Over the past few months, there has been a lot of buzz about Windows 8, ever since Microsoft initially showcased it last year and released a developer’s preview, which we extensively covered for you. Today at MWC 2012 in Barcelona, Microsoft is releasing the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 and as always, we will be providing you with an in-depth coverage of everything Microsoft’s latest operating system optimized for both PCs and tablets has to offer.

The much-anticipated Windows 8 is probably the most major release to Microsoft’s desktop operating system till date, especially when it comes to significantly changing the way we interact with our computers. It incorporates the excellent Metro UI from Zune and Windows Phone, into major parts of the entire operating system, which is a big shift from the old desktop interface. Therefore, there will be a lot of new features, as well as new ways to utilize the old features.

The Consumer Preview has significant changes (100,000 according to Microsoft) from the Developers Preview, and it reflects the end product that Microsoft will be shipping to the end users more accurately.

If you are interested in downloading Windows 8 Consumer Preview to install it on your computer and take it for a ride, you can download it from Microsoft for free, using the following link:

Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Today as well as over the coming week (which we are calling our Windows 8 Week), we will be bringing you detailed coverage of all that has changed, and will be updating the links right here in this post.

See our complete coverage below.

• How To Get Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Key
  When Installing Windows 8 Consumer Preview, it will ask for Product Key. We explain how you can get your own.
  
• Windows 8 Switch List Helps Navigate Between Running Applications
  Forget Alt+Tab windows switching. Windows 8 has a new way to switch between apps and windows, called Switch List.
• What Is Windows 8 Storage Spaces & How To Create Virtual Storage Pool
  In Windows 8 you can now merge multiple hard disks to create a virtual storage pool called Storage Spaces.
• Windows 8 Charms Bar: System Wide Access To Search, Sharing, Settings & Basic Actions
  The Charms Bar is like the new Start Menu of Windows 8. All basic control and action functions can be found here.
• All You Need To Know About Windows 8 Store [Review]
  Learn more about Windows 8 Store and grab some free apps along the way.
• How To Resize, Group & Manage App Tiles In Windows 8 Start Screen
  Don’t like the default app tiles in Start Screen? You can now resize and group them for better management.
• Hands-On With Windows 8 Remote Desktop
  In Windows 8 Start Screen, you will find a brand new Remote Desktop app. It just works.
• How to Enable Windows 8 Safe Mode
  Did something go wrong? Worry not, you can boot in Safe Mode to fix any issues.
• Where (The Heck) Is Computer In Windows 8?
  Computer (also called My Computer) is the first place users visit. We tell you how to make it easily accessible in Windows 8.
• Airplane Mode & Metered Connections In Windows 8 Network Settings
  Some great new networking features that were not available before. Do check them out!
• Windows 8 PC Settings [Complete Guide]
  Find out what’s new in PC Settings.
• Bypass Windows 8 SmartScreen Filter To Run 3rd Party Desktop Apps
  For security reasons, Microsoft does not allow third party apps to run. You can bypass the SmartScreen to run any apps you want.
• Add Bluetooth Devices In Windows 8 Without Installing 3rd Party Software Or Drivers
  Bluetooth devices can be added to the Windows 8 machine without requiring any third-party drivers or applications.
• How To Remove Multiple Metro App Tiles From Windows 8 Start Screen
  Want to remove multiple app tiles from the new Start Screen at once? We show you how!
• Windows 8 File Sharing: How To Share Users & System Folders On Network
  All you need to know about file sharing and its set up in Windows 8.
• Set Default Browser In Windows 8 For Links From 3rd Party/Desktop Apps
  Default programs do not work in Windows 8 as they used to in earlier versions of the OS. To make a third-party browser truly default, follow this guide.
• Where Is The Start Menu In Windows 8?
  Microsoft has decided to remove the Start Menu from Windows 8. Learn more about it.
• Bring Back The Start Orb/ Menu To Windows 8 Using ViStart 
  Unhappy with the Start Screen and want the old Orb with Start Menu back? Get ViStart in action!
• Download Our Windows 8 Metro Wallpapers
  We created a collection of Metro-themed Windows 8 wallpapers for our readers. Check them out!

Don’t forget to check out our previous guides (updated to reflect new changes).

• How To Install Windows 8 On VirtualBox
  The complete guide to installing Windows 8 on VirtualBox with correct settings. It works on both Windows and Mac.
• What’s New In Windows 8 Desktop, Start Search, And Start Menu
  Learn about the brand new Windows 8 Desktop, Metro inspired Start Search and Start Menu.
• The Complete Guide To Windows 8 Explorer, New Ribbon Tools And Options
  The Windows Explorer gets a Ribbon treatment that gives quick access to common options. Learn more about the new features of Ribbon Explorer.
• The Complete Guide To Windows 8 Task Manager, New Features And Options
  The Task Manager has been totally revamped. It is better than ever with new features and options.
• The Complete Guide To Windows 8 PC Settings
  You can now access PC Settings from Charms Bar. We dive deep into the new features and options found inside PC Settings.
• How To Refresh Or Reset Your Windows 8 PC [Complete Guide]
  You will find two new options in Windows 8, both of which serve a very important purpose; Refresh and Reset. These options have been applauded by everyone, we test them in details.
• All About Windows 8 FileName Collisions And Copy/Move Dialog Box
  The brand new Filename Collisions dialog makes it easier for users to select which files to move or keep. The Copy/Move dialog box helps users easily check the transfer speed and pause it at any time.
• The Complete Guide To File History Backup
  Superior alternative to Previous Versions feature, File History is Windows 8 native file backup and restore utility. We explore its features and options.
• The Complete Guide To Windows 8 Startup Menu
  The Windows Startup Menu, also called Boot Menu gets Metro treatment in Windows 8. We check out every option to find out what’s new.
• Sync Windows 8 User Settings Between PCs & Tablets via Windows Live ID
  Syncing is now possible in Windows 8, provided you have Windows Live ID. Once you set up a Windows account using Windows Live email address, you can sync PC settings with other computers running Windows 8 under the same Windows Live ID.
• Quick Overview Of Windows Lock Screen
  The Lock Screen can now display application notifications, status badge, battery, network status, and more. We did a quick overview of the lock screen to find out what makes it unique.

More articles, guides and tips to follow. Stay tuned!

Related Articles:

1. Roundup: Our Exclusive Coverage Of Windows 8 Developer Preview
2. How To Get Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Key
3. Preview YouTube Videos And Get Detailed User Statistics In Chrome

One of the most useful tab-management features of modern browsers is opening recently closed tabs using Ctrl+Shift+T hotkey. It certainly saves the time one would’ve spent sifting through browsing history to find and open closed tabs. In contrast to browsers, Windows 7 manages folders and application windows differently; despite storing recently opened programs and items in Start Menu, it doesn’t support bringing them up again using a hotkey. Today, AddictiveTips brings you UndoClose - a free program that remembers all recently closed folders and applications, so that you can restore them in the same sequence in which they were closed using two hotkeys. In short, it enables you to open the last closed folder(s) and application(s) just like the way Firefox, Google Chrome and other browsers let you open the recently closed tab(s).

UndoClose supports two hotkey combinations; Ctrl+Shift+F and Ctrl+Shift+A, to open last closed folder (in Windows Explorer) and application, respectively. The hotkeys can be used multiple times. For example, if you close VLC Player, Notepad and iTunes, press Ctrl+Shift+A hotkey three times to launch VLC Player, Notepad and iTunes again.

UndoClose sits in the system tray after being launched and silently starts monitoring all folders and applications that are closed. It then helps you restore them using the hotkeys.

If the pre-defined hotkeys come in conflict with other global hotkeys, you can change them from Settings. To access Settings, click the system tray icon. You will also find all recently closed folders and applications with their complete source paths. You can open them by double-clicking the items in the list.

You can watch how it all works in the video walkthrough below.

The application is built to actively keep log of all the apps and folders you close, and therefore, it consumes 35 MB of system memory. It’s worth mentioning here that memory usage depends upon the number of apps and folders you close during the session. UndoClose is a portable app that works on Windows 7 only. Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS are supported.

Download UndoClose

Changelog:

Version 1.1 – Now works with all Libraries (main folder, default Windows libraries, custom user-made libraries), Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panel (Category view), and Network.

Version 1.0  - Initial Release

Related Articles:

1. Smart Folders For Windows [AddictiveTips Apps]
2. MSE Update Utility [AddictiveTips Apps]
3. BitLocker Drives Unlocker [AddictiveTips Apps]

Do you want to get iOS and Android folder creation functionality in Windows, where folders can be created using simple drag & drop of one app over another? Although Windows 7 has a ton of highly interactive and user-friendly features, the method of creating a folder remains the same to what we saw back in Windows 98, requiring you to create a separate folder, and then put files into that folder by hand. Today, AddictiveTips brings you Smart Folders to save you not only the time, but also the effort, involved in organizing files into folders. It’s a free application for Windows that lets you create folders via simple drag & drop of file(s) over another.

It will help you quickly organize images, documents, audio files etc., into folders, without having to go through the hassle of creating separate folders prior to moving the files. All you need is to drag the file(s) on top of another file, and the application will ask you to enter the name of the folder that you want to create. Once specified, a folder will be created in the same location and the files automatically added in it. When you run the application for the first time, click Install to register the file extensions.

Once done, you can start creating folders. The app is registered for all extensions by default, but since Windows and some other apps register themselves for specific file extensions, you may have to perform some manual associations. To register manually, enter the file extension and click Register.

It will add the specified file type in Registered File Extensions list. When you want to unregister a file type, select it from the list, and the click Unregister.

You can drag multiple files over any file to quickly group them up in a folder.

When you drag the file over another, it will ask you to specify the output folder name. Just enter the name and then click OK to create folder in current location.

The screencast below will help you better understand its usage.

The application can be uninstalled using the Uninstall option available on main interface. It will unregister all the file extensions, and then remove the application. Smart Folders works on Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS are supported.

Download Smart Folders

Related Articles:

1. UndoClose For Windows [AddictiveTips Apps]
2. XLaunchpad: Mac-Like LaunchPad For Apps & Folders [Windows]
3. BitLocker Drives Unlocker [AddictiveTips Apps]

If you use BitLocker Drive Encryption to encrypt and secure multiple local drives in Windows 7, you will be frustrated by the process of unlocking all drives one by one. One has to open individual local drives and enter their respective passwords to unlock them. This is both a cumbersome and tiresome user experience. Shouldn’t there be an easier method where it requires users to enter passwords for the local drives and then unlock them with just one click? What if more than one drive has the same password? Do you really want to enter the same password multiple times to unlock all drives?

What about locking the drives after unlocking them? Windows 7 does not provide any easy option to lock the drives. Users have to lock the drives one by one via the command line.

Meet BitLocker Drives Unlocker (BLDU), a portable app we are releasing to the public free of charge that makes it easier to unlock and lock your BitLocker encrypted drives in Windows 7. All drives locked with BitLocker are listed on the main interface, just enter their passwords and hit Unlock. To lock the drives, select one from the drop-down list (at the bottom of the window) and hit Lock. Or just click Lock All to lock all drives together. It’s that simple! If you have same password for all drives, tick the Same password for all checkbox. You can also run it on system startup. In short, BitLocker Drives Unlocker is the fastest way to unlock and lock your Bitlocker encrypted drives.

BitLocker Drives Unlocker has been tested on both Windows 7 x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) systems.

Platform: Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Requirement: .Net Framework 3.5 (already included in Windows 7)
Price: Free

Download BLDUv1.2

Changelog:

v1.2 – Added support for locking Bitlocker unlocked drives. Read review here.

v1.1 – Changed name from BitLocker Drive Unlocker to BitLocker Drives Unlocker.

v1.0 – Original Release

Related Articles:

1. BLDU v1.2 Can Now Lock All Bitlocker Unlocked Drives In Windows 7
2. Protect Your Drives With BitLocker Drive Encryption In Windows 7
3. Drive Tweaker – Create Virtual Drives, Lock And Customize Local Drives

MSE Update Utility is a simple app that updates Microsoft Security Essentials when Windows Update is disabled. Windows Update service is responsible for frequently updating MSE. But once it is disabled via Group Policy Editor, MSE won’t update anymore.

Microsoft’s idea for merging the MSE update with Windows Update is perhaps the biggest downside of MSE and the only workaround until today was to manually grab the latest virus definitions. Since MSE virus definitions are updated almost daily, the manual route was quite tiresome. This is where MSE Update Utility comes in.

From the main window you can select the update intervals, there are four options given – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Startup. I would recommend going for either Daily or on Startup.

Updating the virus definitions during startup is the best way to keep the system secure. It will automatically update the definitions and notify you when they are complete.

By default it is checked to run on startup, you can always uncheck this option later. MSE Update Utility is not for everyone, but if you fall in any one of the category below then it will come surely handy:

• Users in corporate office environment where the network administrators have disabled the Windows Update.
• Those having difficulty updating MSE using Windows Update due to some problem.
• When Windows Update is disabled by a virus.

Downloads:

MSE Update Utility Installer

MSE Update Utility Zipped

Mirror for Installer (Software Informer)

Update: The app has been updated to version 1.1, various fixes have been implemented. For full details, go here. The FAQ below has been edited to better reflect the changes.

Update 2: Those users who are uncomfortable using this tool can try out a Task Scheduler method which uses MSE’s own command line utility to look for latest virus signatures.

Update 3: The app is still v1.1, but we have managed to fix the exception error. Please note that it will work only with US Short Date Format, to read more about it, go here.

Update 4: Software Informer was kind enough to feature MSE Update Utility. They’ve been added to mirrors for downloading the application.

Note: This is the first second stable release. If you would like to see some additional features, drop a comment below. It requires .Net Framework 3.5 to run.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. The software wont update the virus definition?
A. Please make sure that the software is run with Administrator Privileges. This has been fixed, the software will indeed update the virus definitions even if you are not running with Administrator Privileges.

2. The software wont run on startup even though I have it enabled to run on startup?
A. Please disable your User Account Control (UAC) from the control panel. Disabling UAC was quite foolish for us to say, we have fixed this as well.  If you want to run an app during startup, please make sure you run the program as Administrator before checking the “Start during startup” option. You need to run the app as administrator because the app adds a key to the registry.

3. Where did the app get installed?
A. Straight in the C drive. You can now select any destination where you want to install the app.

4. The app shows the definitions have been updated but MSE still shows old definitions?
A. Exactly, MSE will actually show the updates a few minutes after the app says update complete.

Special thanks goes to Haseeb Ahmed for his help in programming the app!

Related Articles:

1. MSE Update Utility v1.1 Adds Flexibility, Is More Stable
2. MSE Update Utility v1.1 Is Fixed & Other Small Rants
3. BitLocker Drives Unlocker [AddictiveTips Apps]