Metro-style UI to span across all computing devices.
At their BUILD Conference, Microsoft has launched the developer preview for the next version of their operating system, tentatively titled Windows 8.
As initially revealed at D9 earlier this year, Windows 8 takes large cues from the Metro UI seen on their Windows Phone 7 devices. The "tile" system continues to play a major role, ultimately replacing the use of icons or a traditional app launcher.
For touch controls, gestures have been evolved quite a bit since the OS was originally introduced. Swiping from the left will allow you to pull up apps, if done from the right the "Charms" menu is revealed – Search, Share, Devices and Settings options, as well as a Start button, that remain consistent throughout the operating system – and swiping from the top or bottom will bring up contextual options based on what application or screen you are using at the moment.
If the Metro UI isn't to your liking, you can hop between it and a Windows 7-style interface at the simple push of a button; a handy tool considering that the only way to currently completely close an open Metro app is through the Task Manager, accessible through the traditional Windows portion of the OS.
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 will be compatible with Windows 7 devices and programs and that they intend on implementing the operating system across a wide variety of devices from tablets to laptops and traditional computers.
Developers will be able to download the Windows Developer Preview in the near future. For a complete guide about what Windows 8 has to offer, feel free to take a look at the Windows 8 Developers Guide.
