Wednesday 23 October 2013

Windows 8 - The new Windows Search (Goodbye, Windows Start Screen!)

There's the new "Navigation" tab in the taskbar settings. 




What you see is NOT the default but what I have it set to. Go through these settings, and get a feel for what they do!

The start search has been streamlined! When "search everywhere" is checked in taskbar settings, search results include EVERYTHING; files, apps, and settings! Results appear below the search field. 

When testing this, I found it odd that I would press the windows key, then results would appear below while the apps list would stay idle, so I poked around, and found that Windows-S serves the exact same functionality. No more searching by pressing "windows" and being distracted. Its all about the new streamlined Windows-S. Combo that with the "sign in to desktop" option, i'll hardly see that screen now! Windows-S is 8.1 only.




If you click the suggestions below the results, it'll do a bing search for those terms in the bing app. Pretty neat, and what I had expected 8.0 to do before the change in direction to "Modern" apps.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Windows 8 - What developers should know

Here's the quick rundown:

  • Download will happen in MS Store, no estimated time left. 
  • After it is done downloading, the computer WILL reboot after x amount of time (not sure what, I went for lunch), no way to delay it. Keep your documents saved people!
  • Be sure to upgrade to the latest VMware workstation, network connectivity will not work until you're on VMware 10 (at least, without major rehauling of the network config)
  • Windows-S
From my perspective, I was no worse with 8.0 than 8.1. I tolerated the windows-D combo every time I logged in. The new windows button is worthless, bringing me back to that start menu (or apps, if configured).

In conclusion, it's like you ordered coffee with cream and sugar, they forgot the cream and sugar with windows 8.0, then apologizes and gives you just the cream with 8.1. We still need the sugar!

Tuesday 15 October 2013

CodeRage 8!

I'm at Coderage 8, speaking about abstracting your UI and business logic!

Want to see the code I edited in the session? https://github.com/thestamp/CodeRage8

Also, checkout my Twitter and LinkedIn accounts!

@PascalCoder (For general ramblings)
@DelphiTips (For Delphi tips)
in/JeffLefebvre (LinkedIn)