The Consumer Preview of Windows 8 launched right on time, so now it’s time to nail down the final launch date.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, that date will be some time in October, citing unnamed sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans.
There will be two versions of Windows 8 – one for desktops and one for tablets – but both should function pretty much the same. Things like an app store and highly customizable interfaces will make the new version unlike anything Microsoft has released for a computing product before.
As part of the launch, Nvidia confirmed today that it will be distributing test PC units to developers powered by the Tegra 3 quad-core mobile processor. “We’re furthering this tradition by helping to realize the extraordinary potential of Windows on ARM processors, like Tegra 3,” the company said in a statement.
The most distinct aspect of Windows 8 is what’s known as the “Metro UI,” which allows users to have complete customization on their home page, including widgets, RSS readers, weather information, date/time, etc.
In addition, since this is such a revolutionary new platform, Microsoft wants to scrap out all remnants of the “old-school” look and feel. Instead of a Start bar, hovering your mouse over that corner of the screen will allow you to swap between the Metro UI and the traditional desktop. For the mobile version of Windows 8, the Metro UI will be the default interface.
The beta download is available now, and tips the scales at a little over 3 GB.
