Windows 8 Consumer Preview Apps Listed
Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 Consumer Preview will come packed with pre-installed apps and games.
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview, set to launch sometime within the next few weeks, will come packed with pre-installed Metro-style apps. These will reportedly include Camera, Messaging, Mail, Calendar, SkyDrive, People, Photos, Video and Music. There may also be additional pre-installed apps as well, all updated via the new Windows Store.
Microsoft is reportedly working on enabling SMS support for the Messaging app which is supposedly Windows Live Messenger in disguise, but without the Windows Live branding. Mail, Calendar and People will also be designed as core Windows communication apps, thus tossing out the Windows Live branding.
Sources clam that the Video and Music apps were built by the Xbox team and branded with Zune, but this may be changed to Xbox Live for Windows before the Consumer Preview goes live. Xbox Live for Windows will reportedly be the entertainment brand for Video, Music and Games.
On the gaming front, Pinball and Solitaire are currently slated to be pre-installed in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. A Metro version of the Xbox Live Companion app, similar to the one currently available on Windows Phone, is also slated as a pre-installed app.
In addition to the pre-installed apps, the Windows Store will offer 11 games at launch. These include Angry Birds, Ms. Splosion Man, Toy Soldiers, Hydro Thunder, Reckless Racing, Ilomilo, Rocket Riot, Full House Poker, Tentacles, Crash Course, and Wordament.
Previous reports claimed that all apps available at the Windows Store launch would be free, and that retail paid apps will be sold once Windows 8 lands on store shelves this fall. Paid apps will cost between $1.49 and $999, with Microsoft initially taking 30-percent of the proceeds, then 20-percent once the app reaches $25,000 in sales. That said, there's a good chance the 11 launch games will be packed with ads, or will be limited demos.
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This is looking like it's going to be as bloated as vista.
Cripes!
Metro will still suck.
i will probably wait till W9 to 'upgrade'
Bloated? Nope, runs on less hardware then Windows 7.
Don't like Metro? Turn it off.
Don't like the OS? No one forcing you to upgrade.
So many crybabies... jebus.
I for one am looking forward to having all of my devices run on a single platform and natively communicate with each other without any frills or bending over backwards on my part.
This is looking like it's going to be as bloated as vista.Cripes!
It's the consumer preview. It wouldn't be much of a preview if there were no apps to show off the new features of the OS. There is nothing said in the article about these apps being part of the final version.
Don't like Metro? Turn it off
The registry hack wont be available in the final version...
Dont know what you are talking about? Still comments!
Yes! The return of Pinball!
The registry hack wont be available in the final version... Dont know what you are talking about? Still comments!
It will not be a hack, there will be an option to turn it off within control panel... unless you have the ARM version which will not have the traditional desktop at all, which kinda sucks. So yes, you will have to deal with Metro for a whole 10 minutes while loading the OS and fixing your settings, after that you can deal with the good 'ol broken and useless start menu, instead of the new crappy Metro UI. But all that being said, I have had no problems using it on my netbook, and my only complaint is the required resolution for Metro is higher than my netbook natively supports... but then again I never use it, so I don't really care, and the rest of the OS is amazingly fast considering it is running on an older Atom and 1GB of ram (2GB of ram on my other netbook and there is no real performance difference between the two).
It will not be a hack, there will be an option to turn it off within control panel... unless you have the ARM version which will not have the traditional desktop at all, which kinda sucks. So yes, you will have to deal with Metro for a whole 10 minutes while loading the OS and fixing your settings, after that you can deal with the good 'ol broken and useless start menu, instead of the new crappy Metro UI. But all that being said, I have had no problems using it on my netbook, and my only complaint is the required resolution for Metro is higher than my netbook natively supports... but then again I never use it, so I don't really care, and the rest of the OS is amazingly fast considering it is running on an older Atom and 1GB of ram (2GB of ram on my other netbook and there is no real performance difference between the two).
MS position is that the Metro UI is not the default UI, its the mandatory UI.
Research before spewing BS, thank you.
Okay Microsoft, I like how you try and rip Apple's already rip off price scheme on selling apps. Good luck with that 30%.
Also, what is the point of an "App store" on a desktop computer? There are already loads of services in place, and I don't think people are going to abandoned Steam or the like for your new service. You are WAY too late to the game. And speaking of games, that list sounds really lame.
Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS.
The registry hack wont be available in the final version... Dont know what you are talking about? Still comments!
Your username suits you.
The registry "hack" will still exist, but will be pointless, as the ability to disable metro will be done through a GUI (similar to disabling uac)
Providing Metro will be mandatory and the Start Menu is not an option, I'll be switching to Linux once Windows 7 loses support.
I still use the last three most recent Windows releases (XP, Vista and 7) and Microsoft believes XP has overstayed it's welcome. I can't say I won't test or preview 8, but I can't see myself using it as my main operating system.
Okay Microsoft, I like how you try and rip Apple's already rip off price scheme on selling apps. Good luck with that 30%. Also, what is the point of an "App store" on a desktop computer? There are already loads of services in place, and I don't think people are going to abandoned Steam or the like for your new service. You are WAY too late to the game. And speaking of games, that list sounds really lame. Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS.
I can't see Windows 8 becoming a desktop OS. With the way Microsoft is taking it, it'll become the standard for Tablets and Touchscreen monitors. Maybe Microsoft should break off Windows 8 into it's own OS for touch-based devices in general while leaving the rest of the Windows line for desktops, kinda like how Windows 2000 Server broke off into the server line.
Okay Microsoft, I like how you try and rip Apple's already rip off price scheme on selling apps. Good luck with that 30%. Also, what is the point of an "App store" on a desktop computer? There are already loads of services in place, and I don't think people are going to abandoned Steam or the like for your new service. You are WAY too late to the game. And speaking of games, that list sounds really lame. Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS.
Where all this ties in, is ms is trying to build a unified platform, so while you may not use the app store for purchases on your pc, you could have access to items you purchased for your win8 tablet, on your pc.
I would say its less "Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS." and more "Everything points to metro being a tablet\smartphone focused UI."
I guess you really can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Every time an OS feature set changes, or a popular website (youTube, Facebook) changes, everyone complains. "BUT BUT BUT, I like it the way I like it."
Time and technology marches on and wait for no man.
Okay Microsoft, I like how you try and rip Apple's already rip off price scheme on selling apps. Good luck with that 30%. Also, what is the point of an "App store" on a desktop computer? There are already loads of services in place, and I don't think people are going to abandoned Steam or the like for your new service. You are WAY too late to the game. And speaking of games, that list sounds really lame. Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS.
I think the app store is a great idea... why do u think IE is the #1 browser in usage, because it comes pre installed with windows. If the average user is looking for software they are far more likely to use a built in store then surf the web.
Providing Metro will be mandatory and the Start Menu is not an option, I'll be switching to Linux once Windows 7 loses support.I still use the last three most recent Windows releases (XP, Vista and 7) and Microsoft believes XP has overstayed it's welcome. I can't say I won't test or preview 8, but I can't see myself using it as my main operating system.
unless u are gaming or use microsoft apps why wouldnt u use linux already?
Your username suits you.The registry "hack" will still exist, but will be pointless, as the ability to disable metro will be done through a GUI (similar to disabling uac)
No it wont. It was explicitely stated the Metro is mandatory and there will be no option to turn it off... Until someone comes out with a hack (a week after release, top).
MS position is that the Metro UI is not the default UI, its the mandatory UI.
LOL, got any sources?
I have two words for you - enterprise users. That single reason is your guarantee that the Metro UI is optional in the final version. Period.
Now I've got about an hour while he desperatly tries to find some sources and fails.
No it wont. It was explicitely stated the Metro is mandatory and there will be no option to turn it off... Until someone comes out with a hack (a week after release, top).
Again, source fail?
To be honest, I am kind of excited about the Win8. It is probably the very first time MS Windows trying to be not so "windows". I am not sure how good/bad it is going to be, but it is always fun to see some changes.
While I really want to give win8 a try as soon as it gets out of the gate, I will probably wait for a little while. Since base on MS's track record, it usually take MS a while (if not a service pack) to have its new windows to be mature enough without creating too much of pain (bugs, patches, and most of all software/hardware/GAME compatibility).
Anyone that already has a Win7 system won't find a compelling reason to shell out the extra bucks just for an OS upgrade.
For anyone buying a new system with Win8 already installed I suspect they won't find a compelling reason to dig into the wallet for an OS downgrade.
I for one am looking forward to having all of my devices run on a single platform and natively communicate with each other without any frills or bending over backwards on my part.
Who says "I for one" these days....
MS Has stated Windows 8 is Metro UI.... Default and complete, but like you, I honestly believe they will not go through with this as it will be a death knell to enterprise and any serious content creator!
This notion of everything just magically working together is far fetched, there has not been a single example of this happening, even in the closed eco system that is iOS and OSX. There is the closest you will get and trust me, it does not JUST WORK. Microsoft wont come along and just make this work like you are waiting for!
You say sources, but come up with absolutely NIL of your own stating METRO will be a "toggle" on or off!
This looks like a cell phone OS. Why does Microsoft think that cell phone apps on a desktop is a good thing?
I, too, don't like the Metro interface, don't like the absence of Start button, and all that. But maybe it's a bit wiser to look at the core of the need: I'm just afraid Windows 8 will make my life less efficient, and that's something anyone can discover only by using it. And I won't dismiss it too, because many things look better than Windows 7, like lots of statistics while copying and using Task Manager, easier on hardware, integrated experience across devices...
So, only when it launches anyone can judge it. Period.
I've been using the Dev. Preview since it came out for windows 8 and it has been flawless. All round, it's a great OS.
No Tetris. What a pity.
Okay Microsoft, I like how you try and rip Apple's already rip off price scheme on selling apps. Good luck with that 30%. Also, what is the point of an "App store" on a desktop computer? There are already loads of services in place, and I don't think people are going to abandoned Steam or the like for your new service. You are WAY too late to the game. And speaking of games, that list sounds really lame. Everything points to Windows 8 being a tablet focused OS.
It's targeted to the average computer user who isn't as knowledge when it comes to the internet and computers as the reader's or Tom's are so it's natural for people to look down on it. In the current state, not many average users trust sites that sell software for fear of being scammed or getting viruses installed if they download a certain program. Those other sites like download.com, cnet, softpedia, etc aren't even that trustworthy because as you may know, they fill your computer with malware and the like. I think MS came with this at the perfect time when the idea of an App store has been established and people trust buying through a system like that. People trust MS and if you need a video converter for example, you could easily find it and buy it in the app store included in the OS which would just take a few clicks to get to rather than doing a whole internet search trying to find a reputable software company that sells a clean piece of software and then read reviews from all over the internet to learn if it's worth buying and if it's gonna work in your computer and so on. The Appstore will bring all of that into one, trust worthy and hassle free place. This is something I know many many people will be happy to have.
If you think about it, the app store is not mainly targeted for the Tom's readers because most likely, we all know the ins and outs unlike the average user. I think this just might end up doing well IF MS aggressively regulates what's put in the store to make sure the software is clean and guaranteed to work. And it just might benefit many software developers out there since their software will gain more recognition.
i honestly am excited for a new operating system. i will download it, try it and if i like it a will buy it, simple as that.
Been using dev. version for a while. Interface looks modern and feels fast. Metro snap function is quit cool. Looking forward to the beta release and app store. Don't like calling menu items 'charms'.