Microsoft today announced that a preview edition of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system is now available as a free download to anyone interested. Designed to work on tablets as well as traditional PCs, its most eye-catching change is the introduction of the tile-based Metro interface.
“With Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one,” said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft. “The Windows 8 Consumer Preview brings a no-compromises approach to using your PC.”
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview also introduces a beta version of the Windows Store, which offers a variety of new Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft. These will all be free during the Consumer Preview.
Windows 8 also introduces tighter integration between Windows-based PCs and Windows Phone devices and Internet Explorer 10 Preview 5 which promises a “new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices.”
The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is a free download available in English, French, German, Japanese and simplified Chinese languages. Just remember that it is still beta software!
Read more: Microsoft