That big Windows 8 leak and some patent applications show what Microsoft planned for Windows 8, my recent finding is titled ‘Direct Computing Experience’. The patent goes describes that how sometimes a laptop is used for watching movies on DVD but since the laptop is more than the DVD players available in the market, the experience is different.

Microsoft plans to make the computer go into reduced functionality mode or in a sand boxed mode in case you plan to use it for a specific consumer electronic applications, such as the DVD player. Quoting the patent application summary:

Briefly, various aspects of the subject matter described herein are directed towards launching a computing device into a special computing experience (referred to as a direct experience) upon detection of a special actuation mechanism coupled to the computing device. For example, a dedicated button, a remote control device, and so forth may trigger a different operating mode, such as by launching a particular application program. The special actuation mechanism may instead (or additionally) cause the device to be operated in a constrained, or sandbox mode, in which only limited actions may be taken, e.g., as defined by a manufacturer or end user.

The idea is that you might not need to login and wait for your entire desktop to load and then start media player and then start the movie. This process can be automated and initiated by a click of the button.

The patent images show that you can push a button, the system will look for media to play (possible scenario a movie DVD in the drive) and then start playing without you having to login to the system. Some flowcharts from the patent application explain this better:

This sounds like a solution to the battery problems in laptops, reduced functionality mode will definitely improve battery life. This is quite interesting, Device Stage, Sideshow and now Direct Experience.

The initialization of the Direct Experience isn’t limited to buttons but can also be done by plugging specific hardware. I assume, plugging a USB stick that has audio files will directly start playback, again without logging in. Saves a lot of time if you ask me!

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Microsoft To Introduce ‘Direct Experience Platform’ With Windows 8?

Multitasking in iOS4:

Quoting the iPhone programming guide:

Although most applications are suspended, applications that need to continue working in the background may do so using one of the following techniques:

• An application can request a finite amount of time to complete some important task.
• An application can declare itself as supporting specific services that require regular background execution time.
• An application can use local notifications to generate user alerts at designated times, whether or not the application is running.

This means that applications are suspended but if an application wants to perform an action after suspending it can be granted access to any of the following 7 services. Only 7:

• Background audio
• Voice over IP
• Background location
• Push notifications
• Local notifications
• Task completion
• Fast app switching

So essentially if Pandora does not code into the app that it wants access to Background Audio, it’ll be suspended once you navigate out. It won’t be running in the background like traditional multitasking.

In case an application doesn’t want invoke any of these 7 services, it will be suspended. Another keyword here, suspended.

What does suspended mean?

Simply put, the application will go into something similar to what happens when you put your PC into hibernate or sleep mode. The next time you start the application, it will start from where you left it. Probably not the best analogy, but you get the idea. The application isn’t closed. And this is exactly what Windows Phone 7 does as of now.

Multitasking in Windows Phone 7:

First up: Microsoft’s applications – email, Zune, IE can run in the background and you can continue doing different tasks.

The difference between multitasking in WP7 and iOS4 is that apps don’t have access to background services (the 7 that developers get access to in iOS4). In WP7 apps are suspended, the application state is saved and when you start it again, it’ll start from where you left it.

Microsoft calls this as hydration and de-hydration, they compare it to browser cookies where data is stored pertaining to a website. The slides that explain this:

The slide simply explains that when a user navigates away from an application by hitting the Windows key, the UI is discarded but the state is saved. The second slide:

The application can be re-started from its saved state and in case the system requires more resources, the application is terminated, very much like the iPhone.

So if I’m reading an ebook in the kindle app and i navigate out of it, the app will save where I was in the app and then quit. once I start the application again, i will be on the same page I left (provided of course Amazon codes it.) What Windows Phone 7 is lacking is the Alt+Tab UI that iOS4 has and access to some core APIs. Not that it can’t be provided.

If you’re a developer here’s a blog post on the issue that might help you. I owe it to Aayush Arya for helping me with the iOS4 part.

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Understanding Multitasking In Windows Phone 7

According to Razer this solved two issues, the mouse could be used for regular computing in the wireless mode and as a gaming mouse in the wired mode ensuring no latency. The other issue it solved was the battery problem. Wireless mice consume battery and since the Mamba could be used as a wired mouse too, one wouldn’t be left stranding.

Microsoft has applied for a patent that brings this feature to the Xbox 360 controller. Currently, there are two controllers available – wired and wireless. The patent shows a controller that can be used in both the wired as well as wireless mode. A block diagram of the controller shown in the patent application shows the USB interface and a RF module:

If you look closely, there is a voice module as well. The patent application refers to this as enabling oral input, though I’m not sure if this will be implemented since Kinect has voice input.

The switch from wired to wireless or vice versa would be done by saving the required controller and game settings on the controller itself. This will ensure smooth transition between the two modes.

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Xbox 360 Controller To Feature Easy Wired/Wireless Mode Swap

Anyway, the title isn’t misleading, in a patent filing Microsoft has indeed applied to patent a touch gesture known as the “Rubber-Band Gesture” The patent application describes the gesture as:

A rubber-band gesture begins with a source touching a touch display at a touch-down location of the touch display. The rubber-band gesture continues until the source stops touching the touch display at a lift-up location of the touch display.

The patent application talks about a game shown on the Surface computer. Some images:

This is one of those frivolous patents that is only meant to strengthen Microsoft’s IP.

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Microsoft Applies To Patent A Touch Gesture

PS: Swype over this?

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Microsoft Patent Reveals Weird Touch Keyboard Layout For Slate PCs