Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows 8 Release Preview

windows8-devMicrosoft today announced the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview, the next milestone of the highly anticipated Windows 8 operating system.

Available for download today in 14 languages at http://preview.windows.com, the Windows 8 Release Preview delivers a fast and fluid experience, along with a new user interface that responds equally well to touch as it does to keyboard and mouse.

Since the February release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which was downloaded more than 1 million times in the first 24 hours, Windows 8 has become the most tested Microsoft operating system of all time, and with today’s release, it enters its final phase of development before it releases to manufacturing.

New Apps Provide an Even Richer Experience

Windows 8 Release Preview delivers new apps from Microsoft and partners. Highlights include Bing Travel, News and Sports apps, as well as Gaming and Music Xbox apps that integrate with your Zune pass.

The Windows 8 Release Preview also features notable improvements to the Mail, Photos and People apps that initially debuted with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. In addition, Microsoft has worked closely with its partners to deliver apps from around the world through the Windows Store.

Beyond the new apps from Microsoft and partners, customers testing the Windows 8 Release Preview will also experience tens of thousands of refinements across the product, such as increased personalization options for the Start screen, improved multimonitor support, refinements to the way people find and download apps through the Windows Store, and new Family Safety features.

The new Internet Explorer 10 redefines browsing, particularly for touch-enabled devices. A touch-friendly and power-optimized Adobe Flash Player is now integrated into Internet Explorer 10, and it is also the first browser to feature Do Not Track “on” by default, giving customers more choice and control over their privacy.

Windows 8 Requirements:

The minimum requirements are:

  • 1 GHz or faster processor
  • 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
  • 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution

There may be additional requirements to use certain features like Snap and Touch based gestures though.

Download Windows 8 Release Preview:

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    • Ha ha, some people are lost without their “start” button, introduced by Microsoft in 1995.

      Adapt or fade away, Wasique.

    • Don’t worry. Microsoft has planned Windows 8 version for desktop PCs with start button (and i guess without metro UI too). It will be released with full commercial release version of Windows 8.

      Now Cheer up please :)

  • I think and hope too, that this release would be a little bit stable release. and I like whole of windows 8, as “START MENU” button is missing, I like it very much.

  • I am already using customer preview, and believe me it is the most stable windows i have ever witnessed. ioS type of stability and fluidity with Windows diversity — Great combination.

  • I am using it now. It has a bug, whenever I press “POWER” button, it goes to sleep. I changes the settings but the problem is still there…

  • The Internet is new to me, being that I just retired. There is quite a rich diversity of information in blogs so I am getting involved and commenting. I don’t understand everything that is in all the blogs that I read, but I like your presentation here in this blog. I not only read and comment on the blogs of others but I now have my own blog and my own website. In the text boxes I have entered my email address and my website URL. It seems to be customary to include these so I hope that its ok with you. TheVeryBest2You 13 12


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