Microsoft to show off Windows 8 app store tomorrow

Microsoft will be making the app store a part of the Windows 8 experience, but until now we don’t really know much about it except that it will be the exclusive way for developers to distribute new-style Windows 8 apps. The store will support free and paid apps, trial versions as well as in-app payments, and it won’t sell older-style (classic) Windows apps that work on Windows 8 and older versions of Windows.
Other than the aforementioned details, we don’t really know much about the Windows Store, but I guess we’re about to find out more. Microsoft will be holding an event tomorrow (December 6^th) in San Francisco – titled the Windows Store Preview, where it will show off for the first time what the store is about. Stay tuned for more details and we’ll keep you posted.

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Windows 8 coming your way February 2012

Windows 8 is set to arrive in public beta form in February next year, allowing early access to to the new OS from the start of next year.?
A post by The Next Web points to the February release date, citing sources close to Microsoft. It clears up a lot of the speculation over exactly when Windows 8 was set to arrive in beta form. Many expect a 2012 release for the final build of the OS, with the February beta adding further weight to this rumour. No exact date has been given for shipping of Windows 8.
The new operating system sees a major departure from Microsoft's traditional UI, incorporating a home page which draws heavily from Windows Phone 7. The Metro UI of the OS uses similar live tiles to that of Microsoft's phone OS.?
Windows 8 is also expected to be a cross platform piece of software, designed for both tablets and computers. No details as to what will be released in the beta currently exist, so we cant be sure whether it will arrive with the email function currently exempt from the developer preview.?
Given the beta date it is entirely possible that we see Windows 8 appearing on hardware Christmas next year. Exciting stuff from Microsoft then, just shame the beta isn't earlier.

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Windows 8 installation on HTC Shift made easy

Do you happen to own a HTC Shift that hails from the 2007 era, and ponder over what you could use it for in modern day context apart from being a paperweight? Here is an idea – why not install Windows 8 on this puppy?
The good people over at XDA Developers managed to get Microsoft’s latest Developer Preview OS up and running onto the aged UMPC, so those who have a pretty decent working knowledge of technicalities as well as extra time and the right equipment can always give it a shot. After all, you need not worry about voiding any warranties or gimping your handset – no one would want to offload the HTC Shift from you anyways. Check out the video in Francais after the jump for additional details.

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Samsung Windows 8 tablet leaked

If the rumour mongers speaketh the truth then Microsoft's Build conference, which kicks off at 5pm UK time, will be heavily tablet based with reports suggesting that the software giant will give away a preview version of Windows 8 and thousands of Samsung tablets to developers at the expo.
And the tablet in question looks to already have been spotted, with blog Microsoft News publishing a picture of a some tablets in Samsung labelled boxes with the words "the build" displayed in the same font that Microsoft is using for the event.

The New York Times cites "two industry consultants who have been told about the plans" as its source for the Windows 8 tablet giveaway info.

Back in July Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said: "Windows 8 really does represent a true re-imagining of Windows PCs and the dawning of Windows slates."
In May he said: "As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."
From the glimpses we've seen of Windows 8 so far, it's fairly obvious it has been built with mobile devices in mind. Compared to previous Windows iterations it boasts an extensively redesigned UI that tips its cap firmly in the direction of Windows Phone 7.
We'll be reporting all the news from the Build event, so be sure to check back later for all the updates.
Via: nytimes.com Via: microsoft-news.com

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