8 new and radical features of Microsoft's latest operating system

#2) Beautiful, customizable tiles

The new layout is based on a system of colourful tiles that can be added, removed or shifted around at the whim of the user. Each tile provides a link to your favourite apps or programs, and some even display ‘live’ scrolling information, such as stock market prices or the latest sports results.

Singapore actor Nat Ho, who was promoting the Windows 8 web drama Of Love & Hidden Charms at the launch event, said: “My favourite feature is how I can customize all the live tiles. From the background to the size of the tiles, it’s really your own type of grid, and at a glance you can have whatever information you want. And I think that’s what's cool and sets it apart from other operating systems.”