Discover a new world of entertainment and
apps
The launch of Windows 8 has ensured the way
we use PCs will never be the same again, and if you’ve just bought a laptop,
tablet or all-in-one, you have the most advanced tool at your fingertips for
getting more from life. We should show you what’s changed.
You can do just about everything you’ll
ever need to do on a PC from Windows 8’s Start screen, which replaces the Start
menu. It’s a touch-friendly screen that houses all your favourite programs,
apps and websites, and presents them as Live Tiles that are alive with your
information. You’ll find built-in apps that let you do everything from watch a
film to plan a holiday. In this guide we’ll take you through all of Windows 8’s
funky and innovative new features.
Improve
your life with Windows 8
Entertainment on demand
The way we consume movies, TV and music has
changed, and our PCs and tablets are now chiefly entertainment devices, like
our TVs and radios once were. Rather than passively watching television
channels and putting up with whatever happens to be on, we interact with our
media, selecting TV programmes on demand, choosing videos to watch on YouTube,
and updating Facebook and Twitter - often all at the same time.
Windows 8 offers entertainment for the
whole family, putting more on- demand media at your fingertips than any
satellite or cable service. Want to watch a movie? You can rent one online
whenever you want. Feel like listening to some music? Fire up the Music app and
stick on some tunes. You can even play some great games, and it’s all easily
accessible from Windows 8’s Start screen.
DVD and Blu-rays rentals are hugely
popular, but can sometimes be impractical. Anyone who’s hooked on a TV series
will know that ‘just one more episode’ feeling, but if you have to wait for the
discs to be delivered or the rental shop to open, you can soon become
frustrated. Renting and buying TV shows and films online has taken off in a big
way, and Windows 8 provides the ideal platform for getting your hands on the
latest releases.
The Xbox Video store is built into Windows
8 and includes the ability to rent or buy films from a huge selection of
titles. Once you’ve rented a movie, you’re given a generous 14 days to begin
watching it and a further 24 hours to finish it. Of course, you can always buy
the film or TV series, download it, and watch it again as many times as you
want, as if it were part of your DVD collection. There’s also an option to send
it to your Xbox 360 - if you have one - using the Xbox Companion app.
The
Xbox Video store is built into Windows 8 and includes the ability to rent or
buy films from a huge selection of titles.
If you’re having some friends over for a
meal and need a soundtrack, or just want to kick back and listen to some music,
Windows 8 can help. Like the Videos app, the Music app will scan your computer
for music files and let you play them back at the click of a mouse. It also
includes its own music store - called Xbox Music app will scan your computer
for music files and let you play them back at the click of a mouse. It also
includes its own music store – called Xbox Music – so you can pick up some new
tunes and refresh your collection.
You can preview short clips of tracks
before you buy, but perhaps the most impressive feature here is the Xbox Music
Pass, which lets you
You have the most advanced tool for getting
more from life listen to unlimited music for a set period of time. This is
great if you’re throwing a party and want to let your guests pick their
favourite songs, or if you just want to check out some new bands and artists.
For a more interactive experience, or if
you simply need to keep the kids entertained for a while, you can pick up some
great games via the Xbox Games tile. Here you’ll find a wide range of titles,
from addictive Windows classics such as Minesweeper and Solitaire,
all the way up to big-budget shooters. Despite the name, you don’t need an Xbox
console to play the games.
Any PC games you’ve already bought that
support Games for Windows Live will show up here, including awesome titles like
Batman: Arkham City and Bulletstorm. Things get even better if
you own an Xbox 360, as you’re able to browse and buy games on the marketplace
for your console. You can also edit your Xbox Live avatar, update your profile
and interact with friends on the service.
For a more sedate experience, there’s a
host of casual games to play. These tend to be less flashy, but offer rewarding
gameplay and clever puzzles instead. Wordament, for instance, pits your
spelling knowledge against a group of online players as you battle to find the
most words in a jumble of 16 letters.
Even these casual games support Xbox-style
achievements, which makes the experience all the more involving. These rewards
are allocated as you do certain things – for instance, find 100 words in
Wordament and you’ll receive a little kudos for your quick thinking. It’s
another element that makes Windows 8 a fun and enjoyable part of a
media-centric home.
