Microsoft To Deliver Summer Preview Of Windows 8

Microsoft has confirmed that it will provide another pre-release version of Windows 8 in June, as it seeks to build excitement for the forthcoming operating system.

Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft’s Windows unit made the announcement at a Windows Developer Days event in Japan and tweeted it on the Build Windows 8 Twitter feed.

Sinofsky said Microsoft will deliver a Windows 8 “Release Preview’ in the first week of June.

Autumn Release?

The Release Preview edition of Windows 8 will follow the Windows 8 Consumer Preview now available to users as a beta release. Microsoft delivered the consumer preview 29 February.

Despite giving a time frame for the next pre-release version of Windows 8, Microsoft has not narrowed down a release date for the operating system the company is banking heavily on. Yet, the Windows 8 OS is expected to become generally available in October, according to reports.

Windows 8 will run on both x86 and ARM processors, and will be supported on PCs and tablets.

Last week, Microsoft announced the various Windows 8 SKUs that will be available to users upon release.

Three Versions

On 16 April, Microsoft announced that it would deliver three primary versions of Windows 8 client for customers: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT.

Windows 8 is the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows. Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies. It includes all the features in Windows 8 plus features for encryption, virtualisation, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows RT is the newest member of the Windows family – which is also known as Windows on ARM, or WOA. Windows RT will include touch-optimised desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. For new apps, the focus for Windows RT is development on the new Windows runtime, or WinRT.

Microsoft also said it would provide a fourth edition of Windows 8 for the client, Windows 8 Enterprise. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organizations that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualisation, new mobility scenarios and more.

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