Windows 8 Picture Password

Password to log in to your computer has come in different forms, initially we had and still have text passwords, where one uses the keyboard to type, then the finger print scanners (bio metric) were introduced, then there is face recognition (I am not sure how far this was successful), and now with Windows 8, Microsoft has introduced a new way to enter your passwords and its called Picture Passwords . This is one of the newest and coolest features I have used so far. Its not that difficult to configure either (that’s the best part)

The idea behind this feature is that, you will have to select a picture and up to 3 different gesture combinations that you use to interact with it. These interactions can be either in a circular form or just lines, for an example, in a picture you can start connecting all your family members faces with a line and that can be a password or may be circle the face of your best friend.

How to do?

• Click on the Control Panel App
• Tap on Users
• Create Picture Password
• Enter your password
• Once the account is authenticated it will give you an overview on the Picture password feature and will allow you to choose the picture
• Select the Picture and position it and click use this picture
• Create you gestures and confirm the gestures (Circles, lines and taps)

Once you receive the success message then you are done

Below video would give more detailed info 

Windows 8 (Developer Preview Pre-Beta) Installation Step by Step

This is what I have been waiting for quite some time now an official version of Windows 8 to try it out. After they released the Developer Preview Pre-beta version of Windows 8 yesterday at the BUILD conference I managed to download the ISO.

Since it was a Pre-Beta I started to install on top of a Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V machine ( I know the touch features – but something I want to sacrifice until later)

I created a new hyper-V virtual machine and started to install and it was almost the same as a Windows 7 installation except for the Windows 7 starting splash screen being replaced with another (refer screen shot below)

Here you go!

Loading Files

The changed splash screen from Windows 7

Language Settings

Installation Confirmation

Setup is Starting

Installation Option

Disk Selection

Installation Progress

Restarting

Setting up registry for the fist time and first time only

Preparing to load

Preparing the attached hardware devices

License Agreement

Initial startup and configuration

Personalizing – Computer Name

Setup Option – I selected “Express”

Creating the first User Account

Finalizing

Loading User

Preparing PC

Icons “Tiles” which can be clicked

More tiles and icons

Desktop (revamped start button)

Ribbon enabled Windows Explorer

Built in Internet Explorer 10

My Computer

System Properties

Hover over start button

Other settings accessed through desktop settings

WOW… isn’t this mind blowing? Awesome stuff.. stay tuned.. I am to explore more and try this on my slate (reason why I was waiting till later)