The iPad Running Windows 8

Above is a video, with crappy music, of Microsoft's Windows 8 and its cool Metro U.I. interface running on an Apple iPad, and I must say so myself that it's looking rather good indeed.

The iPad is not directly running Windows 8, of course, but rather through SplashTop's remote desktop software, and software which allows you to stream Windows 8 from a nearby desktop directly to your iPad. SplashTop's software is mostly intended for developers in order to help them debug their software, since there are naturally very few Window 8 tablets on the market as of yet. SplashTop highlights some of its software benefits, on their site, as giving software developers the ability to:

- Swipe from the right to view the Charms menu
- Swipe from the left to switch apps
- Pull down from the top to close an app
- Swipe slowly from the left to run two apps side-by-side ("snapping")
- Pinch to navigate files, folders, apps and data with Semantic Zoom
- And more

When it comes to Microsoft's Metro U.I. on a phone, or on a desktop, I can't say that I care much for it at all, but on a tablet it feels, looks and runs pretty dang sweet! For Microsoft's sake, it better since it is literally, no joking aside, betting the whole farm on it. If Microsoft's best attempt to take on the iPad fails, then some are predicting that Microsoft's future will be looking rather grim indeed.

Of course, I personally don't have the foggiest clue as to whether Windows 8 will fail or succeed, but some are already saying that it will be an utter failure. On the other hand there are others who say that Windows 8 tablets will eat into Android tablets lunch, but considering that Android tablets having exactly been setting the world on fire lately that's not saying much.

In conclusion, Microsoft's Metro U.I. on tablets looks great. It's original, unlike Android which more-or-less basically rips off iOS almost to a tee. I"m not sure if Windows 8 will be enough to trounce the iPad on its own turf, but I have a sneaky feeling it will give it a good run for its money. I actually like the Metro U.I. on tablets, which is something that I would rarely, if ever, say about anything from the Redmond giant.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this so, so Monday, April 16, 2012