According to the sieve-like WinUnleaked.tk, Windows 8 has hit reached its final pre-beta build. The timing of this is not surprising, if slightly early. The full Windows 8 public beta is expected to be released in late February; TNW does not think that today’s news implies that its timing has been changed.
The most recent build of Windows 8, 8189.0.winmain.120120-1830, will be followed by ‘Beta Escrow builds.’ As we reported recently, the beta itself might not be called a beta at all, but may instead be labeled a ‘consumer preview:’
This tells us more than Microsoft wanted (the firm declined to comment for this story). Here’s what we are thinking: The developer preview was built for that exact audience, so it could be that the consumer preview has a slew of apps and tools and settings designed for the average person, and not the tech community.
Of course, Microsoft has refused to comment on the speculation.
Whether the beta is called that or not, it will be the ‘coming of age’ moment for Windows 8. It will contain the Windows Store, thus allowing both developers and consumers alike to kick the tires of Microsoft’s vision for the future of computing. If the beta is met with anything less than enthusiasm, Microsoft will suffer from several negative press cycles.
Windows 8 is a radical move by Microsoft, and one that we are about to, finally, get our hands on in a very full sense.
Great! I'm looking forward to this and believe that it will ultimately be a huge step forward for windows.... Windows 7 was all about cleaning up Vista and producing something solid. Windows 8 is about taking things to the next level. While some complain about the UI which seems heavily geared toward tablets, I think it will be amazing for PC's in the long run.
The start screen acts as a terminal where you can access live feeds to the data/updates you most care about... People also like to say that it looks too colorful and cutesy for enterprise... Well right now they are just showing a consumer oriented skin... (granted green background is not my favorite)... These tiles could easily be re-skinned for business users to give realtime updates of in-house apps, communications, project management software, collaboration tools, etc. It also will help employees to be more efficient as you can limit their ecosystem in a clear and organized manner... How often do you see employees in "stare at the screen and figure out what I should be working on" mode...? With focused feeds/tiles that apply to their work, these moments can be limited...
Finally, if you have a multiple monitor setup, you can have some of your main apps always open full screen on other units while creating documents on another... I think this is very bold and will pay off big time for MS... (Great for customers as well)
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LikeOh, FYI MS friends I'm just starting an MS focused blog on tumblr... It's a work in progress now, just testing, etc. But please add me so we can share thoughts, etc.
microsoftanonymous.tumblr.com
also on twitter @microsoftanon
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