I know a lot of people own an Xbox and use it for Netflix the majority of time. Yes, it’s a great gaming platform, but it does so much more. It’s a great HTPC (Home Theater PC) or media streamer. Now, the Netflix application on the Xbox is even better. It has a “Just for Kids” option to show only videos that are appropriate for kids 12 and under – or for us Phineas and Ferb fans (myself included! AGENT P!) that want to filter the kids programs.

My young niece and nephew know how to navigate and use the Xbox, but I’d like to throw this on there for them to minimize the chance that Human Centipede is shown accidentally.

Recently, an interview with a Microsoftie had suggested that a ‘new Xbox’ was incoming with the new Windows 8 interface. However, clarification has come in that says that the comment was referring to a new dashboard update coming this Fall (which is related to the recent beta dashboard). Way to squish our hopes and dreams…  

"The comments to The Verge were not understood in their intended context," says a Microsoft spokesperson. "When Brian mentioned a ‘new wave of products,’ he was referring to the full lineup of products coming later this year from Microsoft, including Windows 8, Office, Windows Phone and of course our fall Xbox update which will bring a host of new consumer experiences like Xbox Music, Videos, Games on Windows 8 and Xbox SmartGlass."

Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 will have the Do Not Track feature turned on by default. Of course, you can turn this off any time you’d like. This is good for your privacy out of the box and a great move by Microsoft.

DNT fits naturally into this process. Customers will receive prominent notice that their selection of Express Settings turns DNT “on.”  In addition, by using the Customize approach, users will be able to independently turn “on” and “off” a number of settings, including the setting for the DNT signal.  A “Learn More” link with detailed information about each recommended setting will help customers decide whether to select Express Settings or Customize. A Privacy Statement link is also available on the screen. Windows 7 customers using IE10 will receive prominent notice that DNT is turned on in their new browser, together with a link providing more information about the setting.

Windows 8 is really changing the Windows image. From the new UI to the new packaging (seen below – image courtesy of The Verge), it is really trying to change the public view and opinion. I’m not sure if it’s to make the Windows OS ‘cool’ for the hipsters that jump on Apple products like they were cake to a fat kid. Whatever the reason, it’s a huge change for Microsoft. Like the new packaging (which usually ends up in the trash bin, anyway)? Hate it?

Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows RT will all be available on new PCs and tablets from October 26th, and upgrade versions will be available in stores or as an electronic software download. We understand that the packaging will be largely similar to the existing Windows 7 version, but we’ll have to wait until Microsoft officially unveils it to see if the company has put its Windows 8 boxes on a diet — similar to its 37 percent weight lossfrom Vista to Windows 7.

Microsoft Windows 8 has the usual built in games – solitare, Minesweeper. But, they have been updated for the new OS. Minesweeper has updated graphics. And for those that are into Xbox achievements, they are now included. Using the new moniker Xbox Windows brand for the games, you can gain achievements in the best games available for any OS on any platform: Minesweeper and Solitare! Ok, that last part was a bit of a stretch.

The "Xbox Windows" branding seems to cover games from the Windows Store, which will also offer titles that were previously released on Xbox Live Arcade, like Ms. Splosion Manand Rocket Riot. "Xbox Windows" does not appear to replace the existing Games for Windows Live label, which Microsoft insisted as recently as April will stick around in Windows 8.

Arg. It’s like Windows 95 all over again. First, the new interface. Bleh. Then, the fact that you can’t boot to DOS. Bleh. Now, Windows 8 with it’s new interface (I kinda like it!) won’t allow you to boot to the Desktop. You have to start with the new Start Screen (can’t call it Metro anymore, either) and can’t work around it.

I am sure that a workaround will be released by someone. It’s just a matter of time. I’m not too surprised. It’s not really forcing it on you, as it’s not a required update. Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. Simple. Sure, Microsoft will lose a few customers to Mac (I’m sure 2 people will go to Linux!), but the majority will be happy with Windows 8 on a new PC.

One of those tweaks is the decision to block users from setting up their Windows 8 machines to boot straight to the Desktop, circumventing the tiled Start screen, formerly known as the Metro screen. (There’s still no external word as to how Microsoft is planning to rebrand "Metro." It seems the Softies are backing away from the Metro terminology due to pressure of some kind from Metro AG, one of its European retail partners.)

That was faster than I expected. The leaked ISO’s have been cracked, allowing users that downloaded and installed the illegal copy to activate Windows. The new crack bypasses the KMS servers, which allow a 180 days before it checks against a valid server again (which the crack can again be applied).

Although the leaked ISO is out there, I do not recommend getting it for an advanced copy. Sure, it may be a legit copy. But, there may also be some infected copies out there. Nothing like a fresh OS install with built in malware and root kits. That is completely aside from the legal and moral aspects.

Activation will allow you to customize your Start Screen and other various things that require activation before allowing you access to those features.

With developers wanting to get in early on the Metro and Windows 8 release to the public, this number is set to explode between August 15th and October 26th. August 15th is when RTM hits MSDN/Technet, and the date when paid apps are allowed to be submitted to the Windows Store for Windows 8. October 26th is when Windows 8 is finally released to the public.

Currently, 450 apps are in the Windows Store, which may not sound like a lot. But, it’s a great start for an OS that just hit RTM and hasn’t even opened submissions for paid apps.

I haven’t seen an official tally from Microsoft, but Jose Fajarado, a Silverlight and XAML developer who blogs at http://advertboy.wordpress.com, said at latest count he believes there to be about 450 or so Metro-style apps in the Store. (Metro-style apps are those developed from scratch using Microsoft’s WinRT programming interfaces. Nothing but Metro-style apps will work on ARM-based Windows RT devices; both Metro-style and Win32 apps will work on Windows 8 on Intel/AMD PCs and tablets.) The image embedded in this post is from a wall of icons of apps available in the Store that Fajarado is constantly updating.

Windows 8 hit RTM yesterday, and some folks are already getting their hands on it. Darren Baker has installed it on a Samsung Slate and took a lot of screenshots, including the new Metro tutorial after the install.

Then, about 5:30PM PST, I received an email: “Come to the Microsoft Campus, get Windows 8 RTM”. I arrived there just in time, and we made our USB keys. I was warned that it would take some time, as all the other Microsoft employees would also be trying to download RTM from the MS internal servers. I made 2 keys (you have to plan for redundancy) and proceeded to install it on my Samsung Build Slate.