Windows 8

Half_way

I tried the windows 8 beta, and it was for want of a better word awful, the slab square things realy do not work on a desktop, or a laptop with mouse/keyboard.
fortunatly i paid for a full retail version of windows 7 ( reduced on pre order) so it looks like w7 for the time being.

NiftyDigits

RobTang wrote: »

unfortunately the fashion with hi-tech start ups is on a minimalist phase at the moment, so just clean design, no useless visual effects, which is a bit sad in some respects.
They are probably trying to get people off the classic-classic win 2k / 9x theme, who refuse to use anything else.

People get bored of UIs every 4/5 years so the fashion swings around, like iOS looks pretty dated because it hasn't really changed in 5 years

Aero is still there. You just have to know where to find it.

Right Click > Personalisation > High Contrast White > Colour Setting (keeping the window open)
Move mouse On Charm Bar -> Setting > Personalisation > Select any Windows Default Theme.
In Colour Setting ( the first high contrast Window ) Change the colour of the background windows a little.

stevemcol

getting used to win8, quite like it. I've just been using the bing map app and the weird thing is it pinpoints my location to within a few feet. how the heck does it do that? surely not through IP address? I don't have any GPS hardware.

RobTang

stevemcol wrote: »

getting used to win8, quite like it. I've just been using the bing map app and the weird thing is it pinpoints my location to within a few feet. how the heck does it do that? surely not through IP address? I don't have any GPS hardware.

Wifi probably,
You could potentially just drive around, seeing where all the hotspots are and make a map... plus everyone carries around personal stalking devices... I mean smartphones these days. If it happens to make a note of all the hotspot it sees and its current location and it just happens to upload this to a big database...

Oh well at least is not Google who will steal... I mean store for your convenience your wifi passwords.

There was this word begins with P... It went extinct a while back.


or you could just be living next to a known exchange and you don't know it.

prowla

RobTang wrote: »

unfortunately the fashion with hi-tech start ups is on a minimalist phase at the moment, so just clean design, no useless visual effects, which is a bit sad in some respects.
They are probably trying to get people off the classic-classic win 2k / 9x theme, who refuse to use anything else.

People get bored of UIs every 4/5 years so the fashion swings around, like iOS looks pretty dated because it hasn't really changed in 5 years

Sure I can see the need to progress and so-on, but if I want a no-frills retro style then I'll dig out an Atari ST or something (I actually do have one!).

nickcc

stevemcol wrote: »

getting used to win8, quite like it. I've just been using the bing map app and the weird thing is it pinpoints my location to within a few feet. how the heck does it do that? surely not through IP address? I don't have any GPS hardware.

When I used the maps my location was shown as the centre of London even though I had clicked to allow my location, quite a long way from West Cornwall

stevemcol

RobTang wrote: »

Wifi probably,
You could potentially just drive around, seeing where all the hotspots are and make a map... plus everyone carries around personal stalking devices... I mean smartphones these days. If it happens to make a note of all the hotspot it sees and its current location and it just happens to upload this to a big database...

Oh well at least is not Google who will steal... I mean store for your convenience your wifi passwords.

There was this word begins with P... It went extinct a while back.


or you could just be living next to a known exchange and you don't know it.

I agree it would seem to use wifi triangulation (Windows Location Provider). Still surprised me though since all the local networks I can see via Inssider are encrypted. So if they're not transmitting a discernable location I don't know how my laptop can work out its? Anyway I don't like it and I've worked out how to switch it off!

stevemcol

Done a bit more reading. Apparently this is what all the fuss was about when google were gathering wifi data during streetview surveys. Router MAC numbers are associated with Lats & Longs & sig strength. So I guess even for WPA secured routers, that data is still transmitted and available to use.
And as people's routers wear out and are replaced, the survey data and Lat Long solutions will presumably become less accurate.

NiftyDigits

At least those who bought the Acer Aspire 5745PG Touch Screen Laptop from Argos Outlet earlier this year will find it a little more useful.

gildius

So I bought a new laptop over the weekend and it comes with windows 8 - my bro, a diehard windows 7 fan, is horrified. I can't wait to give it a try!