Microsoft Showcases Windows 8.1 Features Through Glass House

“We are proud to take on the challenge of being able to incorporate technology with aesthetics through Microsoft’s Glass House and see how devices, apps and other technologies transform the interior space,” said Ivy Alamario from the country’s premeiere interior design firm, Atelier Almario .

Ivy and her sister Cynthia designed for Microsoft Philippines a one of a kind exhibit showcase, which they have referred to as the “Windows Glass House”.

Unveiled last Thursday at SM City Cebu, the Glass House shows how modern Filipino households can leverage Windows devices and apps to enhance one’s lifestyle. Microsoft also primarily intends to display the features of Windows 8.1, an update to the previous Windows 8, and introduce it to the public. The project started last November 2013 in Manila and they are here in Cebu for a week long exhibit. Visitors will not only get the chance to play with the latest windows devices. They can also get the chance to win an ASUS T100, one of the latest two in one devices in the market.

The set isn’t literally made of glass. But rather, it is designed as a colorful house filled with the newest gadgets from the living room to the kitchen with apps from Microsoft’s Windows that are fit for every member of the family such as Halo (for gaming), click the City (for lifestyle and entertainment), Bing Health and Fitness app, Bing Food (for recipes and cooking tips), Bing Travel and many more.

According to Mae Moreno, BG lead of Microsoft Philippines, the concept of the Glass House intends to make the virtual feel like that of Sci-Fi movies, where it focuses on state-of-the-art techlogy features. It is evident in the choice of furniture, its colors and most of all through the various Windows devices that are in every corner of the Glass House. “Through the glass house, Microsoft re-imagines life and showcases how windows 8.1 apps and devices are able to create a personalized computing experience that fits perfectly with the way people live,” Moreno said. She added that there is are Windows apps and devices designed for each member of the family proving that Microsoft has the capability to power and transform one’s everyday living.

The Glass House (Photo by MetroCebu News)

Between the two Windows versions, there aren’t much difference except that the tiles from Windows 8.1 can be re-sized. They have also revived the Start Button and some familiar commands. Microsoft has always set a trend depending on the customers feedback. Right now, they are offering a cleaner and a family-friendly Windows operating system.

According to the recent surveys Microsoft has conducted, 13% of the population still use the Windows XP, while the rest have shifted to Windows 7 and 8. They are encouraging public to use the latest versioins for on April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect the PC. Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date. Continuing to use Windows XP after support ends, computers will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.

Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, one can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.

The Windows glass house exhibit will be at SM City Cebu til February 2. To know more about Windows 8.1 apps and devices, visit www.microsoft.com.ph.

Photo above: Microsoft Philippines Business Group Lead Mae Moreno explaining to the media the different apps of Windows 8.1 during the Glass House launch in SM City Cebu. (Photo by MetroCebu News)