\n\tI finished installing Windows 8 Release Preview on two test machines this morning and immediately took a few screenshots to share with you. As we build up to the final release of Microsoft Windows 8 we will have plenty more to say about this latest, greatest operating system, but for right now, there are few things to note.
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\n\tThe default Metro graphical user interface is rather bland, but I think that is by design. I would think of it as an empty template just begging to be personalized.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tThe Store is much improved in this latest version. There will be much to explore here.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tOne thing that I still find worrisome is the lack of Social Media apps available for Metro so far – where is Tweetdeck, Facebook, Google+?
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tTablets and news feeds go together like peas and carrots – I look for more Windows 8 Metro apps here.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tYes, there is the basic Windows Desktop and no you do not have to use Metro for anything really if you don’t want to.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tNewsfeeds – there is a default news reader that uses Bing as the search engine. Customizing this app will make a good blog post (note to self).
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tNow that some Metro apps are taking shape you can see the potential of live tiles. The boring primary color tile everyone complains about is not a live tile that changes with the days activity.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tSports is another app that begs to be customized.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tWindows 8 combined contact information from Google, LinkedIn, and Twitter to make a list of People. There is definitely some customization that needs to take place here – this is not what I want.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tTweetro is okay, but it is not the app I would choose for tracking Twitter.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
\n\tHere you can see more of the tiles have been “unlocked” and are now live. I see some real potential for Windows 8 once you get past the initial learning curve. This version of Windows is going to take some effort to master – looks like it is going to keep Greg Shultz and I busy for a long time.
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\n\tImage credit: Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic
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Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, software, hardware, gaming, finance, accounting, and technology geekdom for more than 30 years.
