Windows 8 Release Preview Now Ready for Download
Are you ready for the final pre-release of Windows 8?
Yesterday Microsoft accidentally let the cat out the of the bag that it would be releasing the Windows 8 Release Preview today, May 31. As a result, we weren't to surprised to get a press release from Microsoft announcing the launch of Release Preview. Included in this version of Windows 8 are several new apps, including ones for travel, news, and sports, as well as some more general tweaks throughout the platform.
If you're a Consumer Preview user, be sure to look for changes to Mail, Photo and People as well as more personalization options for the Start screen, improved multi-monitor support (which we talked about here), a fine-tuned approach to downloading apps through the Windows Store, new family safety features, along with enhanced privacy and security controls for online browsing.
"This is our final pre-release, and includes Windows 8, Internet Explorer 10, new Windows 8 apps for connecting to Hotmail, SkyDrive, and Messenger (and many more), and hundreds of new and updated apps in the Windows Store," said Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky, adding that user feedback helps contribute to the development of the product.
"Since our first preview release last September, millions of people now use the pre-release product on a daily basis and millions more have been taking it through its paces, totaling hundreds of millions of hours of testing," Sinofsky said. "We genuinely appreciate the effort that so many have put into pre-release testing, and of course, we appreciate the feedback too. Direct feedback and feedback through usage contributed to hundreds of visible changes in the product and tens of thousands of under-the-hood changes."
Today's Windows 8 Release Preview brings us one step closer to RTM and then an actual physical launch. Microsoft says they should be in the final stages of RTM in about two months' time.
The Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download in 14 languages. Check out the download links below:
Windows 8 Release Preview 32-Bit

Your delusional if you think Linux is going to take over. People are just going to stick to windows 7. Win8, like vista before it, will just never catch on. Microsoft will then wake up and release something viable.
What about simply using Classic Shell in Win 8? Solves the one thing that some people consider a problem, Metro, without losing Windows 8's many improvements over Windows 7.
It's a pitty that the PC is getting screwed here, at first the game developers screwed us and now it's time for the OS to follow ... i wonder who's left.
I really wont ever understand why people think this is going to be a great success on tablets when most tablets come with ARM installed and no one wants to use windows unless their current software works on it and it wont since Arm is not compatible with x86, Not to mention Microsoft is years behind Apple's marketing team and app store. Android is also ahead of Microsoft on this as well.
Businesses are most likely going to skip 8 not only because of metro but also because their just now getting 7. Businesses will not want to train users on how to use metro so new computers shipped with 8 will be downgraded to 7 when it comes to schools and businesses.
Now when it comes to desktops and Laptops their is no need for Metro not only does it look Ugly it also takes longer to do the most simple tasks that Windows 7-XP can do quickly. For example going to the control panel or my computer or even just shutting down your own PC takes more time.
As for saying you can download this 3rd party software or that is complete BS, This is not Linux this is windows maybe on Linux its OK to just search Google and tweak your OS but for a windows environment that cost money this is completely unacceptable, Microsoft needs to Liston to their fans.(you know the businesses and users who been buying their OS since windows 3.1)
Like Vista, Windows 8 includes new features that are hard to hate such as the new task manager, ISO compatibility(out of the box!), Quicker boot-up and shut-down times, And their is some extra stuff as well, but again like vista this is going to be a failure across the board with only extreme Microsoft fans who will support it but also it will be a learning experience for Microsoft.