Microsoft to Show Windows 8 for Tablets in June?
The Windows 7 touch interface hasn't been the tablet revolution Microsoft hoped for, and now the company is putting significant emphasis on a tablet interface for Windows 8. Although Windows 8 is still a long way off, we may get a look at the tablet interface as early as June.
Citing Microsoft sources, Business Insider reports the company will stage a public "design demo" of the tablet interface in June, which likely means it will take place at the Computex convention happening around that time.
The Windows 8 (a k a. Windows Next) tablet interface is supposed to solve many of the problems of Windows 7 as a touch interface — specifically, the small buttons and menu systems obviously designed for mouse input. Business Insider reports that Microsoft has actually taken many cues from the design of Apple's tablet interface, which seems smart given the popularity of the Apple iPad interface.
Windows 8 for tablets will also integrate some styles from the Media Center interface, the single most finger-friendly part of Windows 7 on a touch screen device.
There's no set release schedule for Windows 8, but rumors indicate Microsoft plans to release a beta of Windows 8 for tablets in September. The company is under serious time constraints because it is already so far behind Android , webOS and iOS in the tablet market.
