WINDOWS 8 scoop:Microsoft Corp. on Thursday rolled out a near-complete version of its new operating system Windows 8 for consumers to try out, another key step in the company's effort to reboot its flagship software for a computing era dominated by mobile gadgets such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone.
Microsoft in recent months has launched early test editions of Windows 8 for software developers and for consumers, but the introduction of the so-called Release Preview Thursday is a sign the Redmond, Wash., company has locked in the form and features of its software. That's a crucial step for the company and for the slew of PC makers and independent software developers in Microsoft's orbit.
"We're thrilled to be at this milestone with the Windows 8 Release Preview," said Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division.
Analysts say the timing of the release preview indicates the broad launch of Windows 8 should be in September or October. The release preview can be downloaded on Microsoft's site.
With Microsoft now nearly finished with its next-generation operating system, attention will turn to Microsoft's hardware partners such as Dell Inc., Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard Co. to prepare new PCs that show off the Microsoft software. At next week's Computex trade show in Taiwan, many PC makers for the first time will be showing off touch-screen laptops and other new devices slated for the launch of Microsoft's new operating system.
Windows 8 is the most dramatic overhaul of Windows in at least 15 years. It is the first time Windows-which powers nearly all personal computers in the world-has been designed to work on desktop computers as well as laptops or tablet devices that people will control with their fingers. Microsoft is counting on Windows 8 to help the company stay relevant as more computing tasks are done on mobile phones, tablets and other devices in which Microsoft technologies have scant market share.
In look and feel, computers and tablets powered by Windows 8 will be familiar to users of many smartphones or tablets such as the iPad. The Windows 8 "Start" screen groups together icons representing major computing functions such as email, photos, music and Web browsing, all displayed in colorful "tiles" of information. Microsoft also has designed the "tiles" to show streaming bits of information. The weather app, for example, can be customized to show today's forecast for Chicago without even clicking to open the app.
The look, which Microsoft calls the "Metro" interface, started with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and has spread to its Xbox videogame console and smartphone software. As Apple has done with its iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, Microsoft with Windows 8 is aiming to give users a similar look-and-feel for the phones, tablets and PCs powered by Microsoft software.
For Windows 8, Microsoft also has revamped its Internet Explorer Web browser, Web-based file storage, email, music streaming and other pieces of software to take full advantage of touch-screen devices. (For traditionalists, Windows 8 also can be operated in a familiar Windows desktop style.)
New in the Release Preview, Microsoft also has taken the covers off new applications for news, music, sports and travel that Microsoft has developed itself to take advantage of the new characteristics of Windows 8. In the sports app, for example, fans of the Sacramento Kings basketball team can see scores, player information, standings and news about their favorite team pulled together in a single place and highlighted with colorful photos. Many outside companies, including Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle, Gannett's USA Today newspaper and note-taking software Evernote also are working on apps optimized for Windows 8.
The Release Preview was marred by a glitch. Microsoft published a day early a blog post touting the Release Preview, but the post was quickly taken down. The online publication The Next Web caught the Microsoft leak before it was scrubbed off the Web.
Separately, Microsoft also announced an option for people to upgrade computers powered by Microsoft's current operating system, Windows 7. For people who buy Windows 7 PCs through the end of January, an upgrade to a version of Windows 8 will be available at an estimated retail price of $14.99, Microsoft said.
Collapse this postMicrosoft in recent months has launched early test editions of Windows 8 for software developers and for consumers, but the introduction of the so-called Release Preview Thursday is a sign the Redmond, Wash., company has locked in the form and features of its software. That's a crucial step for the company and for the slew of PC makers and independent software developers in Microsoft's orbit.
"We're thrilled to be at this milestone with the Windows 8 Release Preview," said Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division.
Analysts say the timing of the release preview indicates the broad launch of Windows 8 should be in September or October. The release preview can be downloaded on Microsoft's site.
With Microsoft now nearly finished with its next-generation operating system, attention will turn to Microsoft's hardware partners such as Dell Inc., Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard Co. to prepare new PCs that show off the Microsoft software. At next week's Computex trade show in Taiwan, many PC makers for the first time will be showing off touch-screen laptops and other new devices slated for the launch of Microsoft's new operating system.
Windows 8 is the most dramatic overhaul of Windows in at least 15 years. It is the first time Windows-which powers nearly all personal computers in the world-has been designed to work on desktop computers as well as laptops or tablet devices that people will control with their fingers. Microsoft is counting on Windows 8 to help the company stay relevant as more computing tasks are done on mobile phones, tablets and other devices in which Microsoft technologies have scant market share.
In look and feel, computers and tablets powered by Windows 8 will be familiar to users of many smartphones or tablets such as the iPad. The Windows 8 "Start" screen groups together icons representing major computing functions such as email, photos, music and Web browsing, all displayed in colorful "tiles" of information. Microsoft also has designed the "tiles" to show streaming bits of information. The weather app, for example, can be customized to show today's forecast for Chicago without even clicking to open the app.
The look, which Microsoft calls the "Metro" interface, started with Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and has spread to its Xbox videogame console and smartphone software. As Apple has done with its iPhone, iPad and Mac computers, Microsoft with Windows 8 is aiming to give users a similar look-and-feel for the phones, tablets and PCs powered by Microsoft software.
For Windows 8, Microsoft also has revamped its Internet Explorer Web browser, Web-based file storage, email, music streaming and other pieces of software to take full advantage of touch-screen devices. (For traditionalists, Windows 8 also can be operated in a familiar Windows desktop style.)
New in the Release Preview, Microsoft also has taken the covers off new applications for news, music, sports and travel that Microsoft has developed itself to take advantage of the new characteristics of Windows 8. In the sports app, for example, fans of the Sacramento Kings basketball team can see scores, player information, standings and news about their favorite team pulled together in a single place and highlighted with colorful photos. Many outside companies, including Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle, Gannett's USA Today newspaper and note-taking software Evernote also are working on apps optimized for Windows 8.
The Release Preview was marred by a glitch. Microsoft published a day early a blog post touting the Release Preview, but the post was quickly taken down. The online publication The Next Web caught the Microsoft leak before it was scrubbed off the Web.
Separately, Microsoft also announced an option for people to upgrade computers powered by Microsoft's current operating system, Windows 7. For people who buy Windows 7 PCs through the end of January, an upgrade to a version of Windows 8 will be available at an estimated retail price of $14.99, Microsoft said.
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