151w ago - This weekend
Paul Thurrott at
WinSuperSite.com reports that the first Windows 8 details have been leaked by Microsoft's PC maker partners.
Below is a brief rundown the new Windows 8 details, with more details linked above for those interested.
App Store
Think iPhone App store or Android Marketplace but with a Microsoft twist. Rumored to be named Windows Store. I'm curious if this is cross platform with Windows Phone 7, and maybe 360 support?
Internet Explorer 9
Included with Windows 7 will be Microsoft's next generation browser. After looking thru the new tech demos for IE 9 I admit I'm not really excited for this. It still feels like they are playing catch up with Firefox and Chrome.
A leaked release date of August 2010 was seen. However browsers are personal, try the demo
here.
Windows Live Wave 5
The only real details are it will ship with Windows 8. The Windows Live Wave 4 beta is available now, SYNC is a big improvement. Try it
here.
Windows 8 Release Date
Currently Microsoft is aiming for a mid-2012 release, which leads to estimates of a first beta mid-2011, and a public beta late 2011.
PC Form Factors
Microsoft sees the market in three categories, "Lap PC", "Workhorse PC", and "Family Hub PC". Pretty similar to the market now.
Tailored Web Applications
Web based apps are one of if not the fastest growing software provider formats. Microsoft hopes to easily integrate this into Windows 8 and the Windows APP Store.
Human Presence Sensors (Kinect)
This is really exciting... well at least potentially. The GUI in Minority Report has had geeks dying for the wave my hands like a Jedi option for years. Kinect might just give us that.
The Kinect experience on the 360 will go a long way to prove the concept, but having your PC log you in by scanning your face and locking when you leave the room sounds nice!
18 Comments - Go to Forum Thread »
Wooohoooo 
look on the release dates. every 2-3 years there's a new windows.
so it's no big deal. it was clear that around 2012 there will be a new windows.