Microsoft is to release its new operating
system, Windows 8, to the public in October, the company announced
Monday.
The new software, which is designed to help Microsoft compete with
Apple and Google on mobile devices, will be available in over 100
languages in 200 markets, Microsoft executive Tami Reller said at
Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto.
Windows 8 will be available in four editions, including a version
that will run on ARM chips that are widely used in mobile phones and
tablets. It is the first-ever full Windows version that is not
designed exclusively for the Intel-based chip architecture that
dominates the PC market.
Microsoft says that Windows 8 represents the biggest change to its
operating system since its introduction of Windows 95, which
introduced such concepts as the start button and task bar.
The new software completely rethinks the desktop by featuring live
tiles which group together commonly used functions and offers users a
uniform way to access their information across smartphones, tablets
and PCs.
