Microsoft is indeed working on a modern File Manager app for Windows Blue

Yesterday, reported the possibility of Microsoft working on a File Manager app for the next update to Windows 8. The references to this new File Manager app was seen in the leaked Windows Blue build 9364. Now, an image has surfaced showcasing the File Manager app.

If you are one of the lucky ones to get your hands on this leaked build, you will notice the presence of the File Manager app, but you cant run it. However, someone was able to get it running and now we get our first look at this File Manager app. (see screenshot below)

As you can see, the app functions like your typical file manager app. You can create new folders, rename folders, add an item into a folder, delete or rename files, etc. It still has a long way to go before it replaces the useful File Explorer in Windows 8.

This app also presents a threat to all those third party File Manager apps that are currently available in the Windows Store. With Microsoft creating their own app, the need for those third party apps will no longer be there. More on this as it develops.

[CENTER]27 Maret 2013 : Microsoft forms a new team to create 'secret' and 'risky' apps for Windows Blue and Windows 9
We already know that Microsoft wants to increase the number of apps in the Windows Store. Recently, we learned that the Windows Store had surpassed the 50,000 app milestone. Now, a new report suggests that Microsoft has created a new team to build 'secret' and 'risky' apps for the next generation of Windows.

According to a Microsoft employee's resume posted on his LinkedIn profile, he not only works for Microsoft but is also part of a new team that will build these apps for the next version of Windows (vNext), which is obviously Windows Blue and Windows 9.

"After a re-organisation, some people of my team and I moved in a brand new team inside Windows vNext. The team is called Inbox Experience/Platform Showcase Apps. The goal of my team is to ship the most fun/secret/risky/showcasable apps inside Windows and its ecosystem. My job is to be a C++ developer (WinRT, XAML, DirectX, Drivers, COM, WRL, Win32 and co). I work at a feature level/scope (features owner)," the resume reads.

This new team, called Inbox Experience/Platform Showcase Apps, began in January of this year. It will be interesting to see exactly what sort of 'risky' apps are going to be developed and at what costs will Microsoft try to bolster its Windows Store. Could we finally see an Outlook app?

25 Maret 2013 : 9364 Alpha Build Released!
Microsoft has denied for months that Windows Blue even exists, but we finally have proof. A forum post from a Polish tech blog contained links for Windows 8 build 9364, and R27 installed the patch to verify its legitimacy. The consensus seems to be that Build 9364 is an “alpha” version of Blue, and while it might not be entirely feature complete, it certainly gives us a pretty good idea of what Microsoft has in store. We would recommend against installing this build for both legal and stability reasons, however that doesn’t mean you're totally shut out. We’ve compiled a full gallery of screenshots showing off the changes, and so far we have to say things are looking up for the modern UI.
Oh Snap!


Snap View
Perhaps the most significant change is how Microsoft is dealing with multitasking of modern UI applications. The shipping version of Windows 8 (build 9200) allows only two modern UI applications to be open at once. To make matters worse one is limited to lousy 320 pixels of horizontal real estate on the left or right hand side of the screen, significantly limiting the usefulness of the app. Build 9364 allows for a 50/50 split screen views, and even allows you to have up to 4 modern UI applications open on the screen at any given time. This type of flexibility will be critical if Microsoft hopes to ever fully replace the desktop, however developers will still need to update their applications to support the new aspect ratios.




New Live Tiles
In Windows 8 live tiles can be either small, or large. Small has always felt a bit big for something that I only want to use as a shortcut, and large always felt too small to display enough useful information without launching the app. Build 9364 allows you to further shrink small tiles into miniature icons, and create new jumbo tiles for content rich applications. This type of flexibility will make the home screen more useful for desktop and tablet users alike, and brings much needed customization to the home screen.

Personalization
Windows 8 allows you to personalize the start screen, but offers a fairly limited range of colors to pick from. The new revamped personalization menu lets you blend the perfect color for your background, and even allows you to make start screen groups without using semantic zoom. Control Panel Continues Death By A Thousand Cuts

Windows Blue PC Settings
PC settings under the modern UI allows you to change most of the settings found in the desktop control panel, but not everything. Windows Blue will continue this trend by allowing you to change Display Settings, Accounts, SkyDrive, Privacy, Network, Time and Language, and many more. The control panel is still around, but the evidence continues to mount that this legacy means of control your PC is quickly dying off.


Internet Explorer 11
Internet Explorer gets updated to version 11, however its somewhat difficult at this point to determine what if anything is changing. Cosmetically it looks the same as it’s predecessor, but as we mentioned before this alpha build is probably not feature complete.

Possible Leak or Distribution from MS next days:
9319.0.x86fre.fbl_eeap.130208-1820_client_en-us_DV5.iso
This distribution name was sent to major partners and software developers.

Indicative Roadmap for Windows 9, the next update after Blue.

1. Windows 9 Beta (7 January 2014)
   
2. Windows 9 Release Candidate (July 2014)
   
3. Build 2014: Windows 9 RTM (October 2014)
   
4. November 2014: Windows Release 9
   

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:98C4A6164F91792B9D575E2260CFBC53DBA22D72&dn=9364.0.FBL_PARTNER_OUT13.130315-2105_X86FRE_CLIENT_EN-US-IMP_CCSA_DV5.ISO