New Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

Personally, if I could avoid using my mouse altogether, I would. I use shortcuts for just about everything I can and I’m happy to share my list of shortcuts for the new Windows 8 operating system with you.

New Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8

• Windows+first letters of app: Search your PC
• Ctrl+plus or Ctrl+minus: Zoom in or out
• Ctrl+scroll wheel: Zoom in or out
• Windows+C: Open the charms / Commands for Open App
• Windows+F: Open the Search charm to search files
• Windows+H: Open the Share charm
• Windows+I: Open the Settings charm
• Windows+J: Switch the main app and snapped app
• Windows+K: Open the Devices charm
• Windows+O: Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)
• Windows+Q: Open the Search charm to search apps
• Windows+W: Open the Search charm to search settings
• Windows+Z: Show the commands available in the app
• Windows+spacebar: Switch input language and keyboard layout
• Windows+Ctrl+spacebar: Change to a previously selected input
• Windows+Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)
• Windows+Ctrl+Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled
• Windows+Shift+Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
• Windows+PgUp: Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
• Windows+PgDown: Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
• Windows+period: Snaps an app to the right
• Windows+Shift+period: Snaps an app to the left
• Esc: Stop or exit the current task

Frequently Used General Windows Shortcuts

• ALt+F4: Close open program or app
• Alt+Esc: Cycle through items by order of being opened
• Alt+Enter: Display Properties of a selected item
• Alt+Left Arrow: Back
• Alt+Right Arrow: Forward
• Alt+Tab: Switch Between Open Apps
• Ctrl+C: Copy
• Ctrl+X: Cut
• Ctrl+V: Paste
• Ctrl+Y: Redo
• Ctrl+Z: Undo
• Ctrl+Shift+Esc: Task Manager
• Ctrl+Alt+Delete: Vulcan Nerve Pinch
• PrintScr: Copy contents of desktop to clipboard as BMP image
• Windows+E: Open My Computer
• Windows+Up Arrow: Maximize Current Window
• Windows+Down Arrow: Minimize Current Window
• Windows+Left Arrow: Maximize Desktop program to left side of screen
• Windows+Right Arrow: Maximize Desktop program to right side of screen

Dell Releases New Windows 8 Products

Looks like Dell is ready to go for Windows 8. I just don’t know if it looks like these will be good or not. With Dell’s presence in the enterprise though, these might be just what IT organizations are looking for to pacify it’s “consumerized” group of employees.

First up, the XPS 12:

This interesting guy here weighs in at 3.35 lbs. It has two USB 3.0 slots, a MiniDisplay port, 3.5 mm headphone jack and dual speakers. The unique part about it is that the screen flips over, allowing the XPS 12 to turn into an oversized slate. The touchscreen is enticing, but the design is questionable. I can see worn out and broken hinges being a possible issue. Also, the reviewers at Engadget seem to think the trackpad is a little flaky for their liking and not as smooth as it could be when using it in the desktop environment.

They sum it up here:

“Though the XPS 12's size and weight make it a bit unwieldy as a substitute tablet, it's still a compelling option if you're in the market for a high-end, touch-enabled Ultrabook. The XPS 12 is almost as light as other Ultrabooks, with a premium industrial design, comfortable keyboard, gorgeous 1080p screen and a super-fast boot-up time. The biggest drawbacks seem to be the flaky trackpad and the relatively short battery life, which doesn't improve much when you dim that 400-nit display. We'll be curious to see how other touchscreen Ultrabooks fare, particularly those with similarly versatile designs. In the meantime, though, the XPS 12 represents a solid start for this new wave of Windows 8 shape-shifters.”

-Engadget.com

Dell is also releasing a wireless touchpad. I have never desired using a touchpad on a PC. On my MacBook Air, I actually prefer using the touchpad and purchased Apple’s Bluetooth touchpad to go with it. I’m not sure how successful, or even desirable this Dell offering will be.

And now introducing the Dell XPS 10 Windows 8 RT tablet.

The XPS 10 Windows 8 RT tablet is Dell’s RT offering. This is not the fully functional Windows 8 OS but a mobile tuned version limited to apps in the Windows Marketplace. This tablet, like most others becoming available, has a optional keyboard dock that turns it into a pseudo laptop of sorts. Dell’s Windows 8 RT goes on presale for $499 for a 32GB tablet. Without the optional keyboard, that drops down to $399.

Dell XPS 10 Tablet

Microsoft Releases Surface Tablet RT Pricing

Today Microsoft unveiled pricing for their new Surface Tablet RT. For those who don’t know, some Windows Surface tablets run a version of Windows 8 they are calling RT. This version is not the full version of Windows 8 that will be on PCs later this year and instead is, "an exciting new version of Microsoft Windows," that "works exclusively with apps available in the Windows Store." –Microsoft. For some reference, Apple's mobile OS, iOS , does not run standard OSX software and is only compatible with apps from Apple's App Store. Microsoft is now taking the same approach with Windows RT.

There are details on the Microsoft.com website and the Surface RT tablet starts at $499 for 32 gigs without a Touch Cover and $599 with a Black Touch Cover. This is right in line with iPad pricing. A surface tablet without the Touch Cover comes in even cheaper than Apple's 32 gig iPad which starts at $599. For Apple's price, consumers can get a 32 gig Surface RT with Microsoft's new Touch Cover included.

The announcement of Surface pricing marks the beginning of Microsoft officially being a player and signifies an important step into the mobility market.

Surface Tablet RT is releasing October 26th, 2012 and you can go check out the "Help me choose” page.

For those who like toys, visit the Pre-order page and pick one up!!

Goodbye Hotmail…

Yesterday Microsoft announced the end of Hotmail.com. Over the next few months, they will be rolling out the new and improved Outlook.com.

Hotmail users can already start using the new service at Outlook.com. It features social networking tie-ins and you can see friend’s status updates and tweets right from an email from the same person. The interface is very “Metro-like” and is right in line with using new Windows 8 and Office 13’s UI elements.

From Microsoft’s blog:

Webmail was first introduced with HoTMaiL in 1996. Back then, it was novel to have a personal email address you could keep for life - one that was totally independent from your business or internet service provider. Eight years later, Google introduced Gmail, which included 1 GB of storage and inbox search. And while Gmail and other webmail services like Hotmail have added some features since then, not much has fundamentally changed in webmail over the last 8 years - though yesterday's frustrations about the small size of inboxes are now things of the past. At the same time, email is becoming less and less useful as inboxes become cluttered with newslettersand social updates, and people increasingly keep up their personal connections in social networks instead of their email address books. All of this has led many to hope for a better solution so you don't have to settle for today's webmail.

With the social connection features, sure to be expanded to services like LinkedIn or possibly Google, this new Outlook.com is more focused on being social. Skype functionality will be built in and is coming in the next few months as well. This may just be enough to get me back and away from Gmail…

Read more at Microsoft’s Blog site.