New features within Windows 8
User Account Control changes
Hyper-V on Client (almost the same as Server 2012 Hyper-V)
CHKDSK improvements with zero downtime (NTFS health)
Internet Explorer 10 with Enhanced Protected Mode
Virtual Network Switch
Powershell v3 In-Box, Powershell Intellisense, Powershell API Help- and Command Generator, New Powershell ISE
Virtual Fibre Channel
SMB 3.0 Attached Storage
Explorer VHD/ISO mount
Guest NUMA Direct
Direct Attached FC HBA
Dynamic Memory
64 TB Dynamic Virtual Disk
64 Logical CPU
VM 10-finger Touch
Extensible Virtual Switch
New Performance Tools
Fast and Fluid UI
Low Power Busses
VM NIC VMQ
VM NIC Teaming
OS BuilIn Smart Screen Filter (Has blocked >1.5B malware and >150M phishing attacks)
New Explorer with Ribbon
IIS 8.0
Do Not Track (DNT) capability
SmartScreen Filter protects third-party browsers
IE10 ASLR Support for none-ASLR aware AddIns
Secure Boot
New Task Manager
Powershell Web Interface
Trusted Boot
Windows to go
New MDT, WAIK, MDOP
Measured Boot
Offline Domain Join
WMI 2.0
Remote Attestation Service
New Activation Model
New App Certification
Remote Applications
Connected Standby
Virtual Smartcards
Windows RT (Windows on ARM)
BuiltIn USB 3.0 Support
Direct Access improvements
TPM 2.0
BuiltIn Bluetooth 4.0 Support
Branch Cache Improvements
UEFI 2.3.1
New Driver Model (WDM 1.2)
DaRT 8.0
Storage Spaces – Thin/Thick Provisioning
Hunderte neuer Powershell CMDLets (z.B. 162 für Hyper-V)
New VDI
New Windows Defender (Forefront Scan Engine)
New Firewall with Packet Filtering
Internet Explorer 10 64-Bit with 32-Bit Support
Fast Boot
PS ISE integrated CMD List
.Net Framework 4.5 SP1
Hybrid Shutdown
Improved, comprehensive Compiler Defenses (GS, ASLR, DEP, SAFESEH, SEHOP, Heap Spray, robust, etc.)
Async APIs (85% of WinRT APIs and included in .Net 4.5)
High Contrast Mode changes
Office 2013 RT (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote included in Windows RT edition)
Windows RT APIs and new Kernel Services
(e.g. Background Tasks, Suspended Apps)
Maintenance Tasks
Suspended Desktop Application (Windows RT)
Suspended Apps
Shared Kernel – Phone, Tablet, Notebook, PC
Offloaded File/Folder Operation (ODX Protocol)
New Application Model – Platform neutral (Intel/AMD/ARM)
Windows to go parse-through VM
Windows Store App Resource Protection
OPP Brokered API Isolation
Live Tiles
App Contracts – Secure App Data exchange (Search, Share, FilePicker, PlayTo)
Office 2013 Student (Windows RT)
RICH Touch Support
10-finger Touch Support
Secure Device Access – App Capabilities
Process Isolation – Low Integrity App container
VM 3D graphic support
Sidebar Removal
HTML 5 Support
Search throughout apps
New Windows 8 OS Switch Point via App Manifest
StartScreen Mouse- and Keyboard Support
File History
Windows Refresh / Reset
Windows 7 Backup included but deprecated
Optical Disk Power Management
Windows Store App Forward Compatibility
Flat Desktop Design and Improvements
Windows Store (Link to certified Desktop Apps possible)
Windows Store Apps using JavaScript and HTML
Device Encryption and Bitlocker
Windows Store Installer
Sideloading Installation
Windows Intune Support
WACK, WADK, WSDK, WDK
ACT 6.0
New Compatibility Assistant
New Windows Update – Less Reboots
Startup Application Diagnostics
Enhanced Cloud Integration – Linked Microsoft Account
Surface RT Ports for HDMI, USB, Bluetooth 4.0, SDCard
Convertible Devices Support
Support for almost infinite number of Hardware Formfactors
> 385 Shims
Automatic Compat. Mitigations (>7.500 Applications)
PowerShell Web Service Interface
Remote Attestation Service
Settings Roaming
Huge number of different Device-Formfactors
Web Setup (ESD)
No Installation without NX (DEP)
Silent (automatic) Activation
UEFI CSM Boot (Class 2)
Connected Account
Automatic Startup Repair UI
Assessment Execution Engine
Compression API
Data Deduplication API
App Packaging and Deployment
DirectComposition
Direct Manipulation
DirectXMath
Help API
iSCSI Software Target API
Operation Recorder
Steps Recorder Changes
SMB Management API
User Access Logging
User State Management API
Web Socket Protocol Component API
Windows Connection Manager
Windows Storage Management API
XAudio2
XInput
Event Tracing
IP Helper changes
MIB changes
Native Wifi changes
Network Management changes
UEFI CSM Boot (Class 2)
Connected Account
Automatic Startup Repair UI
Direct2D changes
DirectWrite changes
Printing changes
UI Automation changes
Windows Sockets changes
Software Input Panel
Assessment Execution Engine
Compression API
Data Deduplication API
Surface Pro with ultra thin digitizer
Start Button replaced by link to new Start-Screen
Technical Start Menu
Windows Style UI – New Start Screen
New features within Windows 8.1
Internet Explorer 11 with Enhanced Protected Mode ON by default
Internet Explorer 11 – automatic AddOn-Handling
IE11 with better touch performance, faster page load times and several other new features
Remote Business Data Removal (Selective Wipe)
Internet Explorer 11 antimalware solution integration
Windows Store in-place upgrade (Click-Click-Done)
3D Printing Support (built-in
Biometrics Support (built-in)
Biometrics liveliness Detection
Biometrics modern reader support (swipe, touch)
Biometrics usage with UAC, Windows Store, Modern UI Apps and more
Common fingerprint enrollment
Workplace Join
Work Folders
Open MDM for BYOD
Mobile Device Management
Web Application Proxy
RDS Enhancements - enhanced VDI
Wi-Fi Direct Printing
NFC Tap-to-pair Printing
Native Miracast Wireless Display
Broadband Tethering
Pervasive Device Encryption
Malware Resistance – Defender with network behavior monitoring and ActiveX support
Device Lockdown
Assigned Access
New Credential Theft Mitigations
New local Groups for hardening capabilities
Hundreds of new Win32 APIs
New Windows Surface 2 RT with new Keyboards
New Windows Surface 2 Pro with new Keyboards
Boot Performance improvements
Network performance improvements
Remote-Apps with faster reconnects and improved compression and multiple monitors support
Wider range of VPN clients
Apps can automatically trigger VPN connections
Embedded wireless radio
Windows To Go - Windows Store enabled by default
Touch to Buy with Biometrics
High DPI improvements
Dynamic DPI Changes
Per-Monitor DPI-Aware Applications
New GPOs (e.g. Start Screen)
New or improved Development Tools
New or improved Deployment and Management Tools
Text to Speak capabilities
In-app commerce support
Automatic App Updates
Hyper-V improvements
New Shims and Compatibility Modes
New Windows SwitchPoint for backward compatibility
Developers: New App Packaging
Developers: New scheduler API for Asynchronous Programming
Developers: Lots of new HTML and JavaScript controls
Developers: Lots of new XAML controls
Developers: New Device APIs (USB, Bluetooth, 3D Printing, Biometrics, Point of Service "POS", Human Interface "HID")
Developers: New DirectX 11.2 support with hundreds of new features
Developers: Enhanced support for in-app file management
Developers: New ways to capture and process media (playback controls, native support for Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) for HTML5 playback.
Developers: Removal of GetVersionEx()
Developers: New HTTP APIs
Developers: New Networking APIs
Developers: Latest authentication techniques support
New Windows Store
Better Mouse and Keyboard Options
Modern UI App Kiosk Mode
Enhanced Device Sync capabilities
Picture Slide Show on Lock Screen
New Touch Keyboard
Explorer SkyDrive integration
Redesigned Photo, Mail, Camera apps and more
Cloud connectivity enhancements (SkyDrive, etc.)
Improved All Apps List
Start Screen configuration by GPO
Start Screen Corporate Identity configuration
Improved Personalization
Variable, Continuous Size of Snap Views
Backgrounds with motions
Two more Live Tile sizes
Improved Search (Web, Bing, SkyDrive, Documents, Apps, etc.)
More colors and backgrounds for Start Screen
New Start Button
Boot to desktop
Modern UI Improvements – New Start Screen look and feel