Microsoft has posted a new video giving us the first look at the upcoming changes in their latest operating system based on user feedback.

Among the main changes shown in the video are the new tile sizes (larger and smaller than currently allowed), new start screen colours and patterns, the ability to show the desktop wallpaper on the start screen and up to four apps snapped side by side depending on your screen size.

See the official blog post[blogs.windows.com] for more information.

Also of note is the Windows 8 preview page[www.microsoft.com] on the Microsoft site, which will no doubt change as the release of Windows 8.1 nears.

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Main Groups:
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• Windows 8 Community - http://v1.steam.hlxgame.cc/groups/Windows8/

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After only a day of being publicly available, the Windows 8 Consumer Preview has reached a staggering one million downloads!

You can see the official announcement on the official Building Windows 8's Twitter page:

"One day later...one million downloads of the consumer preview"

https://twitter.com/buildwindows8/status/175296911966875649

Gizmodo and Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows have listed their top five and 8 features of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. The features are listed below, but detailed explanations about the features, how they work and why they were chosen are available on their sites.


Gizmodo Top Five:

1. Internet Explorer 10
2. Semantic Zoom
3. App Bar
4. App Management and Switching
5. Charms

http://gizmodo.com/5889122/the-five-best-new-features-in-windows-8-consumer-preview


Supersite for Windows Top 8:

1. Touch Me, Baby
2. Metro-Style Apps That Actually Work
3. Your Choice of Hardware
4. Respect: Windows Desktop Improvements
5. Mouse and Keyboard Actually Work
6. Cloud-connected
7. Installing, Upgrading, Repairing, and Refreshing
8. Windows Store

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-consumer-preview-top-8-features-142395

Windows 8 Beta: Hands-on with Microsoft's tablet-friendly OS - CNET

Over at CNET you can find their review of the Windows 8 Developer Preview with a detailed look at some of the new features including screenshots and if Metro will become successful.

"Microsoft pulled back much of the scaffolding and secrecy surrounding Windows 8 today at Mobile World Congress. I've been using the Windows 8 beta (download), officially known as the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, for the past week, and it's by far the most integrated and capable operating system Microsoft has ever put out."



First Look at What’s New in Windows 8 - Lifehacker:

There's an excellent article on Lifehacker detailing some of the new features of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview with screenshots.

"Microsoft released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview today, complete with a new tablet interface and some enhancements to the traditional mouse-and-keyboard desktop. Here's what it looks like."

http://lifehacker.com/5839777/first-look-at-whats-new-in-windows-8

Also, have a look at their video "This Is What Using Windows 8 Actually Looks and Feels Like" which gives an excellent demonstration: http://lifehacker.com/5889345/this-is-what-using-windows-8-actually-looks-and-feels-like



Windows 8 Consumer Preview Hands On: No Going Back - Gizmodo:

An in-depth article about the brand new Windows 8 Consumer preview - complete with many screenshots - has just been posted at Gizmodo. It's a great read if you want to find out more and is more comprehensive review than Lifehacker.

"We never thought we'd be this excited by Windows again, but it's sooooo good!

"Windows 8 is a radical departure from anything Microsoft has done before. When you try it for the very first time, it feels a bit like stepping out onto ice. It is so slick as to be slippery. Commands and icons and apps and menus glide on and off screen and things zoom in and out of its Metro interface in a near vertigo-inducing fashion. Getting your feet beneath you is tricky."

http://gizmodo.com/5889001/windows-8-consumer-preview-hands-on-no-going-back



Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Welcome to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows:

Finally, there are many detailed articles over at Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows about the Developer Preview and whole galleries of screenshots! Well worth the read.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-consumer-preview-windows-8-consumer-preview-142335