Rumor: Windows 8 Going RTM in 2012
A supposed leaked roadmap from Microsoft reveals a retail release of Windows 8 for January 2013.
Russian website WZOR has somehow acquired an internal Microsoft roadmap/documentation that reveals the Redmond company's plans for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2008. Based on the "leaked" information, consumers may see Windows 8 in early January 2013.
According to the roadmap. Microsoft will commence development of Windows 8 Milestone 3 (M3) in March. Following M3, the company will release two public beta milestone builds in Windows 8's development. Microsoft will then develop and distribute the Release Candidate (RC) followed by the Release To Manufacturing (RTM) build reportedly three months later. Finally, as previously stated, Windows 8 will reach the General Availability (GA) phase on Monday, January 7, 2013.
As for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, the roadmap reveals that Service Pack 2 has been in the works since fall of 2010, and is expected to arrive in mid-2012. The report did not indicate what the upcoming service pack will bring to both platforms.
As reported Thursday, Windows 8 surfaced in an NDA presentation, revealing an App Store that will enable users to run apps in full-screen, and re-download previously-purchased apps that may have been lost due to system failure or hard drive reformatting. Other reports have indicated that Windows 8 will be modular in nature so that the OS can work on desktops and notebooks as well as mobile devices. Windows 8 will also supposedly be heavily cloud-based, possibly storing cloud-based user accounts, system backup files, and more.
Earlier this month we also reported that Windows 8 supposedly hit Milestone 2 (M2) and may be completed by the end of next month. This coincides with the leaked roadmap indicating that Milestone 3 will begin in March.
Two days ago supposed screenshots pulled from Windows 8 build 7867 surfaced, basically sporting the same user interface seen in Windows 7. Eventually the author behind the shots came forward and admitted that they were fake. That said, the roadmap listed above could be entirely fake as well.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Marco925 we Just got windows 7 really to take off (compared to the established windows XP which is still the majority) and they're thinking of windows 8 next year? way too short of a time for some that call this new OS the son of god....Reply
if this OS was so good, why replace it now? -
davewolfgang Unless it makes dinner and wipes your butt - why would anyone even go to this? Win7 is working GREAT and it has everything most everyone needs for years to come.Reply -
NightLight yes i agree with the comments above. way too soon to release another windows version, just release service packs and add the new features there. this almost makes users who are doubting to buy 7 wait untill 8...Reply -
illo dave, someone could also mention that windows 95 has almost everything the world uses....access to the internet.Reply
people buy things because they are shiny, new, and 'cool'. look at the iPhone, the updates from year to year are minimal or ass backwards(antenna on iphone4)
but people buy them.
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gogogadgetliver if this OS was so good, why replace it now?Reply
Perhaps they should sit around until their competitor releases something better then get blamed for being out innovated and slow?
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malphas It's a reasonable timeframe but no-one realises that because of the massive delay between XP and 7 (Vista was - rightly or wrongly - considered a failure and so didn't really count). Microsoft used to release new OS versions every couple years, 95 to 98 to Me to XP, all just a few years apart. Just because a new version comes out doesn't mean everyone has to migrate from the previous version to that one, it is possible to skip a version or two.Reply
What does need to change is Microsoft's pricing to retail customers though. -
gogogadgetliver @malphas It's been the same since 95. $99 for upgrade, $199 for full or pro-upgrade, $299 for pro-full. Most consumers end up with the $99 version or a preinstall. Most Pros end up with an OEM, Technet, or other such version. Adjusted for inflation over the past 15 years it's dropped significantly.Reply