Microsoft previews Windows 8 operating system

Posted by elena On Thursday, June 2nd 2011 in Technology

Software giant Microsoft previewed an early version of its new Windows 8 operating system at two different conferences, taking place in Taipei and the United States. The new Windows software will run on tablets and mobiles, as well as on desktop computers, and is built around touchscreen features, although it will also work with a mouse and keyboard. The new operating system, which has not been named so far, has a tiled design reminiscent of Microsoft's phone software.

The system is set to be released sometime during the following 18 months, as Microsoft is doing its best to equal Apple's popular technology as quickly as possible. According to reports that have been worrying some PC manufacturers, Microsoft has asked chipmakers to work with just one computer firm to make things faster. PC makers did not appreciate the news, as they usually use several suppliers. Acer's president Jim Wang said, during a press conference, that the computer industry does not belong to Microsoft, so they can not make decision for everyone. Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm are among the firms that will most likely produce the chips.

The early version of the Windows 8 operating system was presented at two separate events. The first one was the D9 conference taking place in Palos Verdes, California; the second was the Computex show in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei. The operating system demonstrated during the two conferences resembled Microsoft's most recent phone software. It featured live tiles that could be easily operated by touching the screen.

The new Windows 8 system will be optimised for tablets, but will also work on PCs and laptops, as users will be able to operate it by using a touchscreen or by a keyboard and mouse. According to Microsoft, Windows 8 was designed with touchscreens in mind, but it will still be operable by more traditional means.

Although rival Apple is currently dominating the tablet market with its popular iPad, Microsoft said at the conference in California that it was by no means "out of the game". The software company is definitely late, but might still have something to say on the tablet market once Windows 8 is available. Although no fixed date has been announced so far, the new operating system, which at the moment does not have an official name, is expected to be released sometime before October of next year.