Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Microsoft Windows 8


Microsoft’s Windows 8 has been under development and it looks like the early builds have started appearing. The last build was said to be compiled, earlier this month, on the 7th of July. The 8042 build is a Milestone 3 build and is nowhere close to the final product, should you want to find and try it. Win Beta has revealed that Microsoft is working on a solid build for their BUILD Developers Conference in mid-September. Any other builds in the near future seem very unlikely. Some of the things noticed in recent builds is that Windows Live is a big part of the Windows 8 OS, and it’s being integrated in several areas. Currently, Windows 8 isn’t syncing with any of the Windows Live services online.


Microsoft is expected to update its Windows 8 strategy during a new conference called BUILD (Sept. 13-16, Anaheim, Calif.)For Managed Services Providers and channel partners, Windows 8 invites an entirely different set of questions. No doubt, some MSPs have helped their customers to migrate from Windows XP and Windows Vista to Windows 7. Software companies like Kaseya have launched imaging and migration tools that allow MSPs to remotely roll out Windows 7 to thousands of systems.


Microsoft says Windows 7 has sold more than 400 million licenses. Yet Windows revenues dipped 1 percent during Microsoft’s most recent quarter. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 effort has been struggling.

Windows 8 attempts to solve multiple Microsoft challenges. It brings the Windows Phone 7 touch interface onto mainstream PCs. That move, in turn, could create a halo effect for Windows smartphones.
Yet there are signs that Windows 8 may reach general availability in April 2012, Whatever the case, it sounds like Microsoft will share more Windows 8 details during the BUILD conference in September 2011. The event is positioned for ISVs (independent software vendors). Smart move. During Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009, Microsoft showcased Corel — yes, Corel — as a key Windows 7 ISV. No offense to Corel, but it was clear that Microsoft’s ISV base hadn’t really created any killer applications for Windows 7. That has to change with Windows 8. It seems like emerging ISVs increasingly focus first on Apple i OS (iPhone, i Pad) and Google Android. Microsoft must somehow win back the ISV buzz with Windows 8. At the same time, Microsoft must ensure that the Windows 7 upgrade market doesn’t stall while potential buzz for Windows 8 builds.

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