That escalating sound you hear is the approaching juggernaut of Microsoft's next big OS iteration, Windows 8. Ahead of the usual release candidates and eventual release in the latter part of 2012, Windows 8 is being shown off to the world in a Consumer Preview build launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Jun 2, 2012
Nvidia's new graphics drivers are certified for Windows 8
Nvidia's R302 graphics drivers are optimized and certified by Microsoft for Windows 8
Mar 10, 2012
Microsoft to let Windows 8 web browsers play nice with Metro, Firefox version in the works
Windows 8 will support three app categories: traditional Windows apps, Metro apps, and new "Metro style enabled desktop browsers," which are classic Windows programs that are allowed to participate in the Metro experience. The category, so far, is just for web browsers, and it will allow one application to serve as the default browser for both the Metro and classic Windows environments. Firefox is working on a version of its browser in the new category right now.
Mar 7, 2012
Bing Maps gets a new SDK for Metro style apps in Windows 8
Microsoft has released a new SDK for Bing Maps designed to help developers integrate the mapping service into their Metro style apps for Windows 8.
Mar 6, 2012
Microsoft improves Windows 8 themes with panorama wallpapers, new features
Microsoft has added new and improved theme functionality to Windows 8, adding support for panorama wallpapers and other new features.
Mar 6, 2012
How to: bring back the Windows 8 Start menu and Start button orb
A quick guide to re-enable the Windows 8 Start menu and Start button orb.
Mar 2, 2012
Kobo e-reader app available for Windows 8 with new UI, library search
Kobo's e-reader app is available in the Windows Store for Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Mar 1, 2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview downloaded a million times on day one
Microsoft has just tweeted out the news that its Consumer Preview build of Windows 8 has been downloaded one million times within the first day of availability.
Mar 1, 2012
Microsoft bets on Windows 8 to succeed where Android has failed
Microsoft is aggressively pushing Windows developers to its new Metro UI, thus ensuring it'll have lots of tablet-friendly apps available.
Mar 1, 2012
Windows 8: touch vs. keyboard and mouse navigation (hands-on video)
A hands-on look at the different ways to control Windows 8 with mouse, keyboard, and touch screens.
Mar 1, 2012
Windows 8 vs. iPad: feature by feature
Joshua Topolsky compares Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview with Apple's iOS 5 on the iPad.
Mar 1, 2012
Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview event videos now available online
Microsoft has posted video of its Windows 8 Consumer Preview event at MWC in Barcelona.
Feb 29, 2012
How to install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Here's a step-by-step guide to installing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on your computer.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows Store hands-on and video
We take an in-depth look at the new Windows Store, available now with the download of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8: a closer look at Xbox Live, Music and Videos (pictures and video)
We've taken a look at the new Xbox Live, music, and video features in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8 on an 82-inch display hands-on video
One of Microsoft's surprises during the Consumer Preview demo event was the fact that the massive 82-inch display at the back of the stage was actually a touchscreen. Not only that, it was plugged into a PC running Windows 8.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows Store launches for Windows 8
Microsoft has just launched the Windows Store for Windows 8, in the hopes of making the user experience of finding new software even easier.
Feb 29, 2012
Microsoft to reveal more Windows 8 Enterprise details at CeBIT conference next week
It seems as though there's yet more to Windows 8 Enterprise that the company has yet to reveal, but more will be revealed next week at the CeBIT conference in Hanover. The conference begins on March 6th and The Verge will be there to bring you all the details from the next Windows 8 event.
Feb 29, 2012
Microsoft demos Windows 8 on an 82-inch, pen-friendly Perceptive Pixel PC
Microsoft made a lot of announcements today, but one of the things it didn't talk much about was the giant, 82-inch, pen-friendly PC that the company used to demo some Windows 8 features.
Feb 29, 2012
Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5
Microsoft has just taken the wraps off Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5 as part of its announcement of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8: system requirements for the Consumer Preview
Microsoft's outlined the system requirements for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, along with some guidelines if you want to use the operating system's full potential.
Feb 29, 2012
Microsoft shows off ARM-based Windows 8 tablets
During its Windows 8 Consumer Preview event at Mobile World Congress, Microsoft showed the hardware running on a host of reference machines based on both Intel x86 and ARM processors.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8: a closer look at how the new Start button works
Hands-on look at the new Windows 8 start button and task switcher.
Feb 29, 2012
Microsoft shows off third-party Metro apps: Kindle, WordPress.com, and more
We're starting to see the first demos of working Metro apps for Windows 8. Amazon has created a Metro version of its Kindle app — no surprise, really, given that the company has been supporting as many platforms as possible, PC included
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview hands-on
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview now available to download
Windows 8 Consumer Preview build now available to download, offering access to the Windows Store and Metro style applications.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview wallpapers leak ahead of grand debut
Wallpapers from the Windows 8 Consumer Preview leak before a public outing by Microsoft.
Feb 29, 2012
Windows 8 Product Guide for Business promotes bootable USB drives, download screening
Microsoft has posted its Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business. The guide details the new OS's benefits to business customers.
Feb 23, 2012
Microsoft readies final Windows 8 Consumer Preview build 8250
Microsoft is close to signing off on the final 8250 build of Windows 8 for its Consumer Preview release.
Feb 22, 2012
New Windows Store screenshots show Bing Maps app for Windows 8
Microsoft is preparing to release a Bing Maps Metro style application for Windows 8.
Feb 17, 2012
Microsoft unveils new Metro style logo for Windows 8
Microsoft has redesigned the Windows flag logo for Windows 8, replacing it with a Metro look and feel.
Feb 14, 2012
New Windows 8 accessibility features detailed
Microsoft says that both the Narrator and Magnifier are getting improved in Windows 8, in order to create a more accessible OS.
Feb 8, 2012
Microsoft to launch Windows 8 'Consumer Preview' on February 29th
Windows 8 "Consumer Preview" will be made available on February 29th.
Feb 8, 2012
First Windows 8 'Consumer Preview' preinstalled apps revealed
Microsoft is planning to preinstall a number of Metro style applications for its Windows 8 "Consumer Preview."
Feb 7, 2012
Exclusive: First Windows Store games for Windows 8 revealed
Microsoft's Windows Store will launch with a number of games as part of the "Consumer Preview" version of Windows 8.
Feb 6, 2012
Windows 8 build 8220 screenshots demonstrate improved Charms bar
New Windows 8 build 8220 screenshots offer a closer look at "Consumer Preview" improvements.
Feb 5, 2012
Windows 8 Start button removed by Microsoft in 'Consumer Preview'
Microsoft has removed the traditional Start Button from its Windows 8 "Consumer Preview," replacing it with a new user interface.
Feb 4, 2012
Microsoft teases Windows 8 'Consumer Preview' with Bing betta fish site
Microsoft teases Windows 8 Consumer Preview with Bing home page.
Jan 31, 2012
Microsoft details changes to Explorer in Windows 8 public beta; ribbon is here to stay
Ilana Smith, one of Microsoft's engineering system lead program managers, has posted an article on MSDN explaining some of tweaks that the company has made in Windows Explorer for the upcoming Windows 8 public beta. The ribbon interface is now minimized by default, and there's a new comparison tool that shows whether duplicate files have the same timestamp and file size.
Jan 20, 2012
Windows Store apps for Windows 8 detailed, restricted to five PCs at a time
Microsoft details its Windows Store apps for Windows 8.
Jan 11, 2012
Exclusive: Windows 8 pre-beta hands-on video and pictures
An exclusive look at Microsoft's latest Windows 8 work, build 8175, with new customizations and gestures.
Dec 7, 2011
Microsoft confirms Windows 8 public beta coming February 2012
We wouldn't be surprised if you missed it in all the Windows Store hubbub, but Microsoft also just confirmed that the public release of Windows 8 Beta will be in February of 2012. We'd previously heard competing rumors of a late January or late February launch, so it looks as though Microsoft is doing a good job of hitting its development goals for the new OS.
