Microsoft employees drop hints on Windows 8 OS

ZDNet's Stephen Chapman has dug up some information about the upcoming Windows 8, Windows Server 8 and Office 15 software from Microsoft's own employees. The research took him about a month, and the content comes largely from the LinkedIn pages of several Microsoft employees. John Michener's page, for example, shows he was in charge of make telemetry enhancements, self-host reporting and ecosystem security reporting and analysis for Windows 8.

Another employee whose name was redacted by request helped to develop the MPIO and storage CDB fuzzer for Windows 7 and 8. Cloud services will also be a big part in Windows 8, according to another unnamed employee's page.

A prototype for a role extensibility feature was created by Hsin Chih (George) Liao, while Fabien Royer worked on speech recognition in Windows 8.

John Dix was contracted to help out on terminal services in Windows 8.

Another unnamed contact who worked on the multitouch input in Windows 7 stated that he or she believed Windows 8 is the most important version of the software ever made and there are some new ideas used in it. This may or may not be related to Christine Fiore's work on a Sensors platform for Windows 8.

Adrián Terán worked on authentication in the OS for smart cards, cryptographic providers, key storage providers and credential providers.

Shooting Shi designed and implemented the IME touch experience in Windows 8.

A private profile revealed that PlayReady will be integrated into Silverlight 4.0, Silverlight 5.0 and Windows 8. Chris Hacking was charged with testing UX features in the OS. Yet another private profile showed excitement for the OS' security with observations that "Windows 8 will change the game in terms of platform security and platform trust."

A different LinkedIn member indicated touch will be a big part of the OS, which will also transfer to Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office suite and Windows Phone 7. The new OS will also have a focus on being backwards compatible with many aspects of Windows 7.

Gordon Rielly says he worked on virtualized personality, or user state, which will be a key technology in Win 8. Jerrod Jackson's page confirmed Windows Server 8 will have a new basic user interface, while an unnamed employee said Server was all about the fundamentals.

As for Office 15, a graphic effect developed for Microsoft Visio may be shared by Office 15. A number of job posts reveal Office 15 is focused on mobile-to-cloud interactions. The software will be mobile aware and bring cloud-based services.

Combined, the changes help support CEO Steve Ballmer's observations that Windows 8 would be a big gamble with changes in the interface in more basic levels. The OS is expected to be a partial response to the iPad by encouraging true touch friendliness.

By Electronista Staff