Microsoft hints at public pre-release build of Windows 8

By Tom Warren, on 19th Aug 11 6:03 pm with 33 Comments

Microsoft has confirmed it will be easy for people to get access to test copies of Windows 8.

The software giant is currently preparing a Windows Developer Preview build of Windows 8 to be made available next month. Microsoft’s official BUILD Twitter account revealed on Friday that pre-release bits would not be secret and easy to get hold of:

Microsoft's Windows 8 promise

Making the pre-release bits of Windows 8 easily available is the first hint that Microsoft could be preparing to release its developer preview to the public. Microsoft’s Windows 7 developer preview build, released at PDC 2008, was designed for developers only and was not made available broadly. A number of Microsoft watchers have speculated that the company would provide a public beta copy of Windows 8 at its BUILD conference next month. Recent builds seem to indicate that the distribution of bits will be a “developer preview” rather than a full on beta. As the days grow closer to BUILD Microsoft is planning to unveil more of its engineering diary and possibly a few more hints at what’s hidden in Windows 8.

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    Awesome!…will immediately load it on my Asus Slate.  I hope the Windows 8 team keeps blogging, there is a huge amount of interest in this…Everyone can feel the technology climate changing…I for one want Microsoft to continue to be dominate (I know they will)…but this pre-release will help in a big way.

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    Awesome!…will immediately load it on my Asus Slate.  I hope the Windows 8 team keeps blogging, there is a huge amount of interest in this…Everyone can feel the technology climate changing…I for one want Microsoft to continue to be dominate (I know they will)…but this pre-release will help in a big way.

  • Duck

    This is news???

    • Candid Calum

      Of course it’s news. It’s new and many people haven’t seen the tweet; thus, it’s news.

    • http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary

      I hadn’t seen this.  Therefore; it’s news. :)

    • Frylockns86

      This is news in that it’s telling us, the build of Windows 8 we’ll see seems like it will be available for the public to download and use as well.

      My mouth is watering with anticipation now… Is it September yet?

  • Duck

    This is news???

  • http://twitter.com/aziztukubaev Aziz Tukubaev

    I had an iPad 1, but got disappointed in it….
    I didnt try the second iPad cuz of YOU mr. Windows 8! Dont dissapoint me now! :)

  • http://www.searingarrow.com AlienSix

    I cant wait for that, bring on the metro styling of Windows 8!

  • http://twitter.com/SebMH Seb M.-Harvey

    Yaye!!! I will install this on my father ExoPC :D

  • J A

    Now, only if I can find a tablet hardware with the appropriate drivers to install this puppy. Suggestions, anyone?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

      Wouldn’t it be cool if Win8 could run on the TouchPad?

    • Joe

      Yeah, I hear they’ll be dumping TouchPads in the landfills by the truckload pretty soon so HP can get the tax write off. Repurposing them for Windows 8 would be fantastic.

    • Guest

      TouchPad. Did that used to be sold by HP before they got out of the PC business?

  • Anonymous

    They will need to make it easy to get developers on board and understanding the UI shift and let the world catchup with developing all the resources to integrate Win8 into the IT world.

    • Joe

      I imagine the IT world won’t upgrade to Windows 8 for SEVERAL years to come. Reason being is that Windows 7 is the new Windows XP, and will continue to be for probably as long as XP has reigned supreme in buisnesses.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think that will be forever true..  I think a lot of Corporate IT environments are realizing that people are more productive on devices they like to work on and its cheaper for organizations to manage infrastructure and serivces than it is to dictate workstations and devices (within reason).  People want ipads, notebooks, tablets, phones and they just want secure access to data when they need it.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think that will be forever true..  I think a lot of Corporate IT environments are realizing that people are more productive on devices they like to work on and its cheaper for organizations to manage infrastructure and serivces than it is to dictate workstations and devices (within reason).  People want ipads, notebooks, tablets, phones and they just want secure access to data when they need it.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Simpson/1772908164 Rob Simpson

      WINZ, which is one of New Zealand’s largest govt departments, about 4 months ago upgraded all their desktops to XP. It’s nice to see they’ve got their eye on the ball. I can rest assured that for the next 20 years, nobody will be able to hack in and gain access to the govt dept that probably has a file on _every_ person in NZ.

    • http://www.timsmithmma.com Tim Smith

      There is a solid chance Windows 8 may just be skipped in the enterprise world. Really depends on how Microsoft decides to handle that side. Either way I think this will be a huge hit on the consumer side. By that I mean tablets.

      I can’t wait to try out the beta, only issue is as far as I know there isn’t any hardware available that we can buy to get the full experience of Windows 8 yet.

    • http://www.timsmithmma.com Tim Smith

      There is a solid chance Windows 8 may just be skipped in the enterprise world. Really depends on how Microsoft decides to handle that side. Either way I think this will be a huge hit on the consumer side. By that I mean tablets.

      I can’t wait to try out the beta, only issue is as far as I know there isn’t any hardware available that we can buy to get the full experience of Windows 8 yet.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KTAHVKS2RNDWTQPHQEJALLRNEQ Adam Paris

      That wont be a problem, cause MS has the best developers tools on the market. And i am sure lot of WP7 developers will be jumping on W8.

  • Aaron

    i cant wait to see the keynote at BUILD

  • http://twitter.com/mcakins McAkins Online

    Yay! Thank you Microsoft, my Asus Slate is waiting patiently for your magic! And since we are at it, can I request you to relegate Apple to just another OEM be allowing Windows8 to install on Macbook natively, and go one step further, allow to wipe iPad and install Win8 since it supports ARM. The last I checked, Apple’s A4 chip is based on ARM architechture.

    • Anonymous

      Wow i thought i was the only person with the Asus Slate. Its a great alternative to the “iPads” of the world. You can actually get stuff done.

    • Anonymous

      am with w500 too….i am happy with win 7 already replaced my laptop….win 8 would be magical….my ipad and macair are of no use to me….

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Floyd/1358554781 Stephen Floyd

      I have the eee slate as well. Unfortunatly it seems MS wont let us multitask with the new UI since the slate’s screen isnt 16:9 aspect ratio. Which is retarded seeing that its the most powerful tablet in the world…

  • Anonymous

    i need a change! ive been using windows 7 from beta. i really cant wait to try windows 8. if it has the metro UI and all, it would be really cool! but i will still install it in an old machine i have just to install these kinda of stuff.

    me wants windows 8 <3

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Simpson/1772908164 Rob Simpson

    All those poor pixels lining up to die for a worthless cause. At least it will be if MS hamstring the preview like Adobe did with Edge.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Simpson/1772908164 Rob Simpson

    All those poor pixels lining up to die for a worthless cause. At least it will be if MS hamstring the preview like Adobe did with Edge.

  • Anonymous

    can i get a time frame anyone?

  • http://www.facebook.com/richeymeister Mark Richey

    Bring it on!

  • Anonymous

    I’m going to be all over Windows 8 like a tech slut.