The “Metro” User Interface
The Metro interface is probably one of the biggest areas of change in Windows 8. Optimized for touch screens, this new way of using Windows is clearly inspired by the “Windows Phone 7″ user interface. “Metro apps” will be a new breed of Windows application, sitting separately from things like Office and Photoshop, and developed using what are seen as more traditionally web-based technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript. Users will interact with them in a much more visual manner, even on non-touch devices, and Microsoft is assuming many users will make the permanent shift away from the current Windows desktop interface.
Implications for SharePoint are twofold. Firstly, Metro apps aren’t a huge logical leap on from webparts. Could Metro apps form the basis of a “next generation” webpart? Could approved Metro apps even run natively on SharePoint? Certainly this could give Microsoft a head start if it did decide to create a SharePoint specific store. Changing the underlying architecture of webparts to something more web based would open up the developer base to a wider audience and bring the technology inline with the majority of other similar widget platforms available.
30th Jan 2012 Microsoft announced the start of the ‘Technical Preview’ program for Office 15. Very exciting news indeed. Though the preview program is full, it will be followed by a publicly available beta “in the summer”.
Stefan Gossner, senior engineer on the SharePoint team had this to say:
“This morning, we reached an important development milestone: the beginning of the “Office 15″ Technical Preview Program. Office 15 is the codename for the next generation of the Microsoft Office products and services, and the Technical Preview is the first time we share our work with a select group of customers under non-disclosure agreements. These customers play a key role in our development process by testing early builds and providing feedback, which we incorporate into the final release.”
PJ Hough, CVP of development in the Office division added:
“At this early point in our development cycle, I’m not able to share too much about Office 15, but I can tell you Office 15 is the most ambitious undertaking yet for the Office Division. With Office 15, for the first time ever, we will simultaneously update our cloud services, servers, and mobile and PC clients for Office, Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, Project, and Visio. Quite simply, Office 15 will help people work, collaborate, and communicate smarter and faster than ever before.”
For SharePoint Developers
If you are a developer, you already can have a look at changes in the Object Model – Microsoft has made the SDK (for the Technical Preview!!!) available here
Microsoft has promised a Office 15 public beta this summer.
Windows 8 ScreenShots
