Microsoft released a consumer preview version of Windows 8 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Wednesday. The developer preview was launched a couple of months ago.
At the launch event, Microsoft CEO, Mr Steven Sinovsky, said that "Windows 8 is an operating system that scales with you. It's a no compromise experience."
Since the developer preview, Windows 8 has undergone 100,000 code changes. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 is designed to run on a huge array of devices, capabilities and form factors, Mr Sinvosky said.
Probably the biggest change to Windows is its Metro UI, which has adapted it to run on touch devices. Ms Julie Larson-Green, Corporate Vice-President, Windows Program Management, said Windows had worked extensively with Samsung to perfect the operating system for a touchscreen.
The user interface, which Mr Sinovsky said is aimed at being "fluid and friendly" uses gesture control for navigation.
Adds Windows Store
A big addition to Windows 8 is the addition of the Windows Store, where users can download a variety of apps. Like Android and Apple, Microsoft has now decided to focus on apps rather than programs for its operating systems. In fact, even the desktop is now an app on Windows 8. Additional feature include Windows to Go, which lets you boot the OS on a USB stick, access to cloud services via SkyDrive and a secure login system.
OS to run on Intel, Qualcomm, ARM
Microsoft has worked with a number of chipset makers so the OS will run on Intel, Qualcomm, ARM and Nvidia chipsets.
While Windows 8 does aim to minimise the gap between its tablet and keyboard/mouse interface, Mr Sinovsky did not mention how it will integrate with Windows Phone, something that rivals Apple and Android have worked on with their operating systems.
Windows 8 is now available for a free download during the consumer preview period at >preview.windows.com . It will work on any Windows 7 running machine. Mr Sinvosky signed off saying all apps on the Windows Store are free during the trial period, so now would be the best time to give the OS a go.