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17.3.5. Improved Device Management
Windows
®
8 allows you to connect, manage and use all devices via the central
“Devices” function.
All devices are shown in a central location.
With the new “Device Stage” technology, however, Windows® 8 goes one step
further with device management. Device Stage helps you to use all compatible
devices that are connected to the computer. Thanks to Device Stage you can now
display the device status and perform frequently used commands within a single
window. Here you will even find images of the devices so you can easily see which
devices are connected. The device manufacturers can even adjust Device Stage. For
example, if your camera manufacturer releases an updated version of Device Stage,
you can see details such as the number of photos on the camera and get links to
useful information when you connect the camera to your Notebook.
17.3.6. Home Group
With home network groups, a Windows
®
8 function, connecting home computers
becomes child’s play. A home network group is set up automatically when you
connect the first PC running Windows
®
8 to the home network. Adding additional
PC’s running Windows
®
8 to the home network group can be done very quickly.
You can specify precisely what should be shared on each PC with all other PCs in
the home network group. Sharing files on the various home PCs – and on many
other devices – is then as easy as if all the data were located on a single hard drive.
Thus, you can save digital photos on the computer in the study and then access
them easily on a Notebook in any other room. Similarly, the printer in the study is
automatically shared among all PCs in the house once they are part of the home
network group.
17.4. Overview
The greatest innovation with Windows
®
8 is the Start screen.
This key element replaces the Start menu in Windows
®
8.
Here you can run all the main programs and services.
As with previous versions, operation is by inputting commands using the mouse or
keyboard.
The Start screen can be opened at any time using the
(
Win
) key. This key
also allows you to switch back and forth between the Start screen and an active
application. To switch to an application other than the last one opened, press the
Win+Tab
keyboard shortcut.
A central feature of the Start screen are the tiles which each represent an
application or function. They are shown in blocks and you can define the number of
blocks and their columns yourself.
Drag
&
drop
the tiles to the desired position using the mouse.
