Hasta La Gadget!

When Windows 8 arrives in October, it’ll come with one awesome, unsung feature: you can carry your entire computer around with you on a flash drive, turning any PC you find into your PC. More »

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 will hit RTM (“release to manufacturing”) in the first week of August, with the next-gen OS expected to launch in late October. The news was announced at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference 2012 in Toronto this morning by CFO Tami Reller, the first time the company has officially detailed the OS’ release.

“Release To Manufacturing” means that Microsoft’s hardware partners will get their hands on the final version of the software, ready to load onto their new devices. Any subsequent software changes will be released as feature packs or patches, with RTM basically presenting a deadline for Microsoft’s software engineers to stop development work on the market-ready version.

Microsoft had aways said to expect Windows 8 in the second half of the year, but had been reluctant to pin the platform down any more than that. This summer, meanwhile, Apple will release its own next-gen OS in the shape of OS X Lion.

Sales estimates for Windows 8 machines are in the region of 375m new PCs in the space of the next year, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. He described the OS launch as “the biggest deal” from Microsoft in the past 17 years.

Windows 8 RTM in early August and on shelves in late October is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We have had word that Dell and HP are working on a Windows RT tablet (according to Digitimes, whose track record in terms of accuracy has not exactly been the best to date), although there was also word that there is HP might be ditching plans for a Windows RT tablet. Samsung has also thrown their lot into the Windows RT tablet scene, or so it seems, as the South Korean conglomerate is said to be one of the first to deliver such a tablet that will be powered by ARM-based processors instead of chips that run on Intel’s offering. I guess there are always fanboys in terms of different camps that they support, so with the new Windows RT tablets, they will run on either ARM or Intel processors.

It is said that the Samsung Windows RT tablets will roll out when Windows 8 itself is revealed later this October, at least according to Bloomberg. It will definitely aid Microsoft in their effort to make a dent into the tablet market, which is currently dominated by the iPad from Apple.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Windows 8 confirmed for October release, HP and Dell launching Windows RT tablets end of this year?,

If you’re a fan of the Windows Home Server 2011 operating system, Microsoft has confirmed what may be your worst fear. Windows Home Server 2011 is the last version of Microsoft’s Home server operating system. The official confirmation came from Microsoft this week.

The confirmation doesn’t come as a complete surprise considering rumors had been circulating that there would be no version of the Home Server OS when Windows 8 launches in October. The official confirmation came from a new FAQ entry on the Windows Server 2012 Essentials frequently asked questions page.

Microsoft notes that is combining the features previously found in Windows Home Server operating systems such as support for DLNA compliant devices and media streaming into the new Windows Server 2012 Essentials operating system. Microsoft thinks that Windows Server 2012 Essentials will be the ideal first server OS for small businesses and home users. It’s worth noting that Windows Home Server 2011 will remain available as an OEM embedded product all the way through December 31, 2025 and will be available in other current channels until December 31, 2013.

[via ZDNet]

Microsoft confirms no new Windows Home Server is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This time around, Microsoft is not about to get messy with the massive amount of version of their IT-aimed Windows Server software they’ve had in the past. Where back in 2008, Window Server had twelve, count them, twelve versions of Server 2008 R2, this version focusing on just four different groups which its editions will be ideal for. These versions include Datacenter, Standard, Essentials, and Foundation, and will be spattered across businesses across the IT landscape before the year is done and over with – will you be jumping aboard?

This set of versions starts with Foundation, that being an economical general purpose server aimed bit of software with pricing only revealed to manufacturers of the devices it’ll be pushed to. Next you’ve got an Essentials version of Windows Server, this edition made for small business environments and costing $425. Pricing on each of these editions, mind you, represents Open No Level (NL) ERP.

The Standard edition of Windows Server 2012 is aimed at low density or non-virtualized environments and is one of two editions to be made for Processor + CAL licensing models, here priced at $882 USD. The other of these two editions is the Datacenter edition which is aimed at highly virtualized private and hybrid cloud environments. The Datacenter edition has unlimited virtual instances and will cost you $4,809.

You can also try the software out before you drop hundreds or thousands of dollars for your business right over at the Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate site right this second!

Check out the timeline below to dive deep into more Windows Server action and let us know if your business will be upgrading this year!

Windows Server 2012 set for just four iterations is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.