Microsoft to Release Consumer Preview of Windows 8

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Microsoft is planning to release a consumer preview version of its upcoming operating system Windows 8.

This will allow customers to give the new software a test run before it is officially launched. This information originated on a BING page that was live for several days.

This page was recently removed and replaced with a swimming beta fish that symbolizes the system's development phase and information included resources for users and developers can be found there as well.

Many of the links on the page are down including the one for the "Windows 8 Consumer Preview." Another link featured on the page is the "Windows Store" that will allow consumers to download apps for Windows 8 PCs and tablets in the same way Apple customers do from the iTunes store.

A link to Microsoft's online Dev Center is also available on the page where users can learn how to write Metro-style apps for Windows 8.

Back in Sept. Microsoft launched a Developer preview of its upcoming system that allows programmers to use it to build applications and familiarize themselves with Windows 8. The system is rumored to have undergone the most fundamental change in the OS since the debut of Windows 95.

The new OS will employ many of the same elements found in Windows 7 including Metro themes and Live tiles. However, Microsoft appears to have eliminated the trademark start button, according to recently leaked screen shots. It has reportedly been replaced with a swipeable area users can touch in order to access various menus.

This new swiping control has been added due to the fact that Microsoft's goal is to make Windows 8 the ideal operating system for tablets. The company is attempting to compete with Apple and Google who currently control that market.