Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Microsoft will release a new public beta this coming February. There are several new features that are both confirmed and rumored to be available.
Confirmed:
- Grouping of Start Screen tiles
- Windows Store
- Windows Media Center
- .NET 3.5 Installed by Default (Yes, it’s still back.)
Rumored:
- More personalization settings (Colors for UI, Ability to put picture on Start Screen).
- LIVE and Windows Live Immersive Apps
Just remember to keep checking back in February, I’ll definitely be posting about it once it’s installed complete with screenshots of the latest changes and features. I’ll even post about modifications to the Metro UI and anything else to do with Windows 8.
Another Juicy little tidbit is that one of the first Applications in the Windows Store is a Immersive Music Player called “Music (Beta)”.
Also for those of you who wanted to customize metro easier, I recently came across a new program that makes it easier to colorize the Developer Preview in addition to My WDP Customizer linked in my previous point.
Anyway, this program will help you continue customizing Metro with amazing ease.
Also before I forget, To those who dislike Metro, it will still be the default interface and will probably continue to be up past the Release. It’s a new user interface paradigm, the other operating systems are doing it, it’s about time Windows caught up since they haven’t had a radical change like this since Windows 95. Also please note, I will not post information about turning Metro off. Turning it off does not give it a fair chance, it actually will be very useful after more apps are released (Mail, IM, etc.) as their tiles contain notifications (If you want to know what I mean, head back to my original post and check the last screenshot, look at the weather tile.), You can also pin shortcuts to it as well, just start typing to find a application, right click it, then hit Pin.