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Windows 8 gets public beta in February

by Steven Williamson on 7 December 2011, 16:30

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 8

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Though we’re yet to have confirmation of a firm release date for Microsoft’s upcoming operating system, the software giant has announced that a public beta of Windows 8 will go live in late February, 2012.

Antoine Leblond, vice president of Windows Web services, revealed the news at a San Francisco event for developers this week, where he also talked about the Windows Store, a hub for purchasing and downloading Metro-style apps. Many of the feaures are explained in the preview video below.



Microsoft has also now launched a Windows Store blog, where it reveals that it will offer developers up to an 80 percent revenue share of apps sold via the store. The launch of the blog also coincides with a First Apps contest for developers, where Microsoft is offering prizes such as a Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC and other tools to help new developers build better apps.

The arrival of the Window's 8 beta phase in February suggests that we could well be on for an Autumn 2012 release, which would be identical to the timing of the launch of Windows 7 in 2009.


HEXUS Forums :: 27 Comments

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Posted by cheesemp - Wed 07 Dec 2011 17:10
I'm really struggling to be excited by this release. I've almost immediately switched to new windows releases when they come out (even vista) but really put off by metro (it feels horrible with a mouse). Not sure I'll bother this time…
Posted by brasco - Wed 07 Dec 2011 17:42
Yeah, metro is brilliant on their phone but until I get the tablet, it's not too appealing. Having said that, the threading improvements touted look great.
I haven't really been following in detail but surely you can fallback to standard windows layout like they've always done?
Posted by Funkstar - Wed 07 Dec 2011 17:49
Yes. You can even have a Metro panel to the side of a normal Windows desktop.

I think this would work well on a large monitor, you could have some live tiles on one side keeping you up to date with some things, while you are working on the rest of the screen with normal Windows apps.
Posted by shaithis - Wed 07 Dec 2011 17:57
Still not sure what it's going to bring for me….the last few releases have all had something big we knew about before that made me want to have it on release day….the one thing I have heard about/seen was the new task manager……but as gorgeous as that was, I can't see myself upgrading for it :P
Posted by 0iD - Wed 07 Dec 2011 18:04
Why oh why, win7 is a not-too-bad OS, why go and spoil it?

Goes in cycles
Win 98 ok
Win Me poop
Win XP ok
Win Vista poop
Win 7 ok
Win 8 ?

SEE NEWER »