|
Get ready, beta testers. Microsoft Thursday debuted Windows 8 Release Preview , which is one of the last steps before a final release of Windows 8 this fall . Versions of the operating system are available for both 32-bitand 64-bit systems. Here's what Microsoft says is new or enhanced over previous betareleases: New Bing-powered apps, including ones for travel, news, and sports Improvements to Mail, Photos, and People apps Increased Start personalization Better multiple-monitor support Better Windows Store navigation New family safety and security functionality Enhanced touch support for Internet Explorer 10 [Read: PCWorld's Impressions of Windows 8 Release Preview ] Warnings Windows 8 desktop As with past betas of Windows 8, Microsoft advises users to notinstall the operating system on a computer used for day-to-daywork. There's also no going back without wiping your hard drive. You can't downgrade from Windows 8 since it cannot access therecovery partition of your hard drive. If you need to downgrade,ensure you have recovery disks readily available. If you are already running Windows 8 Consumer Preview or DeveloperPreview, Microsoft says you can upgrade to Release Preview. There'sa downside to upgrading, though: you cannot keep any of your files. To run Windows 8 Release Preview, your test computer will need aprocessor with a clock speed of 1GHz or greater, 1GB (32-bitversion), or 2GB (64-bit version) of RAM, at least 16GB (32-bit) or20GB (64-bit) of available hard drive space, and a graphics cardthat supports DirectX 9 with a WDDM driver. For select features, you will also need multitouch support,Internet access, and a screen resolution of at least 1024 pixels by768 pixels. Where to Download Windows 8 Release Preview If you meet these requirements, head over to the download page on Microsoft's site and enter your email and country. Since thefree Release Preview is available in 14 languages, chances areyou'll find a version of the software available for your region. Windows 8's Photo app can display slideshows of local images in itsPicture Library. Clicking 'Download' will start the download of the "Windows 8Release Preview Setup." Running this application automates most ofthe set-up process, and selects the appropriate version of thepreview for your machine. If you're a bit more daring andtechnologically savvy, Microsoft has provided direct links to ISO files . These must be turned into installation media that are burned to aDVD drive or copied to a USB flash drive in order to complete theinstall. That's the installation process in a nutshell, butagain--be wary. This is preview software, so keep mission criticalwork off your test PC. Have you installed Windows 8 Release Preview? Did you previously install the Consumer Preview ? Let us know your thoughts on this latest release and anything younotice that needs a little work. For more tech news and commentary, follow Ed on Twitter at @edoswald , on Facebook , or on Google+ . The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Salon Tool Bag , China Hair Salon Cape, and more. For more , please visit Hair Stylist Combs today!
Related Articles -
China Salon Tool Bag, China Hair Salon Cape,
|
