While we haven't heard much from Microsoft about Windows 8 lately other than the coming launch of the Release Preview in early June, a couple of leaks this week have revealed some tantalizing details.
Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley first reported that the company intends to provide cheap upgrades for new Windows customers over the summer. According to "contacts," after the Release Preview arrives, customers who buy Windows 7 or a Windows 7 PC will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 when it's released in the fall for just $14.99 — a price revealed to Windows Supersite by "sources."
The best part of the deal is that those customers will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the "higher-end" version of the software that's a step above the basic edition. (for more on how Microsoft intends to market Windows 8, see this summary).
The deal mirrors a similar one Microsoft gave Windows Vista customers before the release of Windows 7. In both cases, Microsoft wanted to ensure the imminent release of a new version of Windows didn't lead new customers to hold off on purchasing a Windows-powered machine.
Windows Supersite also got an early look at some updated apps for the Windows 8 Release Preview, and they are much improved. The photos app, for example, which we had problems integrating with Flickr, now has a cleaner interface and can connect to other PCs via SkyDrive.
The Mail, People and Messaging apps have all been given a makeover as well, introducing social-media connections and improved notifications. The Calendar and Reader apps were updated, too, but the changes there are almost purely cosmetic.
A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on the reports.
Do the reports change how you feel about Windows 8? Have your say in the comments.
BONUS: A Tour of Windows 8
Here's what greets you every time you log into your Windows 8 machine. Yes, the tiles are customizable, though it's a little unwieldy in practice.
Sharing is arguably Metro's most powerful feature. Although the sharing option is only populated with Mail right now, once Windows 8 apps get going, you'll see options here like Facebook, Twitter and all the rest -- in every app.
Many apps, like the native Finance app, look beautiful in Metro.
You can still get back to the familiar desktop anytime you want in Windows 8. Note the absence of a Start button, which you get to by mousing into the lower-left corner.
Bing Maps, like all Metro apps, makes use of the entire screen. Right-clicking brings up options.
You can see which apps are running by pointing your mouse to one of the left corners and then moving it alongside. Right-clicking an app lets you stop it.
The side action menu slides out via the side and is the same no matter what app you're in.
The consumer preview of Windows 8 still has lots of bugs in it, as evidenced by this screen shot of the email app.
Since the entire screen in Internet Explorer is dedicated to showing you the web page, right-clicking twice shows you the tabs that are open.
Messaging ties with your People app, bringing in contacts on Windows Messenger or Facebook.
The Windows 8 Photo app has built-in integration with Flickr, but it wasn't working on our device.
Your 25GB of free SkyDrive space is easily accessible via a live tile, and it integrates with the Photos app, letting you avoid sending large email attachments by uploading pics to SkyDrive.
The Weather app also looks beautiful in Metro.
Through settings, you can make changes to your Windows profile, which will show up -- apps and all -- on any Windows 8 machine you log into.
Yep, you still need to download Flash to get your browsers to play many videos, like those on YouTube.
You can customize your Start menu with specific apps, even if they're desktop-only apps like the browsers seen here.
The video hub doesn't just show video files -- it also promotes content as well. Whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.
Solitaire was available on our Consumer Preview device via Xbox Live, though Microsoft said it couldn't guarantee it would be in the general release.
Microsoft designed Windows 8 to be comfortable to use either by touch or with a mouse and keyboard. We found some functions counterintuitive, but it's still a powerful interface.
Here's what greets you every time you log into your Windows 8 machine. Yes, the tiles are customizable, though it's a little unwieldy in practice.
Sharing is arguably Metro's most powerful feature. Although the sharing option is only populated with Mail right now, once Windows 8 apps get going, you'll see options here like Facebook, Twitter and all the rest -- in every app.
Many apps, like the native Finance app, look beautiful in Metro.
You can still get back to the familiar desktop anytime you want in Windows 8. Note the absence of a Start button, which you get to by mousing into the lower-left corner.
Bing Maps, like all Metro apps, makes use of the entire screen. Right-clicking brings up options.
You can see which apps are running by pointing your mouse to one of the left corners and then moving it alongside. Right-clicking an app lets you stop it.
The side action menu slides out via the side and is the same no matter what app you're in.
The consumer preview of Windows 8 still has lots of bugs in it, as evidenced by this screen shot of the email app.
Since the entire screen in Internet Explorer is dedicated to showing you the web page, right-clicking twice shows you the tabs that are open.
Messaging ties with your People app, bringing in contacts on Windows Messenger or Facebook.
The Windows 8 Photo app has built-in integration with Flickr, but it wasn't working on our device.
Your 25GB of free SkyDrive space is easily accessible via a live tile, and it integrates with the Photos app, letting you avoid sending large email attachments by uploading pics to SkyDrive.
The Weather app also looks beautiful in Metro.
Through settings, you can make changes to your Windows profile, which will show up -- apps and all -- on any Windows 8 machine you log into.
Yep, you still need to download Flash to get your browsers to play many videos, like those on YouTube.
You can customize your Start menu with specific apps, even if they're desktop-only apps like the browsers seen here.
The video hub doesn't just show video files -- it also promotes content as well. Whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.
Solitaire was available on our Consumer Preview device via Xbox Live, though Microsoft said it couldn't guarantee it would be in the general release.
Microsoft designed Windows 8 to be comfortable to use either by touch or with a mouse and keyboard. We found some functions counterintuitive, but it's still a powerful interface.
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