If you've had a chance to take the Windows 8 Developer Preview for a spin you would have noticed that a lot of the features and looks are derived from Microsoft's experience with Windows Phone 7 launched two years ago.
Underpinning Microsoft's approach in Windows 8 is ensuring that the operating system can run in a desktop/laptop environment and tablets.
With the increasing popularity of the iPad and other tablets it's only natural for Microsoft to follow the path of simplifying and morphing the most popular operating system for touch input in a tablet configuration.
Lesson 1 - Metro Interface Also Works on Tablets
The most obvious lesson is the user interface. Metro was introduced in Windows Phone 7 as a simple yet functional and appealing interface that makes Windows Mobile devices easy to use.
The interactive nature of tiles and the simplicity of the interface will be found in Windows 8 when launched later this year.
Lesson 2: Web-based Apps Are the Future
The first step was bringing web apps to Windows Phone 7, then with Internet Explorer 10, Microsoft brought a more immersive web experience to the browser.
With Windows 8 you'll get the best of both worlds, site pinning and a seamless full-screen browsing experience. This is an operating system where websites become apps.
Lesson 3: Push Notifications Are Important & Need Not Kill Battery Life
Like other tablet devices and Windows Phone 7, Microsoft will implement a battery-saving method to enable push notifications for emails, apps and more.
Lesson 4: Vetted Apps Make for a Better User Experience
Similar to Apple's App Market, Microsoft will only allow Marketplace Apps to be used in ARM-based Windows configurations.
This will ensure that apps are vetted before they make it to your portable devices.
Lesson 5: Hardware Specifications Improve User Experience
As with Windows Phone 7, Microsoft will have a set of guidelines that OEMs must follow in order to use Windows 8 on ARM based devices.
This will ensure a consistent user experience and set standards for the type of capabilities/components that all ARM-based Windows 8 devices will have.
The key here is Microsoft's ability to deliver on the user experience while ensuring that OEMs stick to the guidelines which will determine how functional and how well ARM-based devices with Windows 8 will run.
What do you think? Is it wise for Microsoft to set standards for ARM-based devices that want to run Windows 8?
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