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Bing Teaser Hints to Windows 8 Beta Coming Soon

5:30 AM - February 7, 2012 by Kevin Parrish - source: The Verge

Microsoft has uploaded a teaser site on Bing sporting our favorite red beta, indicating a looming Windows 8 Public Beta.

Head to this Bing homepage and you'll see a red and plumb-colored beta fish swimming across the screen. You'll also notice the floating "hotspot" that leads to an FAQ about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Even the URL itself spells out "win8" if the other two hints weren't enough of a clue to signal the upcoming Windows 8 Public Beta, or rather, the newly christened Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Currently one out of four hotspots on Bing's teaser site are actually working: the Building Windows 8 Blog. Along the bottom of the fishy animation, only one out of three links are currently working: Dev Center - Metro style apps. Either the other links are actually timing out due to high demand, or Microsoft simply hasn't uploaded those sections to its hosting server.

Microsoft is expected to launch the Windows 8 Consumer Preview later this month alongside an initial look at the Windows Store. Consumers will be able to download and install free Metro-themed apps -- paid versions will not be introduced until Windows 8 officially goes retail this fall. Also included in the Consumer Preview will be several mouse and keyboard improvements based on feedback provided by the Developer Preview. Microsoft has even promised that the consumer preview build will be totally different than its developer-based predecessor.

When released to the public retail channel, Windows 8 will be Microsoft's biggest overhaul to the Windows platform since the company moved from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. Like before, legacy applications will work within the revised x86-based platform, but in this case, they simply won't visually "match" with the new Metro interface. Microsoft has taken a risky bet moving to the blocky interface, and the Consumer Preview should reveal whether Microsoft's bet will ultimately pay off or not.

Microsoft used this specific beta once before, as it swam onto the desktop of the Windows 7 beta back in 2009.

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James296 02/07/2012 12:03 PM

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meh, windows 7 works just fine for me. don't get wrong, it's like I'm not going to keep an eye on what happens to W8. Will be interesting whether it's a Boom or Bust as a OS...or maybe even both (boom for mobile seg but a bust for desktop seg)

billybobser 02/07/2012 12:15 PM

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7, like xp, works, cya in windows 9!

house70 02/07/2012 1:57 PM

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I believe I have a laptop laying around somewhere for me to test this thing out...

nebun 02/07/2012 2:12 PM

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the only way i would upgrade if they were to use my GPU instead of the CPU....talk about speed

Anonymous 02/07/2012 2:22 PM

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I'm excited about the quad buffer support in directx 11.1 which will add 3d support in Windows 8. It'll be enough for me to upgrade to Windows 8 when it goes retail.

jurassic512 02/07/2012 2:27 PM

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I can't wait for this consumer beta.

XadRav 02/07/2012 4:21 PM

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The fish is gone now... =/

waethorn 02/07/2012 5:14 PM

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nebun :
the only way i would upgrade if they were to use my GPU instead of the CPU....talk about speed

It will. The HTML5 engine for apps is already GPU accelerated, so HTML5-coded Metro apps get that right away without any additional coding. The Metro UI is already GPU accelerated too (but then, so is Aero).

skyviper80 02/07/2012 6:38 PM

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no fish