadership, good planning, and shipping world-class software.
Qualifications:
• BSCS/MSCS (or equivalent)
• At least 5-7 years of experience as a commercial software developer in C++ or C# (C# preferred) in all phases of a product cycle.
• Ideally familiar with PowerShell language.
• Prior management technology experience is an advantage.
• Experience in Windows Workflow Foundation, WS-Man, RBAC and/or repository technologies (SQL, AD) are an advantage.
• Experience in development of a scalable service is highly preferred.
• Experience with other IT management products like System Center is a plus.
• Delivery of several business-impacting components for which you were directly responsible.
• Passion for quality. A core belief that all members of the feature team share the responsibility for the quality of the product.
• Technical Leadership. Track record of building and leading world-class product design and architecture.
• Ability to work with partners and drive cross-group initiatives.
• Execution. Proven track record in project definition, articulation, planning and delivery.
• Can-do entrepreneurial attitude with experience working in a team with industry-leading, innovative, and high-quality releases.
• Deep understanding and passion for IT Professionals as customers.

Windows 8, will be a cloud based OS

The post on the NDTV Profit news channel site clearly states that according to the sources within Microsoft,the next Operating System will be cloud based. Rajan Anandan, MD of Microsoft India also added that “All new products from here on will be offered over the cloud, as well as on-premise. That’s a core strategy that we have adopted now”

Here is the extract from the NDTV Profit site

Rajan Anandan, MD of Microsoft India, said, "We believe the cloud is the future and cloud will help accelerate Microsoft’s revenues and profit growth. With the announcement of Azure on Monday, we have completed our cloud offering, which means anything and everything that MS offers can be delivered over the cloud."

However, Microsoft is many years late to the game and has to play significant catch-up.
Is it indeed too late for the giant or can it redeem itself? If cloud is the new inspiration for MS, what sort of cloud integration will its future products see?

"All new products from here on will be offered over the cloud, as well as on-premise. That’s a core strategy that we have adopted now," said Anandan.

Sources within MS say the next operating system from Microsoft, Windows 8, will be a cloud based OS.

Microsoft is planning to spend $9 billion on cloud based R&D, but given that competitors like Amazon and Google have been providing cloud services for a while now, pinching pockets will not work for Microsoft.

WINODWS 8 ESTIMATE LOGO

THE ABOVE PICTURE MAY BE THE LOGO WINDOWS 8. WHO KNOWS?

Windows 8 to be “Completely Different” and “Mind-Blowing”

Over the course of the past week and a half, a couple of individuals from Microsoft have commented about Windows 8 in a rather excited manner. First, there was a blog entry on January 31, 2010 (which has since then been deleted) on an MSDN BLOG titled, “Whats in store for the next Windows?” It’s a great read from an obviously excited employee bursting at the seams to say SOMETHING about Windows 8 — or, as he referred to it as, “Windows.next.” Below is the article in red colour , entirety prior to its deletion (which you can still find cached in Google here):

One of the great (or maybe not so great) things of being at Microsoft is that every other person wants to ask you why Windows works the way it does. Since I’m part of the Windows update team I get asked even more why does my machnie reboot everytime there is an update and why are there so many updates. So naturally once Windows 7 shipped, my friends, neighbours, relatives, and whoever else you can imagine started asking me So whats next?

Folks started asking me whats in Windows 8 – and the first thing I have to say is that I resonate Steven Sinofsky’s interview on who said we’re calling it Windows 8? I agree with Steven that till things are baked there is no point floating ideas since it leaves people frustrated when things don’t turn out the way they expected. The Windows team promised to deliver a smarter, faster and more user friendly OS with Windows 7 and they delivered just that – the latest quaterly results of Microsoft are a clear indication that Windows 7 has been a success and customers got what Microsoft had promised them! The plan is to use a similar approach for the next version of Windows and till things are finalized you’re not going to get a “marketing” name from us:)

So how am I referring to the next version of Windows without saying that many words – well simple – Windows.next:) This is definitely not the official version but a version that is becoming common along my circle. So what are our plans for this next version…

The minimum that folks can take for granted is that the next version will be something completly different from what folks usually expect of Windows – I am simply impressed with the process that Steven has setup to listen to our customers needs and wants and get a team together than can make it happen. To actually bring together dozens and dozens of teams across Microsoft to come up with a vision for Windows.next is a process that is surreal! The themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs…

Thats about it for this post for the time being – I know I’m not sharing much at this point but right now I can’t as we work towards finalizing that vision. Feel free to post your comments on what you think Windows.net should be like!

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, John Mangelaars, Regional VP of Consumer and Online at Microsoft EMEA, is quoted today on the website CIO as saying the following:

[Apple is] doing well on the PC side but Windows 7 is a blockbuster. We got it really right. For me, Windows 8 will be mind-blowing.

Hmm. It really makes you wonder just what in the heck Steven Sinofsky and crew are cooking up for Windows 8. With everything I’ve covered in regards to Windows 8 thus far, I would say it’s definitely shaping up to be an ambitious release. Past rumored plans were for Windows 8 to be a 64-bit-only release and I’m inclined to believe that’s exactly where they’re going to go with it — especially with the latest post-Windows 7 build 7700 screen shots being 64-bit.

So, what do you think? Just a bunch of hype from excited employees or something potentially “mind-blowing” and “completely different?” With Sinofsky at the helm again and the success Windows 7 has seen, I’m inclined to think the latter.

*Hat tip to Softpedia for their article yesterday.

Windows 8 [Information from wiki]

A roadmap timeline slide shown by Microsoft at the 2009 Professional Developers Conference shows that Code Name "Windows 8" is scheduled to be released sometime around 2012. Development and other aspects of Windows 8 have not been detailed in public, although job listings have mentioned improved functionality for file access in branch offices.

A recently-departed Microsoft employee's blog has revealed a rough version of Microsoft's roadmap for key software, including Windows 8. According to the information, Microsoft aims for Windows 8 support to start on July 1, 2011. Support for Windows Server 2012 starts on July 2, 2012.

Windows 8 Will Blow Your Mind

The folks at Microsoft Kitchen dug up some cool quotes from Microsoft employees about the upcoming Windows OS, currently codenamed Windows 8. Though it does bring up painful memories of what was promised about Vista (the marketing campaign, you may remember, was called “the wow starts now”), Microsoft did partially redeem itself with Windows 7, so we can put some (if not all) trust in what’s said about the next version.

First, John Mangelaars, regional VP of consumer and online at Microsoft EMEA, simply said that Windows () 8 will be “mind-blowing.” Doesn’t really reveal much, but OK, we can set our expectations to “unreasonably high” if that’s how Microsoft wants to play this.

Another quote, this time from an unknown employee, tells us a little bit more:

“So what are our plans for this next version…The minimum that folks can take for granted is that the next version will be something completly different from what folks usually expect of Windows – I am simply impressed with the process that Steven has setup to listen to our customers needs and wants and get a team together than can make it happen. To actually bring together dozens and dozens of teams across Microsoft to come up with a vision for Windows.next is a process that is surreal! The themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs…”

So besides “mind-blowing”, we can now add “surreal,” “the future of PCs” and “completely different”. I’m not exactly sure I want to enter an altered state of mind upon launching my brand new Windows 8 PC for the first time, but I agree it’s time for something completely different. Because, you know, Windows 7 wasn’t really all that different from Vista…

Windows 8 concept

download Windows 8 official concept. This video shows us the concept of windows 8. Download it from our site now!!

http://windows-8-center.webs.com/win_8_concept_official.mp4

HOPE YOU WILL LIKE IT!!!

Windows 8 to be 128-bit compatible?

As we’ve known for some time, Microsoft had already begun work on Windows 8 before Windows 7 was completed. The reason being that different teams work on different aspects of the operating system, which is why Microsoft was able to do this. Microsoft previously shed some light on what we can see in Windows 8 through a job description.

It appears though, that one specific Microsoft employee was not too careful with their LinkedIn profile, and had accidentally leaked some interesting details regarding Windows 8. According to his LinkedIn profile, which seems to have had many of its details removed, Robert Murdon has been working at Microsoft since January 2002. Windows 8 News managed to catch this on the Microsoft employee’s LinkedIn profile before it disappeared:

Quote

“Robert Morgan is using Hestia (custom software package) for experimenting with the processor for scientific analysis and 3D graphics. Error: Memory Latency? Always gotta be a challenge barrier, it’s gotta be a bug in Hestia. right?!”

“Robert Morgan is frustrated with process standards and regulations! Delays Delays!”

Murdon seems certain that we will see 128-bit compatibility with Windows 9, while it appears that whether we will see it in Windows 8 or not is still uncertain. Coincidentally, many do believe that Windows 7 will be Microsoft’s last 32-bit OS. So could this mean we will see Windows 8 come in 64-bit and 128-bit flavors? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Roadmap reveals possible Windows 8 launch date

A roadmap slide from an Italian Windows Server presentation spotted by UXEvangelist shows that the next major Windows Server release for Microsoft is set for 2012, which is approximately three years from the release of Windows 7.

Although the roadmap is titled Windows Server release, it is still appropriate for our guessing purposes :)
Windows Server 2008 was a major release and took place in 2008, which is four years before 2012. The next major release for a client operating system will occur one year after. In which case, Microsoft is expecting to release Windows 8 some time in 2013.

Note the ~ (tilda) which means approximate. As we have seen with the development of Windows 7, Microsoft did not mention anything specific regarding release dates until RTM was very near. Original estimates of Windows 7 RTMing in April and October were also off from the July 22 date.

The current poll we have running on the sidebar shows most of our visitors think Q4 2011 will be the Windows 8 release date. What do you think now? Let us know in the comments.

Note: Although Code Name “Windows 8″ may suggest that Windows 8 will not be the final name, “Windows 7″ was also a Code Name before it was declared the official name of the operating system.

Windows 8 User-Designed Concept Video

Windows 8 User-Designed Concept Video

Dubbed the Copenhagen user experience, the following video is supposed to be a concept for a future generation of Windows – namely Windows 8. I was a bit surprised to see many Windows 7 concepts included so I contacted the creator, who confirmed that some concepts were adapted straight from Windows 7. The concept seems to be one year in the making.
Copenhagen shatters the composite prototypical event patterns people have developed for their OS, Windows.

Copenhagen is a User Experience concept that I designed. It is unique in the fact that it manages to bring together classic design, contemporary design, usability, and art.

There are also some similar Bumptop characteristics in the video. The scraps idea really caught my interest but the portable start menu and taskbar seemed too prone to accidental clicking.

Microsoft starting improvements for Windows 8 soon

Microsoft starting major improvements for Windows 8 soon Microsoft already entered the planning stages of Windows 8 last year in March when Windows 7 was still in Milestone 1. The Redmond company recently revealed in a job opening post for the Lead Software Development Engineer position that it will soon begin working on major improvements on Windows 8:



For the upcoming version of Windows, new critical features are being worked on including cluster support and support for one way replication. The core engine is also being reworked to provide dramatic performance improvements. We will also soon be starting major improvements for Windows 8 where we will be including innovative features which will revolutionize file access in branch offices

The following innovative features are some of the many features that we could be seeing in Windows 8:

* Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) service: A multi-master replication engine set up for folder synchronization across multiple servers. This may be something we will be seeing in Windows 8 Server.

* Major improvements in BranchCache: BranchCache was a new feature developed in Windows 7. Basically when data from an intranet website or file server is accessed, it caches those files locally so the next user can access them more quickly. Major improvements can be expected for BranchCache.

These were some of Microsoft’s comments on the upcoming features:

DFSR is Microsoft’s premier file replication engine and is an integral part of our branch office strategy and File Server role. It can scale to thousands of servers and replicate hundreds of terabytes of data. We have shipped the technology that powers file sharing in Windows Live Messenger, Windows Meeting Spaces (Vista) and Branch Office replication in Windows Server 2008 which has strong customer deployment. DFSR technology saves MS-IT and our customers more than 80% WAN bandwidth by using advanced On-The-Wire differential compression,” the software giant adds in the job posting.