Sunday, August 5th 2012
Windows 8 Finalized, RTM Arrives on August 15, "Metro" UI Name Dumped
Keeping up with schedule, Microsoft has reportedly finalized the build of Windows 8, with which the company will launch the operating system to the public. After releasing several internal and some public pre-launch builds (such as Beta, Release Preview), the company is ready with the RTM (release to market) build, which is fit for commercial release. Windows 8 RTM, in its various variants, will be available first to enterprise customers and industry partners starting August 15. The commercial launch is on course for October 26, 2012.
In related news, the threat of trademark litigation by German retail giant Metro Group has forced Microsoft to trash the codename "Metro" to refer to its new tiled user-interface (UI), which makes the OS optimized for touchscreens, but is also the primary UI for non-touch computing platforms (such as desktop PCs). According to reports, Microsoft will merely stop referring to Metro UI as such. Metro UI invited criticism from some evaluators of pre-launch Windows 8 builds, particularly from the desktop PC and non-touch notebook platforms.
Sources:
Computex.biz, The Verge
In related news, the threat of trademark litigation by German retail giant Metro Group has forced Microsoft to trash the codename "Metro" to refer to its new tiled user-interface (UI), which makes the OS optimized for touchscreens, but is also the primary UI for non-touch computing platforms (such as desktop PCs). According to reports, Microsoft will merely stop referring to Metro UI as such. Metro UI invited criticism from some evaluators of pre-launch Windows 8 builds, particularly from the desktop PC and non-touch notebook platforms.
34 Comments on Windows 8 Finalized, RTM Arrives on August 15, "Metro" UI Name Dumped
It's all speculation at this point as no one is sure what MS is going to do, but the concerns are valid.
I think its an okay OS so far...granted i didn't care for the new UI but I also didn't have a touch screen. I think MS did what they had to do before the other ones did. I hope for their sake they do it right because I feel they have a lot riding on it. Corporate use will be large if this is a success (that's all MS really cares about here). It will be like this ...Mr corporate CEO and the Bigs will have their cell phone and mobile pad and desktop replacement all on the same OS with the security features that corporations will just feel is a must have. Once they dominated the corporate arena then the rest will be like a water fall.
IF MS throws in some corporate secure feature that makes all three genera's sync then I feel it will be a success almost instantly.
If a business is run well and their IT department is paying attention there are other factors that must be considered before a mass move to a new OS.
- Will it increase productivity of the users, or at least not reduce it, due to the learning curve and use of the UI?
- What time frame can be reasonably expected until all users are proficient?
- Will I have to retool hardware (go to touch screens) in order to get productivity enhancements?
- How will the new OS affect IT administration costs? Will everything still work?
- If I do move to the new OS, what time frame am I looking at for the ROI?
- Why won't my hot secretary sleep with me?
Just a few things that most companies look at when pondering any upgrade.
Once you boot up you get Metro-UI, OMG what do i do now, I hate this!!! "CLICK" WoW one click and i'm in desktop, This is awesome!!!!
Developers:
We have to do more work when releasing on a platform. I want more profits!!! errr, I hate windows 8.
If windows didnt have rules/certification it be a mess. Developers would be all over the place and competing companies would go in differant direction far apart from each other so their tech would only work with there proprietary hardware/software combo.
Same with indie developers like the example. They praise the access that a platform provides with a large user base but they want to squeeze any amount of profitability they can with as minimal compliance as you can get away with.
Now that windows8 is here its more of developers seeing more programing and time going into work so that means money for them and they hate anything that cuts into their profitability.
I did get a couple of calls from friends and relatives asking for help when they got a UAC prompt. I just said that if that window ever comes up and they're not in the process of installing/updating anything just click deny and be thankful for it.