<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
is	O
a	O
major	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
NT	I-Device
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
developed	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
introduced	O
major	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
's	O
platform	O
and	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
intended	O
to	O
improve	O
its	O
user	O
experience	O
on	O
tablets	B-Device
,	O
where	O
Windows	B-Application
was	O
now	O
competing	O
with	O
mobile	B-Operating_System
operating	I-Operating_System
systems	I-Operating_System
,	O
including	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
particular	O
,	O
these	O
changes	O
included	O
a	O
touch-optimized	O
Windows	B-Application
shell	I-Application
and	O
start	O
screen	B-Device
based	O
on	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Metro	O
design	O
language	O
,	O
integration	O
with	O
online	O
services	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
keyboard	B-Device
shortcut	O
for	O
screenshots	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
these	O
features	O
were	O
adapted	O
from	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
added	O
support	O
for	O
USB	O
3.0	O
,	O
Advanced	B-Device
Format	I-Device
,	O
near-field	O
communication	O
,	O
and	O
cloud	B-Architecture
computing	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additional	O
security	O
features	O
were	O
introduced	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
built-in	O
antivirus	B-Application
software	I-Application
,	O
integration	O
with	O
Microsoft	B-Application
SmartScreen	I-Application
phishing	O
filtering	O
,	O
and	O
support	O
for	O
Secure	O
Boot	O
on	O
supported	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
to	O
support	O
the	O
ARM	B-Architecture
architecture	I-Architecture
,	O
under	O
the	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
branding	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
removed	O
support	O
for	O
CPUs	O
without	O
PAE	B-General_Concept
,	O
SSE2	B-General_Concept
and	O
NX	B-General_Concept
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
released	O
to	O
a	O
mostly	O
negative	O
critical	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
reaction	O
to	O
its	O
performance	O
improvements	O
,	O
security	O
enhancements	O
,	O
and	O
improved	O
support	O
for	O
touchscreen	B-Device
devices	O
was	O
positive	O
,	O
the	O
new	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
was	O
widely	O
criticized	O
for	O
being	O
potentially	O
confusing	O
and	O
difficult	O
to	O
learn	O
,	O
especially	O
when	O
used	O
with	O
a	O
keyboard	B-Device
and	O
mouse	B-Device
instead	O
of	O
a	O
touchscreen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
these	O
shortcomings	O
,	O
60	O
million	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
licenses	O
were	O
sold	O
through	O
January	O
2013	O
,	O
a	O
number	O
that	O
included	O
both	O
upgrades	O
and	O
sales	O
to	O
OEMs	O
for	O
new	O
PCs	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
in	O
October	O
2013	O
,	O
which	O
addressed	O
some	O
aspects	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
that	O
were	O
criticized	O
by	O
reviewers	O
and	O
early	O
adopters	O
and	O
incorporated	O
additional	O
improvements	O
to	O
various	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
ultimately	O
succeeded	O
by	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
in	O
July	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
RTM	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
January	O
12	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
and	O
with	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
Embedded	O
8	O
Standard	O
users	O
,	O
all	O
users	O
are	O
required	O
to	O
install	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mainstream	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Embedded	O
Standard	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
ended	O
on	O
July	O
10	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
extended	O
support	O
ends	O
on	O
July	O
11	O
,	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
development	O
started	O
before	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
had	O
shipped	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
Consumer	O
Electronics	O
Show	O
in	O
January	O
2011	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
next	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
would	O
add	O
support	O
for	O
ARM	B-Architecture
System-on-chips	B-Architecture
alongside	O
the	O
existing	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
processors	O
produced	O
by	O
vendors	O
,	O
especially	O
AMD	O
and	O
Intel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
division	O
president	O
Steven	O
Sinofsky	O
demonstrated	O
an	O
early	O
build	O
of	O
the	O
port	O
on	O
prototype	O
devices	O
,	O
while	O
Microsoft	O
CEO	O
Steve	O
Ballmer	O
announced	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
goal	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
everywhere	O
on	O
every	O
kind	O
of	O
device	O
without	O
compromise.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Details	O
also	O
began	O
to	O
surface	B-Device
about	O
a	O
new	O
application	O
framework	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
codenamed	O
"	O
Jupiter	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
make	O
"	O
immersive	O
"	O
applications	B-Application
using	O
XAML	B-Device
(	O
similarly	O
to	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
and	O
Silverlight	B-Application
)	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
distributed	O
via	O
a	O
new	O
packaging	O
system	O
and	O
a	O
rumored	O
application	O
store	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
earliest	O
available	O
build	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
is	O
,	O
compiled	O
in	O
January	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
build	O
was	O
identical	O
to	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
except	O
for	O
the	O
wallpaper	O
being	O
different	O
-	O
the	O
same	O
one	O
from	O
the	O
Beta	O
and	O
Release	O
Candidate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
there	O
were	O
a	O
few	O
references	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
in	O
this	O
build	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
2010	O
,	O
an	O
optional	O
3D	O
desktop	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
for	O
high-end	O
systems	O
named	O
"	O
Wind	O
"	O
was	O
rumored	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
milestone	O
releases	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
one	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
leaked	O
to	O
the	O
general	O
public	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
start	O
screen	B-Device
was	O
very	O
primitive	O
,	O
being	O
a	O
screen	B-Device
with	O
a	O
white	O
background	O
and	O
gray	O
tiles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
OS	O
still	O
reads	O
as	O
"	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
traditional	O
Blue	O
Screen	B-Device
of	O
Death	O
(	O
BSoD	O
)	O
was	O
replaced	O
by	O
a	O
new	O
black	O
screen	B-Device
,	O
although	O
it	O
was	O
later	O
reverted	O
to	O
a	O
different	O
blue	O
color	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
build	O
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
ribbon	O
in	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
"	O
logo	O
was	O
temporarily	O
replaced	O
with	O
text	O
displaying	O
"	O
Microsoft	O
Confidential	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
builds	O
7850	O
and	O
7955	O
leaked	O
alongside	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
build	O
7959	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
17	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
build	O
7989	O
64-bit	B-Device
edition	O
was	O
leaked	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
boot	O
screen	B-Device
featuring	O
the	O
same	O
Betta	O
fish	O
as	O
the	O
default	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
Beta	O
wallpaper	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
later	O
replaced	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
circling	O
dots	O
as	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
final	O
build	O
(	O
although	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
comes	O
with	O
smaller	O
circling	O
dots	O
throbber	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
boot	O
screen	B-Device
was	O
not	O
new	O
to	O
this	O
build	O
though	O
-	O
it	O
came	O
from	O
build	O
7973	O
,	O
a	O
slightly	O
earlier	O
build	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
patch	O
named	O
Redpill	O
was	O
necessary	O
to	O
reveal	O
the	O
new	O
Metro	O
UI	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
redesigned	O
Start	O
Screen	B-Device
,	O
Lock	O
Screen	B-Device
and	O
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
applications	B-Application
have	O
tried	O
to	O
replicate	O
this	O
patch	O
as	O
closely	O
as	O
possible	O
,	O
although	O
one	O
called	O
Redlock	O
is	O
the	O
most	O
accurate	O
,	O
supporting	O
the	O
enabling	O
of	O
builds	O
 '	O
Metro	O
UI	O
from	O
7814-8056	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
build	O
also	O
leaked	O
in	O
the	O
x86	B-Operating_System
architecture	I-Operating_System
as	O
a	O
debug	O
build	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
setup	O
having	O
a	O
slight	O
change	O
-	O
the	O
theme	O
was	O
now	O
Windows	B-Application
Basic	O
in	O
setup	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
Classic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
wallpaper	O
was	O
introduced	O
and	O
Metro	O
was	O
updated	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
like	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
1	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
unveiled	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
new	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
additional	O
features	O
at	O
both	O
Computex	O
Taipei	O
and	O
the	O
D9	O
:	O
All	O
Things	O
Digital	O
conference	O
in	O
California	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
Building	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
"	O
blog	O
launched	O
on	O
August	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
featuring	O
details	O
surrounding	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
features	O
and	O
its	O
development	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
would	O
unveil	O
more	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
features	O
and	O
improvements	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
day	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
Build	O
conference	O
on	O
September	O
13	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
released	O
the	O
first	O
public	O
beta	O
build	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Developer	I-Application
Preview	I-Application
(	O
build	O
8102	O
)	O
at	O
the	O
event	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Samsung	O
tablet	B-Device
running	O
the	O
build	O
was	O
also	O
distributed	O
to	O
conference	O
attendees	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
build	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
download	O
later	O
that	O
day	O
in	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
and	O
64-bit	B-Device
variants	O
,	O
plus	O
a	O
special	O
64-bit	B-Device
variant	O
which	O
included	O
SDKs	O
and	O
developer	O
tools	O
(	O
Visual	B-Application
Studio	I-Application
Express	I-Application
and	O
Expression	B-Application
Blend	I-Application
)	O
for	O
developing	O
Metro-style	O
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
was	O
also	O
announced	O
during	O
the	O
presentation	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
not	O
available	O
in	O
this	O
build	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
unveiled	O
a	O
new	O
logo	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designed	O
by	O
Pentagram	O
partner	O
Paula	O
Scher	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
logo	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
resemble	O
a	O
set	O
of	O
four	O
window	O
panes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
29	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Consumer	O
Preview	O
,	O
the	O
beta	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
build	O
8250	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alongside	O
other	O
changes	O
,	O
the	O
build	O
brought	O
over	O
the	O
big	O
change	O
from	O
build	O
8195	O
:	O
removing	O
the	O
Start	O
button	O
from	O
the	O
taskbar	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
a	O
public	O
build	O
since	O
its	O
debut	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
;	O
according	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
manager	O
Chaitanya	O
Sareen	O
,	O
the	O
Start	O
button	O
was	O
removed	O
to	O
reflect	O
their	O
view	O
that	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
the	O
desktop	O
was	O
an	O
app	O
itself	O
,	O
and	O
not	O
the	O
primary	O
interface	O
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
president	O
Steven	O
Sinofsky	O
said	O
more	O
than	O
100,000	O
changes	O
had	O
been	O
made	O
since	O
the	O
developer	O
version	O
went	O
public	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
day	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Consumer	O
Preview	O
had	O
been	O
downloaded	O
over	O
one	O
million	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
other	O
builds	O
may	O
exist	O
or	O
were	O
released	O
until	O
Japan	O
's	O
Developers	O
Day	O
conference	O
when	O
Steven	O
Sinofsky	O
announced	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Release	I-Application
Preview	O
(	O
build	O
8400	O
)	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
June	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
28	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Release	I-Application
Preview	O
(	O
Standard	O
Simplified	O
Chinese	O
x64	B-Device
edition	I-Device
,	O
not	O
China-specific	O
variant	O
,	O
build	O
8400	O
)	O
was	O
leaked	O
online	O
on	O
various	O
Chinese	O
and	O
BitTorrent	O
websites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
31	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Release	I-Application
Preview	O
was	O
released	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Major	O
items	O
in	O
the	O
Release	O
Preview	O
included	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
Sports	O
,	O
Travel	O
,	O
and	O
News	O
apps	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
an	O
integrated	O
variant	O
of	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
Player	I-Operating_System
in	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
1	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
(	O
build	O
9200	O
)	O
was	O
released	O
to	O
manufacturing	O
with	O
the	O
build	O
number	O
6.2.9200.16384	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
planned	O
to	O
hold	O
a	O
launch	O
event	O
on	O
October	O
25	O
,	O
2012	O
and	O
release	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
for	O
general	O
availability	O
on	O
the	O
next	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
only	O
a	O
day	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
to	O
manufacturing	O
,	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Enterprise	O
N	O
(	O
a	O
variant	O
for	O
European	O
markets	O
which	O
lacks	O
bundled	O
media	B-Device
players	I-Device
to	O
comply	O
with	O
an	O
antitrust	O
ruling	O
)	O
was	O
leaked	O
online	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
leaks	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
and	O
Enterprise	O
a	O
few	O
days	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
15	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
download	O
for	O
MSDN	O
and	O
TechNet	O
subscribers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
made	O
available	O
to	O
Software	O
Assurance	O
customers	O
on	O
August	O
16	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
students	O
with	O
a	O
DreamSpark	O
Premium	O
subscription	O
on	O
August	O
22	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
earlier	O
than	O
advertised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
became	O
generally	O
available	O
for	O
download	O
to	O
all	O
MSDN	O
and	O
TechNet	O
customers	O
on	O
August	O
15	O
and	O
for	O
retail	O
purchase	O
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Relatively	O
few	O
changes	O
were	O
made	O
from	O
the	O
Release	O
Preview	O
to	O
the	O
final	O
version	O
;	O
these	O
included	O
updated	O
versions	O
of	O
its	O
pre-loaded	O
apps	O
,	O
the	O
renaming	O
of	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
to	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
the	O
replacement	O
of	O
the	O
Aero	O
Glass	O
theme	O
from	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
7	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
flat	O
and	O
solid-color	O
theme	O
as	O
seen	O
in	O
build	O
8432	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
new	O
background	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
,	O
lock	O
screen	B-Device
,	O
and	O
desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
its	O
general	O
availability	O
on	O
October	O
26	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
updates	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
some	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
bundled	O
apps	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
General	O
Availability	O
Cumulative	O
Update	O
"	O
(	O
which	O
included	O
fixes	O
to	O
improve	O
performance	O
,	O
compatibility	O
,	O
and	O
battery	O
life	O
)	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Tuesday	O
,	O
October	O
9	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
indicated	O
that	O
due	O
to	O
improvements	O
to	O
its	O
testing	O
infrastructure	O
,	O
general	O
improvements	O
of	O
this	O
nature	O
are	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
more	O
frequently	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Update	O
instead	O
of	O
being	O
relegated	O
to	O
OEMs	O
and	O
service	O
packs	O
only	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
began	O
an	O
advertising	O
campaign	O
centered	O
around	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
its	O
Surface	B-Device
tablet	B-Device
in	O
October	O
2012	O
,	O
starting	O
with	O
its	O
first	O
television	O
advertisement	O
premiering	O
on	O
October	O
14	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
's	O
advertising	O
budget	O
of	O
US	O
$1.5	O
–	O
1.8billion	O
was	O
significantly	O
larger	O
than	O
the	O
US$200	O
million	O
campaign	O
used	O
to	O
promote	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
its	O
campaign	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
set	O
up	O
34	O
pop-up	O
stores	O
inside	O
malls	O
to	O
showcase	O
the	O
Surface	B-Device
product	O
line	O
,	O
provided	O
training	O
for	O
retail	O
employees	O
in	O
partnership	O
with	O
Intel	O
,	O
and	O
collaborated	O
with	O
the	O
electronics	O
store	O
chain	O
Best	O
Buy	O
to	O
design	O
expanded	O
spaces	O
to	O
showcase	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
make	O
retail	O
displays	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
devices	O
a	O
bit	O
more	O
"	O
personal	O
"	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
also	O
developed	O
a	O
character	O
known	O
in	O
English-speaking	O
markets	O
as	O
"	O
Allison	O
Brown	O
"	O
,	O
whose	O
fictional	O
profile	O
(	O
including	O
personal	O
photos	O
,	O
contacts	O
,	O
and	O
emails	O
)	O
is	O
also	O
featured	O
on	O
demonstration	O
units	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
PCs	B-Device
plan	O
to	O
offer	O
a	O
new	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
upgrade	O
on	O
December	O
31	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
upgraded	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
product	O
of	O
currently	O
supported	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
PCs	B-Device
in	O
January	O
2013	O
via	O
Windows	B-Application
Update	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2013	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
launched	O
a	O
new	O
television	O
campaign	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
illustrating	O
the	O
capabilities	O
and	O
pricing	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
tablets	B-Device
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
the	O
iPad	B-Device
,	O
which	O
featured	O
the	O
voice	O
of	O
Siri	B-Application
remarking	O
on	O
the	O
iPad	B-Device
's	O
limitations	O
in	O
a	O
parody	O
of	O
Apple	O
's	O
"	O
Get	O
a	O
Mac	O
"	O
advertisements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
12	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
during	O
game	O
1	O
of	O
the	O
2013	O
Stanley	O
Cup	O
Finals	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
premiered	O
the	O
first	O
ad	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
Windows	B-Application
Everywhere	O
"	O
campaign	O
,	O
which	O
promoted	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
8	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
suite	O
of	O
online	O
services	O
as	O
an	O
interconnected	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
features	O
and	O
functionality	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
include	O
a	O
faster	O
startup	O
through	O
UEFI	B-Architecture
integration	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
"	O
Hybrid	B-Operating_System
Boot	O
"	O
mode	O
(	O
which	O
hibernates	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
kernel	B-Operating_System
on	O
shutdown	O
to	O
speed	O
up	O
the	O
subsequent	O
boot	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
lock	O
screen	B-Device
with	O
a	O
clock	O
and	O
notifications	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
enterprise	O
users	O
to	O
create	O
live	O
USB	O
variants	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
(	O
also	O
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Application
To	O
Go	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
also	O
adds	O
native	O
support	O
for	O
USB	O
3	O
devices	O
,	O
which	O
allow	O
for	O
faster	O
data	O
transfers	O
and	O
improved	O
power	O
management	O
with	O
compatible	O
devices	O
,	O
and	O
hard	B-Device
disk	I-Device
4KB	O
Advanced	B-Device
Format	I-Device
support	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
support	O
for	O
near	O
field	O
communication	O
to	O
facilitate	O
sharing	O
and	O
communication	O
between	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
has	O
been	O
renamed	O
to	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
,	O
now	O
includes	O
a	O
ribbon	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
the	O
command	O
bar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
"	O
File	O
History	O
"	O
function	O
allows	O
incremental	O
revisions	O
of	O
files	O
to	O
be	O
backed	O
up	O
to	O
and	O
restored	O
from	O
a	O
secondary	O
storage	O
device	O
,	O
while	O
Storage	O
Spaces	O
allows	O
users	O
to	O
combine	O
different	O
sized	O
hard	B-Device
disks	I-Device
into	O
virtual	O
drives	O
and	O
specify	O
mirroring	O
,	O
parity	O
,	O
or	O
no	O
redundancy	O
on	O
a	O
folder-by-folder	O
basis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
easier	O
management	O
of	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
introduces	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
move	O
selected	O
files	O
or	O
folders	O
via	O
drag	O
and	O
drop	O
from	O
a	O
parent	O
folder	O
into	O
a	O
subfolder	O
listed	O
within	O
the	O
breadcrumb	O
hierarchy	O
of	O
the	O
address	O
bar	O
in	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Task	O
Manager	O
has	O
been	O
redesigned	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
new	O
processes	O
tab	O
with	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
display	O
fewer	O
or	O
more	O
details	O
of	O
running	O
applications	B-Application
and	O
background	O
processes	O
,	O
a	O
heat	O
map	O
using	O
different	O
colors	O
indicating	O
the	O
level	O
of	O
resource	O
usage	O
,	O
network	O
and	O
disk	O
counters	O
,	O
grouping	O
by	O
process	O
type	O
(	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
applications	B-Application
,	O
background	O
processes	O
and	O
Windows	B-Application
processes	O
)	O
,	O
friendly	O
names	O
for	O
processes	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
option	O
which	O
allows	O
users	O
to	O
search	O
the	O
web	O
to	O
find	O
information	O
about	O
obscure	O
processes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
the	O
Blue	O
Screen	B-Device
of	O
Death	O
has	O
been	O
updated	O
with	O
a	O
simpler	O
and	O
modern	O
design	O
with	O
less	O
technical	O
information	O
displayed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
security	O
features	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
include	O
two	O
new	O
authentication	O
methods	O
tailored	O
towards	O
touchscreens	B-Device
(	O
PINs	O
and	O
picture	O
passwords	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
antivirus	B-Application
capabilities	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
Defender	I-Application
(	O
bringing	O
it	O
in	O
parity	O
with	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Security	I-Application
Essentials	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SmartScreen	B-Application
filtering	O
integrated	O
into	O
Windows	B-Application
,	O
Family	O
Safety	O
offers	O
Parental	O
controls	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
parents	O
to	O
monitor	O
and	O
manage	O
their	O
children	O
's	O
activities	O
on	O
a	O
device	O
with	O
activity	O
reports	O
and	O
safety	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
also	O
provides	O
integrated	O
system	B-Operating_System
recovery	I-Operating_System
through	O
the	O
new	O
"	O
Refresh	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Reset	O
"	O
functions	O
,	O
including	O
system	B-Operating_System
recovery	I-Operating_System
from	O
USB	O
drive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
first	O
security	O
patches	O
would	O
be	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
13	O
,	O
2012	O
;	O
it	O
would	O
contain	O
three	O
fixes	O
deemed	O
"	O
critical	O
"	O
by	O
the	O
company	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
supports	O
a	O
feature	O
of	O
the	O
UEFI	B-Architecture
specification	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
Secure	O
boot	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
uses	O
a	O
public-key	B-Architecture
infrastructure	I-Architecture
to	O
verify	O
the	O
integrity	O
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
and	O
prevent	O
unauthorized	O
programs	O
such	O
as	O
bootkits	O
from	O
infecting	O
the	O
device	O
's	O
boot	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
ARM-based	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
devices	O
must	O
have	O
secure	O
boot	O
permanently	O
enabled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
provides	O
heavier	O
integration	O
with	O
online	O
services	O
from	O
Microsoft	O
and	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
user	O
can	O
now	O
log	O
into	O
Windows	B-Application
with	O
a	O
Microsoft	O
account	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
access	O
services	O
and	O
synchronize	O
applications	B-Application
and	O
settings	O
between	O
multiple	O
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
also	O
ships	O
with	O
a	O
client	O
app	O
for	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
SkyDrive	B-Application
cloud	O
storage	O
service	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
allows	O
apps	O
to	O
save	O
files	O
directly	O
to	O
SkyDrive	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
SkyDrive	B-Application
client	O
for	O
the	O
desktop	O
and	O
File	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
is	O
not	O
included	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
and	O
must	O
be	O
downloaded	O
separately	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bundled	O
multimedia	O
apps	O
are	O
provided	O
under	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
brand	O
,	O
including	O
Xbox	B-Application
Music	I-Application
,	O
Xbox	B-Application
Video	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Protocol
SmartGlass	I-Protocol
companion	O
for	O
use	O
with	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Games	O
can	O
integrate	O
into	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
hub	O
app	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
allows	O
users	O
to	O
view	O
their	O
profile	O
and	O
Gamerscore	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
bundled	O
apps	O
provide	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
link	O
Flickr	B-Algorithm
and	O
Facebook	B-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
Facebook	B-Application
Connect	O
service	O
changes	O
,	O
Facebook	B-Application
support	O
is	O
disabled	O
in	O
all	O
bundled	O
apps	O
effective	O
June	O
8	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
10	I-Application
is	O
included	O
under	O
two	O
variants	O
:	O
A	O
desktop	O
program	O
and	O
a	O
touch-optimized	O
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
includes	O
increased	O
support	O
for	O
HTML5	B-Application
,	O
CSS3	O
,	O
and	O
hardware	B-General_Concept
acceleration	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
app	O
does	O
not	O
support	O
plugins	O
or	O
ActiveX	B-Application
components	I-Application
,	O
but	O
includes	O
a	O
variant	O
of	O
Adobe	B-Operating_System
Flash	I-Operating_System
Player	I-Operating_System
that	O
is	O
optimized	O
for	O
touch	O
and	O
low	O
power	O
usage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
also	O
incorporates	O
improved	O
support	O
for	O
mobile	O
broadband	O
;	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
can	O
now	O
detect	O
the	O
insertion	O
of	O
a	O
SIM	O
card	O
and	O
automatically	O
configure	O
connection	O
settings	O
(	O
including	O
APNs	O
and	O
carrier	O
branding	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
reduce	O
its	O
Internet	O
usage	O
to	O
conserve	O
bandwidth	O
on	O
metered	O
networks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
also	O
adds	O
an	O
integrated	O
airplane	B-Device
mode	I-Device
setting	O
to	O
globally	O
disable	O
all	O
wireless	O
connectivity	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Carriers	O
can	O
also	O
offer	O
account	O
management	O
systems	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
automatically	O
installed	O
as	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
connection	O
process	O
and	O
offer	O
usage	O
statistics	O
on	O
their	O
respective	O
tile	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
introduces	O
a	O
new	O
style	O
of	O
application	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Microsoft	O
developer	O
Jensen	O
Harris	O
,	O
these	O
apps	O
are	O
optimized	O
for	O
touchscreen	B-Device
environments	O
and	O
are	O
more	O
specialized	O
than	O
current	O
desktop	B-Application
applications	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apps	O
can	O
run	O
either	O
in	O
a	O
full-screen	O
mode	O
or	O
be	O
snapped	O
to	O
the	O
side	O
of	O
a	O
screen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apps	O
can	O
provide	O
toast	O
notifications	O
on	O
screen	B-Device
or	O
animate	O
their	O
tiles	O
on	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
with	O
dynamic	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Apps	O
can	O
also	O
provide	O
integration	O
with	O
other	O
services	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
the	O
People	O
app	O
can	O
connect	O
to	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
different	O
social	O
networks	O
and	O
services	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
Facebook	B-Application
,	O
Skype	B-Application
,	O
and	O
People	O
service	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Photos	O
app	O
can	O
aggregate	O
photos	O
from	O
services	O
such	O
as	O
Facebook	B-Application
and	O
Flickr	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
run	O
within	O
a	O
new	O
set	O
of	O
APIs	B-Application
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Application
Runtime	O
,	O
which	O
supports	O
programming	O
languages	O
such	O
as	O
C	B-Language
,	O
C++	B-Language
,	O
Visual	B-Language
Basic	I-Language
.NET	I-Language
,	O
C#	B-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
HTML5	B-Application
and	O
JavaScript	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
written	O
in	O
some	O
"	O
high-level	O
"	O
languages	O
,	O
apps	O
written	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
Runtime	O
can	O
be	O
compatible	O
with	O
both	O
Intel	O
and	O
ARM	B-Architecture
variants	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
,	O
otherwise	O
they	O
are	O
not	O
binary	B-General_Concept
code	I-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Components	O
may	O
be	O
compiled	O
as	O
Windows	B-Application
Runtime	O
Components	O
,	O
permitting	O
consumption	O
by	O
all	O
compatible	O
languages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Retail	O
variants	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
are	O
only	O
able	O
to	O
install	O
these	O
apps	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
—	O
a	O
namesake	O
distribution	O
platform	O
that	O
offers	O
both	O
apps	O
,	O
and	O
listings	O
for	O
desktop	O
programs	O
certified	O
for	O
comparability	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
method	O
to	O
sideload	B-Protocol
apps	O
from	O
outside	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
is	O
available	O
to	O
devices	O
running	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Enterprise	O
and	O
joined	O
to	O
a	O
domain	B-General_Concept
;	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
and	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
devices	O
that	O
are	O
not	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
domain	B-General_Concept
can	O
also	O
sideload	B-Protocol
apps	O
,	O
but	O
only	O
after	O
special	O
product	O
keys	O
are	O
obtained	O
through	O
volume	B-License
licensing	I-License
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
"	O
Immersive	O
app	O
"	O
had	O
been	O
used	O
internally	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
developers	O
to	O
refer	O
to	O
the	O
apps	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
official	O
presentation	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
after	O
which	O
they	O
were	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
"	O
Metro-style	O
apps	O
"	O
in	O
reference	O
to	O
the	O
Metro	O
design	O
language	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
was	O
phased	O
out	O
in	O
August	O
2012	O
;	O
a	O
Microsoft	O
spokesperson	O
denied	O
rumors	O
that	O
the	O
change	O
was	O
related	O
to	O
a	O
potential	O
trademark	O
issue	O
,	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Metro	O
"	O
was	O
only	O
a	O
codename	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
replaced	O
prior	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
these	O
reports	O
,	O
the	O
terms	O
"	O
Modern	O
UI-style	O
apps	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Windows	O
8-style	O
apps	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
"	O
began	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
by	O
various	O
Microsoft	O
documents	O
and	O
material	O
to	O
refer	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
on	O
September	O
12	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Soma	O
Somasegar	O
(	O
vice	O
president	O
of	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
development	O
software	O
division	O
)	O
confirmed	O
that	O
"	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
"	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
official	O
term	O
for	O
the	O
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Exceptions	O
to	O
the	O
restrictions	O
faced	O
by	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
are	O
given	O
to	O
web	B-Application
browsers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
user	O
's	O
default	O
browser	B-Application
can	O
distribute	O
a	O
Metro-style	O
web	B-Application
browser	I-Application
in	O
the	O
same	O
package	O
as	O
the	O
desktop	O
variant	O
,	O
which	O
has	O
access	O
to	O
functionality	O
unavailable	O
to	O
other	O
apps	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
being	O
able	O
to	O
permanently	O
run	O
in	O
the	O
background	O
,	O
use	O
multiple	O
background	O
processes	O
,	O
and	O
use	O
Windows	B-Library
API	I-Library
code	O
instead	O
of	O
WinRT	O
(	O
allowing	O
for	O
code	O
to	O
be	O
re-used	O
with	O
the	O
desktop	O
variant	O
,	O
while	O
still	O
taking	O
advantage	O
of	O
features	O
available	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
charms	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
of	O
both	O
Chrome	B-Operating_System
and	O
Firefox	B-Application
committed	O
to	O
developing	O
Metro-style	O
variants	O
of	O
their	O
browsers	B-Application
;	O
while	O
Chrome	B-Operating_System
's	O
"	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
mode	O
"	O
(	O
discontinued	O
on	O
Chrome	B-Operating_System
version	O
49	O
)	O
uses	O
a	O
full-screen	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
existing	O
desktop	O
interface	O
,	O
Firefox	B-Application
's	O
variant	O
(	O
which	O
was	O
first	O
made	O
available	O
on	O
the	O
"	O
Aurora	O
"	O
release	O
channel	O
in	O
September	O
2013	O
)	O
uses	O
a	O
touch-optimized	O
interface	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
Android	B-Application
variant	I-Application
of	I-Application
Firefox	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2013	O
,	O
Chrome	B-Operating_System
's	O
app	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
mimic	O
the	O
desktop	O
environment	O
used	O
by	O
Chrome	B-Operating_System
OS	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
the	O
Firefox	B-Application
app	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
has	O
since	O
been	O
cancelled	O
,	O
citing	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
user	O
adoption	O
for	O
the	O
beta	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
introduces	O
significant	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
's	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
,	O
many	O
of	O
which	O
are	O
aimed	O
at	O
improving	O
its	O
experience	O
on	O
tablet	B-Device
computers	I-Device
and	O
other	O
touchscreen	B-Device
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
is	O
based	O
on	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Metro	O
design	O
language	O
and	O
uses	O
a	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
similar	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
7	O
as	O
the	O
primary	O
means	O
of	O
launching	O
applications	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
displays	O
a	O
customizable	O
array	O
of	O
tiles	O
linking	O
to	O
various	O
apps	O
and	O
desktop	O
programs	O
,	O
some	O
of	O
which	O
can	O
display	O
constantly	O
updated	O
information	O
and	O
content	O
through	O
"	O
live	O
tiles	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
multi-tasking	B-Operating_System
,	O
apps	O
can	O
be	O
snapped	O
to	O
the	O
side	O
of	O
a	O
screen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alongside	O
the	O
traditional	O
Control	O
Panel	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
simplified	O
and	O
touch-optimized	O
settings	O
app	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
PC	B-Device
Settings	O
"	O
is	O
used	O
for	O
basic	O
configuration	O
and	O
user	O
settings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
vertical	O
toolbar	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
charms	O
(	O
accessed	O
by	O
swiping	O
from	O
the	O
right	O
edge	O
of	O
a	O
touchscreen	B-Device
,	O
swiping	O
from	O
the	O
right	O
edge	O
of	O
a	O
touchpad	O
,	O
or	O
pointing	O
the	O
cursor	O
at	O
hotspots	B-General_Concept
in	O
the	O
right	O
corners	O
of	O
a	O
screen	B-Device
)	O
provides	O
access	O
to	O
system	O
and	O
app-related	O
functions	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
search	O
,	O
sharing	O
,	O
device	O
management	O
,	O
settings	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
Start	O
button	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
traditional	O
desktop	O
environment	O
for	O
running	O
desktop	B-Application
applications	I-Application
is	O
accessed	O
via	O
a	O
tile	O
on	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Start	O
button	O
on	O
the	O
taskbar	O
from	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
has	O
been	O
converted	O
into	O
a	O
hotspot	B-General_Concept
(	O
or	O
"	O
hot	O
corner	O
"	O
)	O
in	O
the	O
lower-left	O
corner	O
of	O
the	O
screen	B-Device
,	O
which	O
displays	O
a	O
large	O
tooltip	O
displaying	O
a	O
thumbnail	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
added	O
the	O
start	O
button	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
taskbar	O
after	O
many	O
complaints	O
,	O
but	O
removed	O
the	O
preview	O
thumbnail	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Swiping	O
from	O
the	O
left	O
edge	O
of	O
a	O
touchscreen	B-Device
or	O
clicking	O
in	O
the	O
top-left	O
corner	O
of	O
the	O
screen	B-Device
allows	O
one	O
to	O
switch	O
between	O
apps	O
and	O
Desktop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pointing	O
the	O
cursor	O
in	O
the	O
top-left	O
corner	O
of	O
the	O
screen	B-Device
and	O
moving	O
down	O
reveals	O
a	O
thumbnail	O
list	O
of	O
active	O
apps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aside	O
from	O
the	O
removal	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
button	O
and	O
the	O
replacement	O
of	O
the	O
Aero	O
Glass	O
theme	O
with	O
a	O
flatter	B-Application
and	O
solid-colored	O
design	O
,	O
the	O
desktop	O
interface	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
is	O
similar	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
notable	O
features	O
were	O
removed	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
;	O
support	O
for	O
playing	O
DVD-Video	O
was	O
removed	O
from	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Player	I-Device
due	O
to	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
licensing	O
the	O
necessary	O
decoders	O
(	O
especially	O
for	O
devices	O
which	O
do	O
not	O
include	O
optical	O
disc	O
drives	O
at	O
all	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
prevalence	O
of	O
online	O
streaming	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
same	O
reasons	O
,	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Center	I-Device
is	O
not	O
included	O
by	O
default	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
but	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Center	I-Device
and	O
DVD	O
playback	O
support	O
could	O
be	O
purchased	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Pro	O
Pack	O
"	O
(	O
which	O
upgrades	O
the	O
system	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
)	O
or	O
"	O
Media	O
Center	O
Pack	O
"	O
add-on	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
prior	O
versions	O
,	O
third-party	O
DVD	B-Device
player	I-Device
software	O
can	O
still	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
enable	O
DVD	O
playback	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Backup	B-Application
and	O
Restore	O
,	O
the	O
backup	B-Application
component	I-Application
of	O
Windows	B-Application
,	O
was	O
deprecated	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
still	O
shipped	O
with	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
continues	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
preset	O
schedules	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
pushed	O
to	O
the	O
background	O
and	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
accessed	O
through	O
a	O
Control	O
Panel	O
applet	O
called	O
"	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
File	O
Recovery	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	O
Copy	O
,	O
a	O
component	O
of	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Explorer	I-Protocol
that	O
once	O
saved	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
changed	O
files	O
,	O
no	O
longer	O
protects	O
local	O
files	O
and	O
folders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
can	O
only	O
access	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
shared	O
files	O
stored	O
on	O
a	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
computer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
minimum	O
system	O
requirements	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
are	O
higher	O
than	O
those	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
must	O
support	O
the	O
Physical	B-General_Concept
Address	I-General_Concept
Extension	I-General_Concept
(	O
PAE	B-General_Concept
)	O
,	O
NX	B-General_Concept
bit	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
SSE2	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
require	O
a	O
screen	B-Device
resolution	O
of	O
1024×768	O
or	O
higher	O
to	O
run	O
;	O
a	O
resolution	O
of	O
1366×768	O
or	O
higher	O
is	O
required	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
snap	O
functionality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
receive	O
certification	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
requires	O
candidate	O
x86	B-Operating_System
systems	O
to	O
resume	O
from	O
standby	O
in	O
2	O
seconds	O
or	O
less	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
's	O
Connected	B-Device
Standby	I-Device
specification	O
,	O
which	O
hardware	O
vendors	O
may	O
optionally	O
comply	O
with	O
,	O
sets	O
new	O
power	O
consumption	O
requirements	O
that	O
extend	O
above	O
the	O
above	O
minimum	O
specifications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
32-bit	B-Operating_System
SKUs	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
only	O
support	O
a	O
maximum	O
of	O
4	O
GB	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
64-bit	B-Device
SKUs	O
,	O
however	O
support	O
more	O
:	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
x64	B-Device
supports	O
128	O
GB	O
while	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
and	O
Enterprise	O
x64	B-Device
support	O
512	O
GB	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2016	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
no	O
longer	O
support	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
or	O
7	O
on	O
devices	O
using	O
Intel	O
's	O
Skylake	B-Architecture
CPU	B-General_Concept
family	O
effective	O
July	O
17	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
all	O
future	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
microarchitectures	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Skylake	B-Architecture
systems	O
after	O
this	O
date	O
,	O
would	O
only	O
be	O
supported	O
on	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
this	O
new	O
policy	O
faced	O
criticism	O
from	O
users	O
and	O
enterprise	O
customers	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
partially	O
retracted	O
the	O
change	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
both	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
would	O
remain	O
supported	O
on	O
Skylake	B-Architecture
hardware	O
through	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
their	O
Extended	O
support	O
lifecycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
remains	O
officially	O
unsupported	O
on	O
all	O
newer	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
families	O
,	O
and	O
neither	O
AMD	O
or	O
Intel	O
will	O
provide	O
official	O
chipset	O
drivers	B-Application
for	O
Windows	B-Application
operating	I-Application
systems	I-Application
other	O
than	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
10	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
August	O
2016	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
again	O
extended	O
the	O
Skylake	B-Architecture
support	O
policy	O
until	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
and	O
8.1	B-Device
(	O
2020	O
and	O
2023	O
,	O
respectively	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
released	O
minimum	O
hardware	O
requirements	O
for	O
tablet	B-Device
and	O
laplet	B-Device
devices	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
certified	O
"	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
and	O
defined	O
a	O
convertible	O
form	O
factor	O
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
device	O
that	O
combines	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
,	O
display	O
,	O
and	O
rechargeable	O
power	O
source	O
with	O
a	O
mechanically	O
attached	O
keyboard	B-Device
and	O
pointing	O
device	O
in	O
a	O
single	O
chassis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
convertible	O
can	O
be	O
transformed	O
into	O
a	O
tablet	B-Device
where	O
the	O
attached	O
input	O
devices	O
are	O
hidden	O
or	O
removed	O
leaving	O
the	O
display	O
as	O
the	O
only	O
input	O
mechanism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
12	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
amended	O
its	O
certification	O
requirements	O
to	O
only	O
require	O
that	O
screens	O
on	O
tablets	B-Device
have	O
a	O
minimum	O
resolution	O
of	O
1024×768	O
(	O
down	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
1366×768	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
+Hardware	O
certification	O
requirements	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
tabletsGraphics	O
cardDirectX	O
10	O
graphics	O
device	O
with	O
WDDM	B-Device
1.2	O
or	O
higher	O
driverStorage10	O
GB	O
free	O
space	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
out-of-box	O
experience	O
completesStandard	O
buttons	O
,	O
,	O
,	O
,	O
ScreenTouch	O
screen	B-Device
supporting	O
a	O
minimum	O
of	O
5-point	O
digitizers	O
and	O
resolution	O
of	O
at	O
least	O
1024×768	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
the	O
display	O
is	O
under	O
1366×768	O
,	O
disclaimers	O
must	O
be	O
included	O
in	O
documentation	O
to	O
notify	O
users	O
that	O
the	O
Snap	O
function	O
is	O
not	O
available.CameraMinimum	O
720pAccelerometer3	O
axes	O
with	O
data	O
rates	O
at	O
or	O
above	O
50	O
HzUSB	O
2.0At	O
least	O
one	O
controller	O
and	O
exposed	O
port.ConnectWi-Fi	O
and	O
Bluetooth	O
4.0	O
+	O
LE	O
(	O
low	O
energy	O
)	O
OtherSpeaker	O
,	O
microphone	B-Application
,	O
magnetometer	O
and	O
gyroscope	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
a	O
mobile	O
broadband	O
device	O
is	O
integrated	O
into	O
a	O
tablet	B-Device
or	O
convertible	O
system	O
,	O
then	O
an	O
assisted	O
GPS	O
radio	O
is	O
required	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
button	O
combination	O
for	O
Ctrl	O
+	O
Alt	O
+	O
Del	O
is	O
Windows	B-Application
Key	O
+	O
Power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Updated	O
certification	O
requirements	O
were	O
implemented	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
of	O
2014	O
,	O
all	O
certified	O
devices	O
with	O
integrated	O
displays	O
must	O
contain	O
a	O
720p	O
webcam	O
and	O
higher	O
quality	O
speakers	O
and	O
microphones	B-Application
,	O
while	O
all	O
certified	O
devices	O
that	O
support	O
Wi-Fi	O
must	O
support	O
Bluetooth	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
is	O
available	O
in	O
three	O
different	O
editions	O
,	O
of	O
which	O
the	O
lowest	O
edition	O
,	O
branded	O
simply	O
as	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
,	O
were	O
sold	O
at	O
retail	O
in	O
most	O
countries	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
pre-loaded	O
software	O
on	O
new	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
includes	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
capabilities	O
and	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
edition	O
below	O
it	O
,	O
and	O
add	O
additional	O
features	O
oriented	O
towards	O
their	O
market	O
segments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
Pro	O
added	O
BitLocker	O
,	O
Hyper-V	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
join	O
a	O
domain	B-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
install	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Center	I-Device
as	O
a	O
paid	O
add-on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Users	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
can	O
purchase	O
a	O
"	O
Pro	O
Pack	O
"	O
license	O
that	O
upgrades	O
their	O
system	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
through	O
Add	O
features	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
license	O
also	O
includes	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Center	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Enterprise	O
contains	O
additional	O
features	O
aimed	O
towards	O
business	O
environments	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
only	O
available	O
through	O
volume	B-License
licensing	I-License
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
port	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
for	O
ARM	B-Architecture
architecture	I-Architecture
,	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
,	O
is	O
marketed	O
as	O
an	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
only	O
included	O
as	O
pre-loaded	O
software	O
on	O
devices	O
specifically	O
developed	O
for	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
distributed	O
as	O
a	O
retail	O
box	O
product	O
on	O
DVD	O
,	O
and	O
through	O
a	O
digital	O
download	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
converted	O
into	O
DVD	O
or	O
USB	O
install	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
launch	O
promotion	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
offered	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
upgrades	O
at	O
a	O
discounted	O
price	O
of	O
US	O
$39.99	O
online	O
,	O
or	O
$69.99	O
for	O
retail	O
box	O
from	O
its	O
launch	O
until	O
January	O
31	O
,	O
2013	O
;	O
afterward	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
price	O
has	O
been	O
$119.99	O
and	O
the	O
Pro	O
price	O
$199.99	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Those	O
who	O
purchased	O
new	O
PCs	B-Device
pre-loaded	O
with	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
Home	O
Basic	O
,	O
Home	O
Premium	O
,	O
Professional	O
,	O
or	O
Ultimate	O
between	O
June	O
2	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
and	O
January	O
31	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
could	O
digitally	O
purchase	O
a	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
upgrade	O
for	O
US	O
$14.99	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
PC	B-Device
manufacturers	O
offered	O
rebates	O
and	O
refunds	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
upgrades	O
obtained	O
through	O
the	O
promotion	O
on	O
select	O
models	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Hewlett-Packard	O
(	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
and	O
Canada	O
on	O
select	O
models	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Acer	O
(	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
selected	O
Ultrabook	B-Device
models	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
these	O
promotions	O
,	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
Media	I-Device
Center	I-Device
add-on	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
was	O
also	O
offered	O
for	O
free	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
distributed	O
at	O
retail	O
in	O
"	O
Upgrade	O
"	O
licenses	O
only	O
,	O
which	O
require	O
an	O
existing	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
to	O
install	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
lieu	O
of	O
full	O
version	O
,	O
a	O
specialized	O
"	O
System	B-Device
Builder	I-Device
"	O
SKU	O
was	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
System	B-Device
Builder	I-Device
"	O
SKU	O
replaced	O
the	O
original	O
equipment	O
manufacturer	O
(	O
OEM	O
)	O
SKU	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
only	O
allowed	O
to	O
be	O
used	O
on	O
PCs	B-Device
meant	O
for	O
resale	O
but	O
added	O
a	O
"	O
Personal	O
Use	O
License	O
"	O
exemption	O
that	O
officially	O
allowed	O
its	O
purchase	O
and	O
personal	O
use	O
by	O
users	O
on	O
homebuilt	B-Device
computers	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Retail	O
distribution	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
has	O
since	O
been	O
discontinued	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
8	O
,	O
8.1	B-Device
is	O
available	O
as	O
"	O
full	O
version	O
software	O
"	O
at	O
both	O
retail	O
and	O
online	O
for	O
download	O
that	O
does	O
not	O
require	O
a	O
previous	O
version	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
in	O
order	O
to	O
be	O
installed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
retail	O
release	O
returning	O
to	O
full	O
version	O
software	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
,	O
the	O
"	O
Personal	O
Use	O
License	O
"	O
exemption	O
was	O
removed	O
from	O
the	O
OEM	O
SKU	O
,	O
meaning	O
that	O
end	O
users	O
building	O
their	O
own	O
PCs	B-Device
for	O
personal	O
use	O
must	O
use	O
the	O
full	O
retail	O
variant	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
satisfy	O
the	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
licensing	O
requirements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
with	O
Bing	B-Application
is	O
a	O
special	O
OEM-specific	O
SKU	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
subsidized	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Bing	B-Application
search	I-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
three	O
desktop	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
support	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
and	O
64-bit	B-Device
architectures	I-Device
;	O
retail	O
copies	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
include	O
install	O
DVDs	O
for	O
both	O
architectures	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
online	O
installer	O
automatically	O
installs	O
the	O
variant	O
corresponding	O
with	O
the	O
architecture	O
of	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
existing	O
Windows	B-Application
installation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
variant	O
runs	O
on	O
CPUs	O
compatible	O
with	O
x86	B-Operating_System
architecture	I-Operating_System
3rd	O
generation	O
(	O
known	O
as	O
IA-32	B-Device
)	O
or	O
newer	O
,	O
and	O
can	O
run	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
and	O
16-bit	B-Device
applications	B-Application
,	O
although	O
16-bit	B-Device
support	O
must	O
be	O
enabled	O
first	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
16-bit	B-Device
applications	B-Application
are	O
developed	O
for	O
CPUs	O
compatible	O
with	O
x86	B-Operating_System
2nd	O
generation	O
,	O
first	O
conceived	O
in	O
1978	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
started	O
moving	O
away	O
from	O
this	O
architecture	O
after	O
Windows	B-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
64-bit	B-Device
variant	O
runs	O
on	O
CPUs	O
compatible	O
with	O
x86	B-Operating_System
8th	O
generation	O
(	O
known	O
as	O
x86-64	B-Device
,	O
or	O
x64	B-Device
)	O
or	O
newer	O
,	O
and	O
can	O
run	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
and	O
64-bit	B-Device
programs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
32-bit	B-Operating_System
programs	O
and	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
are	O
restricted	O
to	O
supporting	O
only	O
of	O
memory	O
while	O
64-bit	B-Device
systems	O
can	O
theoretically	O
support	O
of	O
memory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
64-bit	B-Device
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
require	O
a	O
different	O
set	O
of	O
device	B-Application
drivers	I-Application
than	O
those	O
of	O
32-bit	B-Operating_System
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
only	O
edition	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
for	O
systems	O
with	O
ARM	B-Architecture
processors	I-Architecture
,	O
only	O
supports	O
applications	B-Application
included	O
with	O
the	O
system	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
special	O
variant	O
of	O
Office	B-Operating_System
2013	I-Operating_System
)	O
,	O
supplied	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Update	O
,	O
or	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
,	O
to	O
ensure	O
that	O
the	O
system	O
only	O
runs	O
applications	B-Application
that	O
are	O
optimized	O
for	O
the	O
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
does	O
not	O
support	O
running	O
IA-32	B-Device
or	O
x64	B-Device
applications	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
apps	O
can	O
either	O
support	O
both	O
the	O
x86	B-Operating_System
and	O
ARM	B-Architecture
architectures	I-Architecture
,	O
or	O
compiled	O
to	O
support	O
a	O
specific	O
architecture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
IE10	B-Application
on	O
Windows	B-Device
Server	I-Device
2012	I-Device
and	O
Windows	B-Application
Embedded	O
8	O
Standard	O
ended	O
on	O
January	O
31	O
,	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
unveiling	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
faced	O
criticism	O
(	O
particularly	O
from	O
free	B-Application
software	I-Application
supporters	O
)	O
for	O
mandating	O
that	O
devices	O
receiving	O
its	O
optional	O
certification	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
have	O
secure	O
boot	O
enabled	O
by	O
default	O
using	O
a	O
key	O
provided	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Concerns	O
were	O
raised	O
that	O
secure	O
boot	O
could	O
prevent	O
or	O
hinder	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
alternate	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
such	O
as	O
Linux	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
post	O
discussing	O
secure	O
boot	O
on	O
the	O
Building	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
blog	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
developer	O
Tony	O
Mangefeste	O
indicated	O
that	O
vendors	O
would	O
provide	O
means	O
to	O
customize	O
secure	O
boot	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
day	O
,	O
the	O
customer	O
is	O
in	O
control	O
of	O
their	O
PC	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
's	O
certification	O
guidelines	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
ultimately	O
revealed	O
that	O
vendors	O
would	O
be	O
required	O
to	O
provide	O
means	O
for	O
users	O
to	O
re-configure	O
or	O
disable	O
secure	O
boot	O
in	O
their	O
device	O
's	O
UEFI	B-Architecture
firmware	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
revealed	O
that	O
ARM	B-Architecture
devices	O
(	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
)	O
would	O
be	O
required	O
to	O
have	O
secure	O
boot	O
permanently	O
enabled	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
way	O
for	O
users	O
to	O
disable	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Tom	O
Warren	O
of	O
The	O
Verge	O
noted	O
that	O
other	O
vendors	O
have	O
implemented	O
similar	O
hardware	O
restrictions	O
on	O
their	O
own	O
ARM-based	O
tablet	B-Device
and	O
smartphone	O
products	O
(	O
including	O
those	O
running	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
own	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
platform	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
still	O
argued	O
that	O
Microsoft	O
should	O
"	O
keep	O
a	O
consistent	O
approach	O
across	O
ARM	B-Architecture
and	O
x86	B-Operating_System
,	O
though	O
,	O
not	O
least	O
because	O
of	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
users	O
who	O
'd	O
love	O
to	O
run	O
Android	B-Application
alongside	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
on	O
their	O
future	O
tablets.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
notable	O
video	O
game	O
developers	O
criticized	O
Microsoft	O
for	O
making	O
its	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
a	O
closed	B-Application
platform	I-Application
subject	O
to	O
its	O
own	O
regulations	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
conflicted	O
with	O
their	O
view	O
of	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
as	O
an	O
open	B-Application
platform	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Markus	O
"	O
Notch	O
"	O
Persson	O
(	O
creator	O
of	O
the	O
indie	O
game	O
Minecraft	B-Application
)	O
,	O
Gabe	O
Newell	O
(	O
co-founder	O
of	O
Valve	O
and	O
developer	O
of	O
software	O
distribution	O
platform	O
Steam	B-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
Rob	O
Pardo	O
from	O
Activision	O
Blizzard	O
voiced	O
concern	O
about	O
the	O
closed	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
of	O
the	O
various	O
editions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
were	O
mixed	O
to	O
negative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tom	O
Warren	O
of	O
The	O
Verge	O
said	O
that	O
although	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
emphasis	O
on	O
touch	O
computing	O
was	O
significant	O
and	O
risked	O
alienating	O
desktop	O
users	O
,	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
tablets	B-Device
"[make]	O
an	O
iPad	B-Device
feel	O
immediately	O
out	O
of	O
date	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
capabilities	O
of	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
's	O
hybrid	B-Operating_System
model	O
and	O
increased	O
focus	O
on	O
cloud	B-Architecture
services	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Pierce	O
of	O
The	O
Verge	O
described	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
as	O
"	O
the	O
first	O
desktop	B-General_Concept
operating	I-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
that	O
understands	O
what	O
a	O
computer	O
is	O
supposed	O
to	O
do	O
in	O
2012	O
"	O
and	O
praised	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
"	O
no	O
compromise	O
"	O
approach	O
and	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
's	O
emphasis	O
on	O
Internet	O
connectivity	O
and	O
cloud	B-Architecture
services	I-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pierce	O
also	O
considered	O
the	O
Start	O
Screen	B-Device
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
brilliant	O
innovation	O
for	O
desktop	O
computers	O
"	O
when	O
compared	O
with	O
"	O
folder-littered	O
desktops	O
on	O
every	O
other	O
OS	O
"	O
because	O
it	O
allows	O
users	O
to	O
interact	O
with	O
dynamic	O
information	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
contrast	O
,	O
an	O
ExtremeTech	O
article	O
said	O
it	O
was	O
Microsoft	O
"	O
flailing	O
"	O
and	O
a	O
review	O
in	O
PC	B-Device
Magazine	O
condemned	O
the	O
Metro-style	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
the	O
included	O
apps	O
in	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
were	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
basic	O
and	O
lacking	O
in	O
functionality	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Protocol
apps	I-Protocol
were	O
praised	O
for	O
their	O
promotion	O
of	O
a	O
multi-platform	O
entertainment	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Peter	O
Bright	O
of	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
wrote	O
that	O
while	O
its	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
changes	O
may	O
overshadow	O
them	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
improved	O
performance	O
,	O
updated	O
file	O
manager	O
,	O
new	O
storage	O
functionality	O
,	O
expanded	O
security	O
features	O
,	O
and	O
updated	O
Task	O
Manager	O
were	O
still	O
positive	O
improvements	O
for	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bright	O
also	O
said	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
duality	O
towards	O
tablets	B-Device
and	O
traditional	O
PCs	B-Device
was	O
an	O
"	O
extremely	O
ambitious	O
"	O
aspect	O
of	O
the	O
platform	O
as	O
well	O
,	O
but	O
criticized	O
Microsoft	O
for	O
emulating	O
Apple	O
's	O
model	O
of	O
a	O
closed	O
distribution	O
platform	O
when	O
implementing	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
interface	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
has	O
been	O
the	O
subject	O
of	O
negative	O
reaction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bright	O
wrote	O
that	O
its	O
system	O
of	O
hot	B-General_Concept
corners	I-General_Concept
and	O
edge	O
swiping	O
"	O
was	O
n't	O
very	O
obvious	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
instructions	O
provided	O
by	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
on	O
the	O
functions	O
accessed	O
through	O
the	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
,	O
even	O
by	O
the	O
video	O
tutorial	O
added	O
on	O
the	O
RTM	O
release	O
(	O
which	O
only	O
instructed	O
users	O
to	O
point	O
at	O
corners	O
of	O
the	O
screen	B-Device
or	O
swipe	O
from	O
its	O
sides	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
"	O
stumbling	O
block	O
"	O
,	O
Bright	O
said	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
interface	O
worked	O
well	O
in	O
some	O
places	O
,	O
but	O
began	O
to	O
feel	O
incoherent	O
when	O
switching	O
between	O
the	O
"	O
Metro	O
"	O
and	O
desktop	O
environments	O
,	O
sometimes	O
through	O
inconsistent	O
means	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tom	O
Warren	O
of	O
The	O
Verge	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
new	O
interface	O
was	O
"	O
as	O
stunning	O
as	O
it	O
is	O
surprising	O
"	O
,	O
contributing	O
to	O
an	O
"	O
incredibly	O
personal	O
"	O
experience	O
once	O
it	O
is	O
customized	O
by	O
the	O
user	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
a	O
steep	O
learning	O
curve	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
awkward	O
to	O
use	O
with	O
a	O
keyboard	B-Device
and	O
mouse	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
noted	O
that	O
while	O
forcing	O
all	O
users	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
new	O
touch-oriented	O
interface	O
was	O
a	O
risky	O
move	O
for	O
Microsoft	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
necessary	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
push	O
development	O
of	O
apps	O
for	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Others	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Adrian	O
Kingsley-Hughes	O
from	O
ZDNet	O
,	O
considered	O
the	O
interface	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
clumsy	O
and	O
impractical	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
inconsistent	O
design	O
(	O
going	O
as	O
far	O
as	O
considering	O
it	O
"	O
two	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
unceremoniously	O
bolted	O
together	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
concluded	O
that	O
"	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
n't	O
born	O
out	O
of	O
a	O
need	O
or	O
demand	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
born	O
out	O
of	O
a	O
desire	O
on	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
part	O
to	O
exert	O
its	O
will	O
on	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
industry	O
and	O
decide	O
to	O
shape	O
it	O
in	O
a	O
direction	O
—	O
touch	O
and	O
tablets	B-Device
–	O
that	O
allows	O
it	O
to	O
compete	O
against	O
,	O
and	O
remain	O
relevant	O
in	O
the	O
face	O
of	O
Apple	O
's	O
iPad.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
American	O
Customer	O
Satisfaction	O
Index	O
(	O
ACSI	O
)	O
reported	O
a	O
decline	O
in	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
customer	O
satisfaction	O
,	O
the	O
lowest	O
it	O
has	O
been	O
since	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
says	O
that	O
about	O
4	O
million	O
users	O
upgraded	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
over	O
the	O
weekend	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
which	O
CNET	O
says	O
was	O
well	O
below	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
internal	O
projections	O
and	O
was	O
described	O
inside	O
the	O
company	O
as	O
disappointing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
sold	O
40	O
million	O
licenses	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
in	O
the	O
first	O
month	O
,	O
surpassing	O
the	O
pace	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
research	O
firm	O
NPD	O
,	O
sales	O
of	O
devices	O
running	O
Windows	B-Application
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
had	O
declined	O
21	O
percent	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
period	O
in	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
holiday	O
shopping	O
season	O
wrapped	O
up	O
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
sales	O
continued	O
to	O
lag	O
,	O
even	O
as	O
Apple	O
reported	O
brisk	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
market	O
research	O
firm	O
IDC	O
reported	O
an	O
overall	O
drop	O
in	O
PC	B-Device
sales	O
for	O
the	O
quarter	O
,	O
and	O
said	O
the	O
drop	O
may	O
have	O
been	O
partly	O
due	O
to	O
consumer	O
reluctance	O
to	O
embrace	O
the	O
new	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
OS	O
and	O
poor	O
support	O
from	O
OEM	O
for	O
these	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
capped	O
the	O
first	O
year	O
of	O
declining	O
PC	B-Device
sales	O
to	O
the	O
Asia	O
Pacific	O
region	O
,	O
as	O
consumers	O
bought	O
more	O
mobile	O
devices	O
than	O
Windows	B-Application
PCs	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
surpassed	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
in	O
market	O
share	O
with	O
a	O
5.1	O
%	O
usage	O
rate	O
according	O
to	O
numbers	O
posted	O
in	O
July	O
2013	O
by	O
Net	O
Applications	B-Application
,	O
with	O
usage	O
on	O
a	O
steady	O
upward	O
trajectory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
intake	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
still	O
lagged	O
behind	O
that	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
Vista	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
at	O
the	O
same	O
point	O
in	O
their	O
release	O
cycles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
tablet	B-Device
market	O
share	O
also	O
grew	O
steadily	O
,	O
with	O
7.4	O
%	O
of	O
tablets	B-Device
running	O
Windows	B-Application
in	O
Q1	O
2013	O
according	O
to	O
Strategy	O
Analytics	O
,	O
up	O
from	O
nothing	O
just	O
a	O
year	O
before	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
this	O
was	O
still	O
well	O
below	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
posted	O
43.4	O
%	O
and	O
48.2	O
%	O
market	O
share	O
respectively	O
,	O
although	O
both	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
had	O
been	O
on	O
the	O
market	O
much	O
longer	O
than	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Strategy	O
Analytics	O
also	O
noted	O
"	O
a	O
shortage	O
of	O
top	O
tier	O
apps	O
"	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
tablets	B-Device
despite	O
Microsoft	O
strategy	O
of	O
paying	O
developers	O
to	O
create	O
apps	O
for	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
(	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
for	O
Windows	B-Protocol
Phone	I-Protocol
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2013	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
also	O
amended	O
its	O
certification	O
requirements	O
to	O
allow	O
tablets	B-Device
to	O
use	O
the	O
1024×768	O
resolution	O
as	O
a	O
minimum	O
;	O
this	O
change	O
is	O
expected	O
to	O
allow	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
certified	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
tablets	B-Device
in	O
smaller	O
form	O
factors	O
—	O
a	O
market	O
which	O
is	O
currently	O
dominated	O
by	O
Android-based	O
tablets	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
matched	O
sales	O
of	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
over	O
a	O
similar	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2014	O
,	O
Hewlett-Packard	O
began	O
a	O
promotion	O
for	O
desktops	O
running	O
Windows	B-Device
7	I-Device
,	O
saying	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
back	O
by	O
popular	O
demand	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Outside	O
sources	O
have	O
suggested	O
that	O
this	O
might	O
be	O
because	O
HP	O
or	O
its	O
customers	O
thought	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
platform	O
would	O
be	O
more	O
appropriate	O
for	O
mobile	O
computing	O
than	O
desktop	O
computing	O
,	O
or	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
looking	O
to	O
attract	O
customers	O
forced	O
to	O
switch	O
from	O
XP	B-Application
who	O
wanted	O
a	O
more	O
familiar	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2014	O
,	O
Bloomberg	O
reported	O
that	O
Microsoft	O
would	O
be	O
lowering	O
the	O
price	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
licenses	O
by	O
70%	O
for	O
devices	O
that	O
retail	O
under	O
US$250	O
;	O
alongside	O
the	O
announcement	O
that	O
an	O
update	O
to	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
would	O
allow	O
OEMs	O
to	O
produce	O
devices	O
with	O
as	O
little	O
as	O
1	O
GB	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
and	O
16	O
GB	O
of	O
storage	O
,	O
critics	O
felt	O
that	O
these	O
changes	O
would	O
help	O
Windows	B-Application
compete	O
against	O
Linux-based	O
devices	O
in	O
the	O
low-end	O
market	O
,	O
particularly	O
those	O
running	O
ChromeOS	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
had	O
similarly	O
cut	O
the	O
price	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
licenses	O
to	O
compete	O
against	O
the	O
early	O
waves	O
of	O
Linux-based	O
netbooks	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reports	O
also	O
indicated	O
that	O
Microsoft	O
was	O
planning	O
to	O
offer	O
cheaper	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
licenses	O
to	O
OEMs	O
in	O
exchange	O
for	O
setting	O
Internet	B-Application
Explorer	I-Application
's	O
default	O
search	O
engine	O
to	O
Bing	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
media	O
outlets	O
falsely	O
reported	O
that	O
the	O
SKU	O
associated	O
with	O
this	O
plan	O
,	O
"	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
with	O
Bing	B-Application
"	O
,	O
was	O
a	O
variant	O
which	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
free	O
or	O
low-cost	O
variant	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
for	O
consumers	O
using	O
older	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
2	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
ultimately	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
removing	O
license	O
fees	O
entirely	O
for	O
devices	O
with	O
screens	O
smaller	O
than	O
9	O
inches	O
,	O
and	O
officially	O
confirmed	O
the	O
rumored	O
"	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
with	O
Bing	B-Application
"	O
OEM	O
SKU	O
on	O
May	O
23	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
information	O
gathered	O
by	O
Net	O
Applications	B-Application
,	O
adoption	O
rate	O
in	O
March	O
2015	O
for	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
was	O
at	O
10.55	O
%	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
original	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
at	O
3.52	O
%	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Xinhua	O
News	O
Agency	O
claimed	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
was	O
being	O
banned	O
in	O
protest	O
of	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
support	O
lifecycle	O
policy	O
and	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
support	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
(	O
which	O
,	O
as	O
of	O
January	O
2014	O
,	O
had	O
a	O
market	O
share	O
of	O
49%	O
in	O
China	O
)	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
government	O
"	O
obviously	O
cannot	O
ignore	O
the	O
risks	O
of	O
running	O
an	O
OS	O
without	O
guaranteed	O
technical	O
support.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Ni	O
Guangnan	O
of	O
the	O
Chinese	O
Academy	O
of	O
Sciences	O
had	O
also	O
previously	O
warned	O
that	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
could	O
allegedly	O
expose	O
users	O
to	O
surveillance	O
by	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
government	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
heavy	O
use	O
of	O
Internet-based	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2014	O
,	O
state	O
broadcaster	O
China	O
Central	O
Television	O
(	O
CCTV	O
)	O
broadcast	O
a	O
news	O
story	O
further	O
characterizing	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
as	O
a	O
threat	O
to	O
national	O
security	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
featured	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Ni	O
Guangnan	O
,	O
who	O
stated	O
that	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
could	O
aggregate	O
"	O
sensitive	O
user	O
information	O
"	O
that	O
could	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
"	O
understand	O
the	O
conditions	O
and	O
activities	O
of	O
our	O
national	O
economy	O
and	O
society	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
alleged	O
that	O
per	O
documents	O
leaked	O
by	O
Edward	O
Snowden	O
,	O
the	O
U.S.	O
government	O
had	O
worked	O
with	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
retrieve	O
encrypted	O
information	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yang	O
Min	O
,	O
a	O
computer	O
scientist	O
at	O
Fudan	O
University	O
,	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
security	O
features	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
are	O
basically	O
to	O
the	O
benefit	O
of	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
allowing	O
them	O
control	O
of	O
the	O
users	O
 '	O
data	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
poses	O
a	O
big	O
challenge	O
to	O
the	O
national	O
strategy	O
for	O
information	O
security.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
denied	O
the	O
claims	O
in	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
posts	O
on	O
the	O
Chinese	O
social	O
network	O
Sina	B-Protocol
Weibo	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
had	O
never	O
"	O
assisted	O
any	O
government	O
in	O
an	O
attack	O
of	O
another	O
government	O
or	O
clients	O
"	O
or	O
provided	O
client	O
data	O
to	O
the	O
U.S.	O
government	O
,	O
never	O
"	O
provided	O
any	O
government	O
the	O
authority	O
to	O
directly	O
visit	O
"	O
or	O
placed	O
any	O
backdoors	O
in	O
its	O
products	O
and	O
services	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
never	O
concealed	O
government	O
requests	O
for	O
client	O
data	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
feature	O
update	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
known	O
as	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
was	O
officially	O
announced	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
on	O
May	O
14	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
was	O
released	O
to	O
OEM	O
hardware	O
partners	O
on	O
August	O
27	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
publicly	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
upgrade	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
on	O
October	O
17	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Volume	B-License
license	I-License
customers	O
and	O
subscribers	O
to	O
MSDN	O
Plus	O
and	O
TechNet	O
Plus	O
were	O
initially	O
unable	O
to	O
obtain	O
the	O
RTM	O
version	O
upon	O
its	O
release	O
;	O
a	O
spokesperson	O
said	O
the	O
policy	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
allow	O
Microsoft	O
to	O
work	O
with	O
OEMs	O
"	O
to	O
ensure	O
a	O
quality	O
experience	O
at	O
general	O
availability.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
addressed	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
criticisms	O
faced	O
by	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
upon	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
with	O
additional	O
customization	O
options	O
for	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
,	O
the	O
restoration	O
of	O
a	O
visible	O
Start	O
button	O
on	O
the	O
desktop	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
snap	O
up	O
to	O
four	O
apps	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
display	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
boot	O
to	O
the	O
desktop	O
instead	O
of	O
the	O
Start	O
screen	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
's	O
stock	O
apps	O
were	O
also	O
updated	O
,	O
a	O
new	O
Bing-based	O
unified	O
search	O
system	O
was	O
added	O
,	O
SkyDrive	B-Application
was	O
given	O
deeper	O
integration	O
with	O
the	O
operating	B-General_Concept
system	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
new	O
stock	O
apps	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
tutorial	O
,	O
were	O
added	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
also	O
added	O
support	O
for	O
3D	O
printing	O
,	O
Miracast	O
media	O
streaming	O
,	O
NFC	O
printing	O
,	O
and	O
Wi-Fi	O
Direct	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Microsoft	O
marketed	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
as	O
an	O
"	O
update	O
"	O
rather	O
than	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
service	O
pack	O
"	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
had	O
done	O
with	O
such	O
revisions	O
on	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nonetheless	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
support	O
lifecycle	O
policy	O
treats	O
Windows	B-Device
8.1	I-Device
similarly	O
to	O
previous	O
Windows	B-Application
service	O
packs	O
:	O
With	O
the	O
exception	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
Embedded	O
8	O
Standard	O
users	O
,	O
upgrading	O
to	O
8.1	B-Device
has	O
been	O
required	O
to	O
maintain	O
access	O
to	O
mainstream	O
support	O
and	O
updates	O
after	O
January	O
12	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
RTM	O
is	O
unsupported	O
,	O
Microsoft	O
released	O
an	O
emergency	O
security	O
patch	O
in	O
May	O
2017	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
RTM	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
other	O
unsupported	O
versions	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
(	O
including	O
Windows	B-Application
XP	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Application
Server	I-Application
2003	I-Application
)	O
,	O
to	O
address	O
a	O
vulnerability	O
that	O
was	O
being	O
leveraged	O
by	O
the	O
WannaCry	O
ransomware	O
attack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Updates	O
to	O
apps	O
published	O
on	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
after	O
July	O
1	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
are	O
no	O
longer	O
available	O
to	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
RTM	O
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Retail	O
and	O
OEM	O
installations	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
,	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Pro	O
,	O
and	O
Windows	B-Operating_System
RT	I-Operating_System
can	O
be	O
upgraded	O
through	O
Windows	B-Application
Store	I-Application
free	O
of	O
charge	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
volume	B-License
license	I-License
customers	O
,	O
TechNet	O
or	O
MSDN	O
subscribers	O
and	O
users	O
of	O
Windows	B-Application
8	I-Application
Enterprise	O
must	O
acquire	O
a	O
standalone	O
installation	O
media	O
for	O
8.1	B-Device
and	O
install	O
through	O
the	O
traditional	O
Windows	B-Application
setup	O
process	O
,	O
either	O
as	O
an	O
in-place	O
upgrade	O
or	O
clean	O
install	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
requires	O
an	O
8.1	B-Device
specific	O
product	O
key	O
.	O
</s>
