Windows 8

Microsoft akan merilis Windows 8 yang merupakan versi terbarunya pada 25 Oktober ini. Tetapi tampaknya sistem operasi yang mengusung user interface Metro tersebut kurang disambut antusias oleh para pengguna.

User interface Metro menyajikan tampilan yang sama sekali berbeda dari versi sebelumnya. Tampilan Metro terdiri atas kotak-kota tile yang mewakili aplikasi – mirip dengan fungsi ikon pada versi sebelumnya. Bila ikon lebih pasif dan hanya mewakili shortcut untuk aplikasi, tile dapat menampilkan pula informasi terbaru dari aplikasi yang diwakilinya. Misalnya tile aplikasi Twitter menampilkan tweet-tweet terbaru, atau tile aplikasi Facebook yang menampilkan status terbaru dari friend Anda.

Dengan mengklik-sekali sebuah tile pada Metro, Windows 8 akan menjalankan aplikasinya secara full screen. Anda tak akan menemui atau dapat menampilkan window yang bertumpuk yang masing-masing menjalankan aplikasi yang berbeda seperti pada Windows versi sebelumnya. Dengan user interface Metro kita seolah diminta untuk hanya fokus pada satu aplikasi – walaupun kita dapat menjalankan beberapa aplikasi di background dan berpindah dari satu aplikasi ke aplikasi lain.

Pengguna yang terbiasa menjalankan beberapa aplikasi dalam window-window , ketika menjalankan aplikasi di Metro akan merasakan seperti terpenjara pada satu aplikasi. Sepertinya kita hanya memiliki satu window. Memiliki layar yang lebar seolah percuma karena hanya menampilkan satu aplikasi. Memang bisa kita menampilkan dua aplikasi pada satu layar, tetapi itu hanya dua dan kita tidak dapat mengubah ukuran masing-masing window dengan lebih leluasa seperti sebelumnya.

Untungnya Windows 8 masih menyajikan interface klasiknya, yaitu Desktop. Desktop memang seperti interface Windows versi sebelumnya, tetapi tanpa menu Start. Kita dapat menumpuk window-window aplikasi yang kita jalankan di sini.

Aplikasi yang dijalankan di Desktop adalah yang belum mendukung user interface Metro. Sehingga kesannya Desktop ini dipertahankan hanya sebagai “transisi” sebelum semua aplikasi mendukung interface Metro. Anehnya masih banyak aplikasi bawaan Windows seperti System Tool, Notepad, Windows Explorer, dan lain-lain yang masih dijalankan di Desktop.

Apakah Microsoft belum sempat mengubah semua aplikasi miliknya untuk dijalankan di interface Metro? Rasanya tidak mungkin, tetapi mengapa ada dua jenis user interface, Metro dan Desktop, pada Windows 8? Entahlah.

Lepas dari itu, Metro memang tidak menyajikan feature dan pengalaman yang istimewa. Hal itu juga tercermin dari jajak pendapat yang dilakukan oleh ForumsWindows8.com – forum terbesar untuk Windows 8. Dari 50.000 pengguna yang disurvai, hanya 23% yang menyatakan Metro merupakan feature Windows 8 yang paling disukai. Ada 8 feature lainnya yang lebih disukai ketimbang Metro.

Yang mengejutkan juga pada hasil survai ini adalah: hanya 25% yang menyukai Windows 8, sedangkan 53% di antaranya masih menyukai Windows 7! 

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Find Similar Files – Fast Duplicate File Finder Professional

MindGems Inc. has released a Professional version of the famous Free Fast Duplicate File Finder. The new version can find similar files regardless of their file types, beside finding 100% duplicate files. Such feature is very handy for finding multiple versions of the same word or excel document, for finding similar text documents, archives or any other type of file.

You can scan local files, removable media such as USB drives, flash cards, optical discs, external drives, and network drives with Fast Duplicate File Finder.

There are a lot of useful feature like the option to automatically mark the older of the two duplicate files as the one that will be deleted or moved. Shortcut to immediately jump to the actual folder where a duplicate you’d like to examine is residing is also available. The protection of system and program files will grantee the you will not end up with a blue screen by accidentally deleting a system file.

The in-program preview lets you easily check the duplicate image, video, music, text and binary files. The duplicate files can be dumped into the recycle bin, deleted permanently, or moved to a folder preserving their folder structure until you’re certain you want them permanently deleted.

Fast Duplicate File Finder has a very low resource requirements and will work smooth even on a Windows 98 system with a Pentium-233 MHz processor. In addition to that it supports: Windows 7/Vista/XP/NT/ME/2000/2003/98

If you are looking for a free way to easily find duplicate files on your computer or network, Fast Duplicate File Finder is definitely the right application for you.

Download link
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Windows Vista update "kills" USB devices

Microsoft has admitted it is investigating reports that a recent Windows Vista security update causes havoc with some USB devices, but the software giant is yet to provide a fix for the cock-up.

The Windows Defender update was released last week, but some unfortunate Vista customers have claimed that their USB mice and keyboards among other devices refuse to work after the update is installed on their computers.

One reader told The Register that he gave up after several frustrating attempts to remove the erroneous update.

Microsoft had released the update to plug a security hole in its spyware blocker Windows Defender. The company said in a statement today:

“We are aware of concerns that a recent Microsoft update may be causing problems with USB devices. We are investigating the matter, and at this time, do not have any information to share.”

Yesterday, meanwhile, Microsoft finally pumped out Vista service pack one (SP1) in the remaining 31 languages available as a manual download via its Windows Update site.

However, the automatic version of the download remains missing in action. Redmond had chalked mid-April as the date when SP1 would start downloading onto computers across the world.

Now Microsoft has been forced to admit that it has once again missed a crucial service pack deadline.

The true trouble fun will start when computers begin receiving the automatic SP1 update, so why is Microsoft delaying getting the party started?

A spokesman at the firm told El Reg: “Microsoft wants to ensure customers have the best possible experience with Windows Vista, including installing SP1; this has always been the priority. Until SP1 is automatically distributed via Windows Update, consumers are able to download SP1 manually using Windows Update.”

Elsewhere in Microsoft land, rumours are wildly scurrying through the interweb suggesting that Windows XP SP3 could throw its anchor overboard with a release to manufacturers on 21 April followed by a general release a week later.

That's news that is likely to satisfy plenty of people who have decided to swerve Microsoft's unloved Vista in favour of soldiering on with XP until the arrival of Windows 7; the momentous occasion which some, including BillyG himself, hint could come as early as the second half of next year.
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