Five OS X Mountain Lion features that Windows 8 lack in
Apple’s latest desktop operating system, the OS X Mountain Lion has finally reached consumers. Mac users can download it from the Mac App Store at a nominal price of $19.99. Meanwhile, Microsoft too has announced the launch of its upcoming operating system, Windows 8, on October 26. Both OS X Mountain Lion and Windows 8 are inspired by their respective mobile OS counterparts. While Mountain Lion is an upgrade from the earlier version, Windows 8 is a whole new game compared to any of its predecessors.
With Windows 8, Microsoft aims to provide a multi platforms operating system across all the devices – desktops, tablets and smartphones. It has a tile based interface that is optimized for touchscreens. The release preview of Windows 8 is here and reviewers have tested it to find that it is more touch-centric than desktop use. No doubt, Microsoft wants to expand its domain into the mobile computing industry.
Windows 8 will have a plethora of new features that have never been seen before. Yet there remain some very user beneficial features that could have been implemented into Windows 8 for a better operating system.
Let’s take a look at five such features.
Notification Center
Inspired from the iOS, OS X Mountain Lion has a new notification center that will enlist all the new updates. Windows 8 too will have pop-up notification for viewing new messages, appointments and updates. However, unlike Mountain Lion, Windows 8’s notification will not enlist all the updates that the user might want to know. Moreover, continuous popping of notifications in between some important work can be distracting. A dedicated menu for notifications without a pop-up function would have been a better feature any day.
Message Syncing
Mountain Lion has iMessage, another iOS inspired feature that will allow Mac users to send messages to iOS devices and vice versa. Cross platform messaging would be very useful for people especially the professionals who would like to have message syncing across all the devices.
It is unfortunate that Windows 8 has no such feature despite being compatible with traditional desktops and the new generation touch devices.
AirPlay Mirroring
Getting PC contents on the television is the future of entertainment. Microsoft has hit upon this and is coming with the SmartGlass app which will allow content from touch devices to be viewed on the Xbox 360. However, Microsoft’s credibility to provide a hassle-free app has been questioned by many critics.
On the other hand, OS X Mountain Lion will have AirPlay Mirroring that will offer similar benefit from Macs and iOS devices to the Apple TV. Therefore, it wouldn’t be too unjustified to look forward to a similar app on Windows 8.
Better Voice Dictation
Voice dictation on Windows 8 is more of a navigation oriented feature that is obscured by the applications and their menus. It not meant for general usage.
Mountain Lion is incorporated with voice commands into their user interface that make usage easier than ever before. All you need is to double tap the ‘Function’ key and start voice dictating.
Built-in Notes and Reminders
Windows 8 has integrated Windows App Store that will benefit users with external apps for notes and reminders. You can sync it with all your devices.
On OS X Mountain Lion, these features come integrated. Thus, notes and reminders are at your disposal all the time on all your Apple devices. Some may argue that it is much easier to take notes with OneNote on Windows. True, but a simpler solution free of cost is more acceptable.
Windows and Mac OS have been held up against each other since ages. With every launch of new product, it is rivaled against the other. This time around, the two operating systems are being compared for their mobile nature. Apple claims that Mountain Lion has more than 200 new features. Meanwhile Windows 8 is going to be a whole new experience for PC users. The release preview has received positive response. However, Windows 8 is still in the developing phase. The final release is yet to be witnessed which is expected to bring more features for a better operating system.
