Microsoft has introduced a “Consumer Preview” version of Windows 8
Windows 8 Consumer Preview - the next milestone in the operating system lifecycle - is now available for download at Microsoft website.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview (formerly known as the beta release) provides a better opportunity to test the operating system than the Windows 8 Developer Preview introduced last year, which has been downloaded more than three million times in recent months.
"When we develop Windows 8, we focus on how people interact with their computers and how to make them feel as natural as possible, whether it's a tablet, laptop, or monitor PC with Windows 8," said Steven Sinofsky. , President of Microsoft Windows and Windows Live.
At a demonstration in Barcelona, Microsoft representatives shared a number of key pieces of information about the upcoming novelty:
- A long line of improvements and changes - Since the release of the Developer Preview, which presents the programming platform, in September last year, Windows 8 has evolved significantly in all areas. From completing various aspects of the user experience, such as using the touch screen, keyboard, or mouse, to refining the developer platform, Consumer Preview can show significant improvements in performance, quality, and reliability in all areas. In addition, the newly added features provide a much more accurate picture of the capabilities of Windows 8.
- Windows Store with new applications - Windows 8 Consumer Preview will launch a beta version of the Windows Store, which already hosts a number of Metro-style applications developed by Microsoft and third-party developers. During the Consumer Preview test period, these applications can be tried for free. The Windows Store provides personalized recommendations for users who are free to move applications, including settings, from one PC to another. This way, they can learn more about and take advantage of their applications, and developers can have even more options.
- Connect to the “cloud” via a Windows-based PC and Windows Phone - Windows 8 Consumer Preview seamlessly integrates user-critical content into a variety of web services. Optional sign-in to a Microsoft account gives users access to a host of new features, such as storing settings, web hosting, email, calendar and directory services, and more. The data stored in the “cloud” can be accessed from any Windows-based PC and phone running Windows Phone 7.
- Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5 - Microsoft's popular Internet browser has been redesigned and fully customized for devices running the Windows 8 platform. The IE10 provides a full-screen user experience, and its agility is guaranteed by, among other things, hardware acceleration technology.
- New hardware capabilities - At the Windows 8 Consumer Preview demo, Microsoft also unveiled x86- and ARM-based reference hardware, which will be available to some developers soon, as previously announced.
Windows 8 Consumer Preview is available in English, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese. The system can (theoretically) be installed on any machine running Windows 7. The NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8 key should be used for installation.
Source: Microsoft Hungary, computerbase.de
