Windows 8: Why So Much Buzz About it???
David is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 will be available to the masses in the month of October 2012. The newest version of Microsoft's operating system "Windows 8” which is designed around touch screens is way different from the previous Windows series and has a lot to offer. Computer enthusiasts all over the world are excited over the new release and looking forward to what Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will have in store.
The Release to Manufacturing (RTM) is the date that marks the completion of product development and testing and also in which the software will be available to manufacturers to build new Windows 8 PCs and devices. This is an important milestone in the software development life cycle and it took place on August 1st.
This product is going to be seriously interesting with mouth watering features. behind the new look of Windows 8 is the rock-solid foundation you’ve known from Windows 7. Windows 8 incorporates the desktop that you’re familiar with in addition to the new look of the Start screen. The desktop can be considered as one of the many apps you can run in Windows 8. You can see all the settings, devices, and features you used in Windows 7. Security and reliability features are built into Windows 8 just like Windows 7.
Windows 8 is expected to be designed for a wide range of devices from small compact, touch screens to high definition all-in-ones. It gives you ultimate pleasure with easy download of apps, smooth browsing through the Windows store and the ability to install and play latest games. Additionally, there is faster and easier sharing of photos, maps, contacts, links and everything you can think of.
Windows 8 uses lesser memory space so you have more room for data and apps. It’s fast and you can complete your task quickly no matter what you’re doing. Windows 8 is cloud connected and enables you to access your stuff on any Windows 8 PC. Windows 8 can be customized to suit your liking, whether you use touch or a keyboard and mouse, it works the way you want to.
The announcement of the release of Windows 8 has kept every enthusiastic techies gasping at its new looks and features; even the packaging is understood to be lot different from the classic Windows look. There is something surely good about the new design; it seems more colorful and trendy. But obviously the new look has got a lot to do with taking on the consumer market by storm. This new packaging may be enticing to young people who like swanky designs.
Along with Windows 8, Microsoft plans to release the much hyped Microsoft Surface tablet. It is one of the company's most-anticipated products in years and is up against competition from Acer's Iconia or HP's TouchPad. The Surface tablet will run mobile versions of Windows 8.
Windows 8 will give good competition to Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is playing strong with its latest operating system, iOS 6 which is scheduled for a September release this year. iOS 6 is expected to include 200 features to the mobile platform and is widely anticipated by iPhone and iPad owners. IDC's report on smartphone market share puts Google's Android at the top of the list with 68.1% market share while Apple’s iOS accounted for 16.9%. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) continues to blaze ahead by increasing Android's market share by almost 50% in the last one year.
I believe Microsoft’s Windows 8 marks a huge paradigm shift from the company’s previous operating systems of the last 2 decades. With Windows 8 Microsoft expects to regain ground in mobile computing lost to Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems.
**Information for this article is taken from www.microsoft.com Windows 8 release preview
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