With Windows 8, Microsoft is making one of the biggest upgrades to its PC operating system. For one, it will replace the Start Menu with a Start Screen - with tiles that contain shortcuts to applications - similar to the Metro interface seen on its Windows Phone 7 OS. It will also be introducing the Ribbon interface - first seen in Office 2007- to Windows Explorer. It will launch a store for the new Metro-style apps that Windows 8 will support.But the changes to the new OS are not just cosmetic. Windows 8 has been designed ground-up to support ARM processors - the chips used in tablets - apart from the X86 processors from Intel and AMD. This means the same operating system will be available on desktops, laptops and slates. And regardless of the machine's form factor, whether tablet or PC, this new OS promises a slew of brand new features that seem just as compelling to power users as they are enticing to newbies.

 

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Microsoft removes the 'Start' button from Windows 8

The latest test version of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 software is missing one crucial button - the Start button and menu, an iconic part of Microsoft's operating system since it was introduced in Windows 95.The button evolved to become the operating system's 'launchpad', offering access to software, files and search functions. Earlier test versions of Windows 8 had flattened the recognisable 'orb' - but the new build removes it altogether, according to leaked screenshots from tech site The Verge. Microsoft has not announced a release date for the new operating system, built to work with touchscreens as well as on conventional PCs, but it's widely expected to release in the second half of this year.

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Microsoft demos fast boot times in Windows 8

Undo “Send mails” in Gmail

Did you know you can undo a sent e-mail in Gmail? It’s a lesser known feature, but Google just made it even better than it was before. When it first launched, you were given a 5-second window during which you could hit “undo.”

Now that’s up to 30 seconds, Google Operating System discovered.

The feature is hidden from most users who don’t know where to look, so here’s a quick guide to avoiding social and workplace faux pas with the click of a button. Be aware that the feature is part of Gmail Labs, though. That means it’s still in testing and it might not always work as intended.

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