Microsoft is preparing to launch its upcoming Windows 8 next autumn, according to Dan’l Lewin, vice-president for Strategic and Emerging Business Development.
The tech giant has already offered the public a glimpse at Windows 8 at the recent Computex event. Microsoft officials showed off several tablets powered by ARM-chipsets running Windows 8. The company is planning to launch its own tablets in the near future and has already teamed-up with Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments to develop them.
“Typically we enter a beta phase, and then in 12 months we’re in the market”, he stated during Microsoft’s start-up LAUNCH event.
Windows 8 Release Date Will Be Confirmed at BUILD Conference:
It appears that Microsoft does not think there is a big difference between tablets and phones. Actually, the tech giant perceives them as being “more or less the same thing”, at least according to Lewin’s statements. “I think tablets are big phones, and I think [users] will want, over time, some of the capabilities that PC architectures have,” he said.
The Redmond-based company has announced it is planning to offer more details about Windows 8 at the BUILD conference, scheduled to begin in September.
Windows 8 integrates some elements from Windows Phone 7. For example, Windows has replaced the well-knows Windows Start menu and allowed users to launch apps from a tile-based start screen.
The new web powered apps will bring live tile notifications and users will be able to fluidly switch between apps. Users can also resize apps and take them to the side of the screen. Multitasking outside the touch user interface is also available while apps will be built using HTML5 and JavaScript.
Internet Explorer 10 will be the native browser.
Microsoft officials have often been asked why they have waited for so long to launch Windows tablets. Apparently, the culprit is Windows Vista because the company had to direct its resources to Vista. It was a wise decision to make since Windows is the most popular desktop operating system in the world generating important revenues for Microsoft.
Microsoft is planning to use Windows on its tablets and not Windows Phone because of security issues.
“Users want security, they want manageability. Our approach with the tablet is based on PC architecture, rather than the phone architecture and I think is the right way to go”, Lewin said.
Microsoft is aware there is a well established iPad and Android tablet user base, but the company thinks it can attract users due to Microsoft’s tablet form factors and functionality.
“The battle will be on in the market for what the consumers want to use”, Lewin concluded.
