In a recent post on
Building Windows 8 blog, Billy Sanders of Microsoft explains the new features of Windows 8 and it is designed with users and their mobile nature in mind. He mentions how this new OS will simplify your experience with getting and staying connected across mobile broadband and Wi-Fi networks, removing hurdles and whenever possible, doing the right things automatically for you.
In today’s world, the nature of most users is mobile and computing on-the-go is the need of the hour.Keeping this in mind Microsoft arrived at the conclusion that, providing users with only Wi-Fi Connectivity wont suffice their needs and its time to put in some more to give users better options and connectivity. This led to the inclusion of integrated mobile broadband (MB) as a first-class connectivity experience within Windows, alongside Wi-Fi.
In Windows 8, Microsoft has developed an in-box mobile broadband class driver that works with all of these devices and eliminates the need for additional device driver software. The user just need to plug-in the device and connect. The driver stays up to date via Windows Update, ensuring you have a reliable mobile broadband experience.
Also new to Windows 8 is its network settings, which allow you to turn individual radios on and off (Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, or Bluetooth), as well as disable all radios at once with the new “airplane mode.” Windows 8 provides native radio management to eliminate the conflicts and confusion, and to provide a consistent experience for controlling your radios without the need to install additional software.
In previous version of Windows, a lot of times user had to wait for substantial time when resuming from standby mode. This has changed with Windows 8, now it will take seconds to resume from standby mode to your preferred Wi-Fi networks by optimizing operations in the networking stack, and providing your network list, connection information, and hints to your Wi-Fi adapter.
With Windows 8 , you can be assured of one thing that you will not get surprisingly expensive bills from their mobile operators with Windows 8 keeping tabs on the overall broadband usage. On a PC that has both mobile broadband and Wi-Fi, users are moved from MB to the less costly Wi-Fi network automatically whenever Wi-Fi is available, again reducing user’s mobile broadband usage and your potential for bill shock. Keeping this in mind, Microsoft helps you manage your mobile broadband data usage is by allowing mobile operators to alert you as you approach your bandwidth cap.
Data usage notification, bottom right.
Data usage information on the mobile operator’s app tileWith the features like these and a bunch of apps over the windows 8 store would definitely give iOS and other competitors run for the money.
