Windows 8 improves research

Small update on the progress of the development of Windows 8. Microsoft refers to this time research.

New post on Building Windows 8 and new analysis of the novelties presented by Microsoft. This time, still talking about a bit of the screen startup and start menu, but under the prism of the function of research of bone that had already been much improved (both in terms of relevance of timeliness) with Vista and 7. Brian Uphoff, responsible for user experience in the development of Windows 8, presents the progress in the matter.

The start menu search function will be the part on the Start Screen of the most important interface Metro of Windows 8, receiving at the time of a display surface. Metadata and ToolTips will complement each result obtained, history to give more indication of the indexed files made by the system for each request. Another novelty, the search field will be able to correct a motion, propose a different spelling or offer suggestions. History of the local search as simple as that proposed by the engines on the Internet.

 

Research programs

Using the Windows Feedback Program, Microsoft teams have noticed that in 67% of cases, the search function is simply used to start a program. Most of the users who took to reflex instead of using the working tree. Programs will therefore, in Windows 8, wanted by default, and this content by frequency of use. Then comes the search for files (22% of cases), accessible either by the shortcut "Windows + F", or via the side bar. A view with only the files that can be customized with various filters appeared as well. Another new "Windows + W" key combination to perform a search in the Control Panel, what quickly find the part of adjustment of a specific item (9% of cases).

Research in the settings and files

Research of e-mails via the interface of Windows search only about 0.5% of the queries users, given the integration of this function to various dedicated customers, Microsoft has logically decided does more deal. Email client developers can however take advantage of the Metro interface to add this feature to their tiles if they wish, and to propose an overview dedicated to these specific research.

Finally, and this is just as important, Microsoft announces that it takes care to optimize at best this search function, announcing that it will be 45 to 78% faster than in Windows 7 based on the configuration of the user (see the table below). Encouraging!