Quick overview:
On June 3, Windows-Tweaks will be on site in New Orleans for TechEd 2013, one of the biggest Microsoft conferences of the year, exclusively showcasing the company's latest developments in the IT Pro, Server and Enterprise sectors. all about Windows: Tethering, Miracast, new "Metro" options....So what's new from Microsoft? Windows Tweaks reveals it.
The keynote: Windows 8.1. in the company
One of the many criticisms of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 8, is the fact that the new tile interface and apps are not intended for enterprise applications. Administrators fear the new operating system.
At TechEd, Microsoft is, as expected, fully opposed to this: According to Iain McDonald - Corporate Vice President - Microsoft has already sold over 100 million licenses and has 70,000 apps in the store. Major customers already include numerous US universities and companies such as Toyota, Aston Martin and Sheraton, which use Windows 8 tablets and apps specially tailored to business.
According to Iain McDonald, Microsoft is "happy" with the figures for Windows 8 but makes it clear between the lines: it could definitely do even better. This is what they want to achieve with Windows 8.1: Firstly - and this is most important to the admins - compatibility with existing software should be maintained. Without exception, all programs that run under Windows 8 and 7 should also work perfectly with Windows 8.1. Good news! Microsoft is also offering some functions and new features for the start screen and the Metro interface, which should appeal to business users in particular:
- Better control for the home screen: Administrators can now save apps, the arrangement of apps and app categories on the start interface using a Powershell script and roll these out to all desktops, tablets and laptops via the company network. This makes it easier to train employees and also ensures greater conformity in operation.
- Assigned Access: Also known as "kiosk mode", this mode allows admins to specify that only one app remains in the foreground and cannot be closed. This is particularly useful in areas where employees should only use one app at a time. This "Only one app is allowed" mode should also be popular in public areas (kiosks, airports, lobbies, hotels...). But Assigned Access (a very unfortunate name!) could also be helpful for home users: parents can restrict their children to just one app - such as a game, the browser or a news app. There will also be a Windows 8 Industry Edition for companies, which will offer even more customization options for the "one app" environment.
- Support for Miracast wireless displays: Windows 8.1 comes with native support for PC screens with Wi-Fi support that receive content via "Miracast" technology. Miracast works in a similar way to Apple Airplay: users select a Miracast-connected display in the wireless network on their desktop or tablet and transmit either the entire desktop or just parts of it (e.g. a presentation or a specific app). According to rumors, the Xbox One will also support Miracast, allowing users to instantly transfer content from their Windows devices or smartphones to the screen. In the business sector, Miracast is particularly interesting for presentations or in meetings: content can be transferred with just one click in the "Charms" bar of Windows 8.1.
Great: The list of screens that support Miracast continues to grow and now includes some well-known TV and screen models: http://certifications.wi-fi.org/search_products.php?search=1&advanced=1&lang=en&filter_company_id=&filter_category_id=&filter_subcategory=&filter_cid=&date_from=&date_to=&selected_certifications%5B%5D=69&x=62&y=15.
Tethering: All 3G/4G/LTE-capable notebooks and tablets can share the Internet connection with all surrounding devices with one click - this was previously only possible under Windows with special additional programs. This is useful when traveling, for example, if you want to share the data connection of one device with another device or only want to pay for Wi-Fi once in a hotel.
According to Iain McDonald, this works smoothly with up to 10 devices - and you'll have to lug around quite a few devices.
- Tethering: All devices equipped with a 3G/4G device can share their own connection with all devices - and according to Ian, this works great with 10 devices.
Boot to Desktop: Customers and companies are paying particular attention - in 8.1, users can finally set Windows so that the classic desktop appears as soon as it is switched on. Until now, the Windows 8 tile interface has always been started by default and the desktop only becomes visible after clicking on the corresponding tile. In an exclusive press workshop, Microsoft showed us live how the PC starts up in the desktop when it is switched on - but not how the user can actually set this! It is good to assume that this will be possible via the new control panel or at least via guidelines.
Easy connection to the workstation: BYOD (bring your own devices) is becoming increasingly important in companies. Microsoft therefore wants to make it easier to connect to the home office from home or with your own devices at work. In future, users will be able to simply connect their device to the company network via the Charms bar and the "Connect" entry.
NFC and Wi-Fi Direct Printing: Windows 8.1 will now connect to wireless printers without any driver installation. The new NFC technology or Wi-Fi can be used to send files directly to the printer.
Improved malware support: The free antivirus solution - Windows Defender - is also being slightly improved with Windows 8.1. In future, the new Defender will check for viruses in both the company network and the home network and protect users from malware while they are browsing network resources.
Internet Explorer 11: IE11 is being properly upgraded with 8.1. In addition to a faster browsing speed, the "side-by-side" function should also allow websites to be displayed directly next to each other in a window. This is particularly useful on high-resolution 16:9 screens, as several (often vertical) websites can easily be displayed in one window.
In other words, Microsoft is desperately trying to attract business users. Initial discussions with participants have been surprisingly positive: many of the top concerns about Windows 8 are being addressed, but the focus is on the tile interface and the desktop is being left out.
More information about Windows 8.1 will be available at the end of June: The company plans to release the first public preview at the BUILD conference in San Francisco. Stay tuned, we will be there live to report!
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