promises plenty secret weapons

FIVE months before Windows 7 shipped, Windows 8 was in the planning stages. Already there is a lot of talk about how Windows 8 will upstage Windows 7, a highly successful OS. Will it be like Vista? Did Microsoft really learn from it? Or will the trek be so different that IT people will look at the Windows 8 OS in an entirely new light?
Microsoft has taken the wrapping off its shiny new operating system, Windows 8, revealing a re-imagined OS that is optimised for tablets and PCs. A new feature called Touch-first browsing puts websites at the centre of new Windows 8 devices. And full-screen Metro-style applications allow users to concentrate entirely on the one they are using.In addition, the new Windows 8 OS enables programs to work and communicate with each other.
Windows 8 is built on the foundation of Windows 7, ensuring a lower memory footprint and more room for applications. However, the crucial test for 8 will be, of course, the applications. How we consume software has fundamentally changed, thanks to Apple’s OS ecosystem, so how will Microsoft make its mark and win back some esteem?

Turning the tables on hardware
Now this is where things get really interesting. The new OS is designed to work across a multitude of computing form factors; desktop, laptop and tablet operating system, designed to go from 10-inch touch-only tablets to big screens in your living room, from ultra-portable notebooks to massive gaming systems and business desktops.

Power management is going to be a big game changer, PCs and tablets will be able to turn on instantly and run all day on a single charge – while staying connected. In addition, next-generation system-on-a-chip technology support will enable extended standby and low-power states.
The “Windows To Go” seems to be an exciting feature that basically allows Windows 8 to boot from a USB device (called as Live USB), and  is designed to work with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. However, user will not be able to “Hibernate” with this feature.
Another interesting thing about “Windows -To-Go” is that if the USB drive is removed, Windows will automatically freeze, but will continue to operate if the USB drive is inserted back in the next 60 seconds after removal.
Speaking about the User Interface (UI), Windows 8 certainly has got a mind-blowing interactive one, which has been extensively redesigned to show the most important information to you, embodies simplicity, and gives you full control over it, providing an interaction and navigation with touch, or a mouse and keyboard.The Start screen is yet another impressive UI; it basically groups all your applications together, which you can easily drag and drop, or add new things.
The Windows Defender, which was first released with Windows Vista, is getting a security upgrade with the upcoming Windows 8. This would probably edge our third-party antivirus and anti-malware programs. Windows Defender will become a full-fledged anti-malware solution for Windows 8. This will include protection against all types of malware, such as viruses, worms, Trojans and root-kits.
In addition to that, Windows Defender will provide real-time detection and protection from malware threats, using a file system filter, and will interface with Windows secured boot, which is another security feature.
The developer preview of Windows 8 comes with a Metro version   of Internet Explorer (IE) 10.
It is reported that Windows 8 is expected to have the same system requirements as Windows 7, and will run on existing PCs/laptops that run Windows 7. Here are the following minimum system requirements to run Windows 8:Processor: 1GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor, RAM: 1GB (32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit), HD Space: 16GB for 32-bit (or 20GB for 64-bit).

We can expect Windows 8 to be launched sometime in mid-late 2012; however, it’s too early to predict the Windows 8 release date, since it is still under development. Nevertheless, the only question that haunts each and every one of us is: Will Windows 8 win the battle against Apple, which it lost several years back?