Cloud Computing: Windows 8 Released To Manufacturing (RTM)
August 1, 2012
Grazed from Sys Con Media. Author: Maureen O’Gara.
Windows 8 was released to manufacturing Wednesday morning, a hallelujah moment for Microsoft that nowadays means OEMs and manufacturing partners are getting the final code on which Microsoft’s future depends.
The new "re-imagined" operating system, with what Microsoft calls "thousands of new features," won’t get to the broad market on PCs and online for another three months, October 26 to be precise.
Developers with MSDN and TechNet subscriptions will get access to the code and the new Visual Studio on August 15 and companies with Software Assurance licenses will follow on August 16. Volume customers without the license will get it September 1…
Existing Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade on October 26 for $39.99.
Microsoft is encouraging developers to start selling Metro-style apps for the thing at the new Windows Store, which previously hosted only free apps. Of course they’ll need the RTM to upload.
Microsoft says the system has been the most tested it’s ever done with 16 million PCs participating in the previews including seven million on the so-called Release Preview starting eight weeks ago.
"No product used by so many people in so many different ways," it claims "is developed ‘out in the open’ like Windows 8 has been."