Features new to Windows 8

WinRT, being a COM-based API, allows for the use of various programming languages to code apps, including C++, C++/CX, C#, Visual Basic .NET, or HTML5 and JavaScript.

[8] The term "Metro-style apps" referred to "Metro", a design language prominently used by Windows 8 and other recent Microsoft products.

Reports surfaced that Microsoft employees were told to stop using the term due to potential trademark issues with an unspecified partner.

[17] Windows 8.1 introduces navigation hints with instructions that are displayed during the first use of the operating system, and also includes a help and support app.

[20] This menu contains shortcuts to frequently used areas such as Control Panel, File Explorer, Programs and Features, Run, Search, Power Options and Task Manager.

[23] A number of apps are included in the standard installation of Windows 8, including Mail (an email client), People (a contact manager), Calendar (a calendaring app), Messaging (an IM client), Photos (an image viewer), Music (an audio player), Video (a video player), Camera (a webcam or digital camera client), SkyDrive, Reader (an e-book reader), and six other apps that expose Bing services (Search, News, Finance, Weather, Travel and Sports).

[citation needed] Windows 8.1 adds Calculator,[7] Alarm Clock,[7] Sound Recorder,[7] Reading List, Food & Drink, Health & Fitness,[24] Help + Tips,[18] Scan,[25] and a file manager integrated in the SkyDrive app.

If a user hovers over a file with the mouse cursor or long presses with a finger a tooltip will appear and display additional information.

[55] A new full screen "hero" interface powered by Bing can display aggregated multimedia (such as photos, YouTube videos, songs/albums on Xbox Music) and other content (such as news articles and Wikipedia entries) related to a search query.

[23][57] Windows 8.1 Update also introduces a visible search button on the Start screen that acts as a shortcut to the Metro-style flyout interface.

Microsoft found that limiting the gestures increased the speed of sign-ins by three times compared to allowing freeform methods.

As examples, users can answer calls or instant messages received from Skype contacts,[64] or dismiss alarm notifications from the lock screen.

Internet Explorer 10 also contains an integrated version of Flash Player, which will be available in full on the desktop, and in a limited form within the "Metro" app.

[87] Windows 8.1 ships with Internet Explorer 11[6][26] which includes tab syncing, WebGL and SPDY support, along with expanded developer tools.

[91] The Metro version can also detect and highlight phone numbers on a web page and turn them into clickable links that, when clicked, initiate a call with a compatible app such as Skype.

[92] Windows 8 includes an overhauled version of Task Manager, which features the following changes:[93] Windows 8 introduces a revised virtual (also known as on-screen) keyboard interface optimized for touchscreen devices that includes wider spacing between keys and is designed to prevent common typing errors that occur while using touchscreens.

[101] Windows 8 adds native support for USB 3.0, which allows for faster data transfers and improved power management with compatible devices.

Windows 8.1 enhanced support for power saving features of USB storage devices, but this addition was not without problems, with some poorly implemented hardware degrading user experience by hangs and disconnects.

Upon the insertion of a SIM card, the operating system will automatically determine the user's carrier and configure relevant connection settings using an Access Point Name database.

The operating system can also monitor mobile data usage, and changes its behavior accordingly to reduce bandwidth use on metered networks.

Carriers can also offer their own dedicated Windows Store apps for account management, which can also be installed automatically as a part of the connection process.

[135] Windows 8.1 introduces WDDM 1.3[136] and adds support for Miracast, which enables wireless or wired delivery of compressed standard- or high-definition video to or from desktops, tablets, mobile phones, and other devices.

[142][143][144][145] Windows 8.1 updates this feature to enable booting from a USB composite device with a storage and a smart card function.

[148] The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) utility in Windows 8 includes all features that were previously available in ImageX and is able to periodically check for component store corruption and repair it.

Under Provable PC Health, connected devices would periodically send various configuration-related information to a cloud service, which would provide suggestions for remediation upon detection of an issue.

At startup, the UEFI firmware checks the validity of a digital signature present in the Windows Boot Loader (bootmgfw.efi), which is signed with Microsoft's public key.

[172] During the 2011 Build conference in Anaheim, California, Microsoft showed a Windows 8 machine that can prevent an infected USB flash memory from compromising the boot process.

[189] A review in Ars Technica concluded that "Storage Spaces in Windows 8 is a good foundation, but its current iteration is simply too flawed to recommend in most circumstances.

[194] Windows 8.1 gained support for NVM Express (NVMe), a new industry standard protocol for PCIe-attached storage, such as PCIe flash cards.

Windows 7 only had automatic TRIM for internal SATA SSDs built into system operations such as Delete, Format, Diskpart etc.