Devs: Windows 8 RTM Build Is Now Officially Available To Registered Members, Shows New Features
According to the previously released schedule from the company, Microsoft has made the Windows 8 RTM Build available to developers on the MSDN and TechNet networks today.
MSDN And TechNet Members Now Have Access To Windows 8 RTM
IT professionals who are subscribed to developer networks MSDN and TechNet are now privy to the recently released Windows 8 RTM build. This gives them a full ten week head start in to developing for and building around the upcoming Operating System ahead of the general availability on 26th October. What does it all mean for the end consumer?
This means the developers are now equipped with all that they need to prepare apps, services and games for us consumers. These apps, games and services should be ready for us when Windows 8 is made available to the general audience. It also give hardware manufacturers time to install the system in to their devices so that they are available for purchase right alongside Windows 8. Microsoft is going to make a big release out of Windows 8 with new services, multiple new upgrades to apps like SkyDrive and Outlook and of course new hardware. In the meantime, Windows 8 RTM build has a few surprises of its own.
Since this is the version that has been sent to manufacturers, it is treated as the final version of the OS for all practical purposes. And there are a number of new features that we have not seen before.
The Start Screen has greater customization options. After the initial release of 14 colors to choose from, Microsoft has added some graphics and themes that are together called Tattoos for adorning your Start Screen.
The UI is now completely flattened, signaling the complete discontinuation of Aero — the interface that was introduced with Vista and continued on Windows 7 and earlier Windows 8 builds.
There’s now a Bing app. It starts with a mostly blank screen except for a search bar. As you type in, options begin to appear and you can go on scrolling through the results almost forever.
And there’s more to explore, which we will report in follow up posts.
