Microsoft has announced the names and specifications for its new Windows 8 operating system. A launch date hasn’t been confirmed, although the OS is expected to be available before the end of 2012.
PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors will have a choice of Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. The Pro version will offer extra features including encryption, PC management and the option of turning the PC into a ‘Windows Media Center’.
Windows RT - which had previously been referred to as Windows on ARM (WOA) - will be pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors. This ‘embedded’ OS will include touch-optimised versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
[Windows Team blog]