Rumored Windows 8 Feature: ‘History Vault’

While Microsoft prepares Windows 8 for the tablet wars, it’s also reportedly taking a page from Mac OS X with a feature called “History Vault.”

According to Winrumors, History Vault will be an advanced backup utility similar to Time Machine for Mac OS X. The system will create regular, automatic backups using Windows’ existing Shadow Copy feature.

Although users of Windows Vista and 7 can already go back in time with System Restore, History Vault will reportedly be more advanced. Users will be able to restore individual files to earlier timestamps, and the system will offer a graphical user interface for editing and restoring old documents, Winrumors’ unnamed source said. Apple’s Time Machine uses a cover flow to sort through restore points, but it’s not clear what Windows 8’s History Vault interface would look like.

Much of the OS itself, however, remains a mystery. We know Microsoft is creating a version of Windows 8 for tablets that’s compatible with ARM processors, and rumors point to an interface that borrows the tiled look of Windows Phone 7. But in terms of concrete features, Microsoft is staying silent for now. (Image: Courtesy of Winrumors.)

Whether the rumor about History Vault is true or not, it’s nice to hear some chatter about Windows 8 features for plain old laptops and desktops. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about tablets, but traditional computing still has plenty of life left — at least enough to merit some new features in Windows 8.

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