14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Blue, the first major upgrade for Windows 8, just got leaked on the Internet, as the Redmond-based technology giant recently reached the first development stage of the project.
An early build supposed to be used by partners for testing purposes was released on the web, so users who want to give Windows Blue a try can find the leaked ISO on most file sharing websites out there.
The leaked screenshots also provide lots of new details regarding Windows Blue, including several new features that are very likely to be introduced in this major Windows 8 refresh.
It appears that Blue will come with a reworked Start Screen, so no Start button will be introduced, even though lots of Windows 8 users have requested it.
As compared to Windows 8, Windows Blue will offer many more customization options for the Start Screen, along with smaller and larger tiles to better fit your screen.
What's more, Microsoft is apparently working on a new Snap View mode that would split the screen in half for the two launched apps, thus allowing users to run two different programs side by side in a 50-50 mode.
The Charms bar is also showing some improvements, including a play option for the Devices menu. In addition, the Share Charm is very likely to get a new feature that would allow users to quickly take a screenshot and share it with friends using the installed apps.
Aside from all these changes, Windows Blue could also bring major enhancements to the pre-installed Windows 8 apps, including SkyDrive. It might seem like Microsoft is working on some new features for the SkyDrive client that would allow users to automatically upload files and create backups using the cloud storage service.
Last but not least, Windows Blue will most likely come with Internet Explorer 11, as sources familiar with the matter have hinted that it could bring at least a beta version of the new browser version.
Don't forget that the leaked Windows Blue build is only an early version of the operating system, so it could be affected by plenty of bugs and performance issues.
