Microsoft gave a detailed preview of the next major release of Windows, code-named Windows 8, at its BUILD conference with developers. This is the company's first OS to support ARM-based chipsets, and partners including AMD, Intel, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments showed their work on products supporting Windows 8. The OS is designed to work with touch-based devices such as the new tablet PCs and ultrabooks, as well as traditional PCs. Among the new feautures in Windows 8, the OS introduces a new Metro style interface built for touch, which works also with a mouse and keyboard. This is accompanied by a touch-based Internet Explorer 10 and a range of apps to drive the user experience. Microsoft said the apps will be able to work together, communicating in Windows 8. For example, a user can select and e-mail photos from different places, such as Facebook, Flickr or the hard drive. The Microsoft Live services sync info across devices, including photos, e-mail, calendar and contacts, while SkyDrive allows cloud access to files from anywhere, using a browser or the Metro style apps in Windows 8. Microsoft will allow developers to sell their apps through the Windows Store. Attendees at BUILD received a Samsung prototype PC with Windows Developer Preview to aid them in creating and testing apps. Developers will be able to download the Windows Developer Preview via the new Windows Dev Center later this week.
