Developers See New Windows 8 and Platform

A “reimagined” Windows client OS and the next Windows Server were unveiled at Microsoft’s Sept. 2011 Build conference and in recent Windows team blog posts. Windows 8 (a code name) features a dramatic overhaul designed to support new Metro-style applications, which are designed to work better with touch screens and improve battery life on tablets and other mobile devices. Windows Server 8 (also a code name) will provide a better infrastructure for hosted services. Both OSs will likely change substantially before release, but developers can begin creating applications using Metro for the final Windows 8 release, which will probably arrive in late 2012 or early 2013.

Early Client Preview Aimed at Developers

Although Microsoft’s partners, enterprise customers, and consumers had hoped to learn all about the next version of Windows, and in particular, how Windows 8 will address competition from ARM-based tablets running Apple iOS and Google Android, the primary purpose of Build was to provide application developers with information to determine changes they may need to make to existing applications, and how to develop new applications to run on Metro. Using this information, developers can ensure that their applications will not just run on Windows 8, but will exploit the changes and new features, such as support for improved touch capabilities, in the Windows OS and hardware.