Rumor: Windows 8 Going RTM in 2012

A supposed leaked roadmap from Microsoft reveals a retail release of Windows 8 for January 2013.

Russian website WZOR has somehow acquired an internal Microsoft roadmap/documentation that reveals the Redmond company's plans for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2008. Based on the "leaked" information, consumers may see Windows 8 in early January 2013.

According to the roadmap. Microsoft will commence development of Windows 8 Milestone 3 (M3) in March. Following M3, the company will release two public beta milestone builds in Windows 8's development. Microsoft will then develop and distribute the Release Candidate (RC) followed by the Release To Manufacturing (RTM) build reportedly three months later. Finally, as previously stated, Windows 8 will reach the General Availability (GA) phase on Monday, January 7, 2013.

As for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, the roadmap reveals that Service Pack 2 has been in the works since fall of 2010, and is expected to arrive in mid-2012. The report did not indicate what the upcoming service pack will bring to both platforms.

As reported Thursday, Windows 8 surfaced in an NDA presentation, revealing an App Store that will enable users to run apps in full-screen, and re-download previously-purchased apps that may have been lost due to system failure or hard drive reformatting. Other reports have indicated that Windows 8 will be modular in nature so that the OS can work on desktops and notebooks as well as mobile devices. Windows 8 will also supposedly be heavily cloud-based, possibly storing cloud-based user accounts, system backup files, and more.

Earlier this month we also reported that Windows 8 supposedly hit Milestone 2 (M2) and may be completed by the end of next month. This coincides with the leaked roadmap indicating that Milestone 3 will begin in March.

Two days ago supposed screenshots pulled from Windows 8 build 7867 surfaced, basically sporting the same user interface seen in Windows 7. Eventually the author behind the shots came forward and admitted that they were fake. That said, the roadmap listed above could be entirely fake as well.

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silver565 , January 26, 2011 2:12 AM

Bah, If they put them out any quicker, I'll end up skipping an OS and going to the one after it
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acer0169 , January 26, 2011 4:31 AM

Totally agree. I hope this isn't just another Vista-type flop.. Win7 is amazing, but a rushed Windows 8 might as well just be a Win7 Service pack if it doesn't bring anything new to the table outside of a few optimisations etc.
0

Herr_Koos , January 26, 2011 1:38 PM

Very difficult one to call, this. From MS's point of view, Windows 8 needs to be ground-breaking and innovative for the company to stay relevant. Windows 7, brilliant as it is, was just Vista done right. So here's the Catch 22: You want everyone to move to 7 because you need the money and market share NOW, then in two years from now, you want them to buy something else that might be radically different to the OS they just migrated to. Somehow I don't think this is going to fly..
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acer0169 , January 26, 2011 2:47 PM

And what about businesses? Most are still using Win 2000 or XP Pro. Eventually they'll upgrade but only to Win7.. I can't see them skipping Win7 and going straight for this new one.
0

doive1231 , January 26, 2011 3:34 PM

And they say it's a waste of time Russia having spies in America.
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Griffolion , January 26, 2011 5:15 PM

One thing I would like to see is Windows incorporating two interfaces, one for larger screened desktops that would more than likely be akin to the typical interface we see today, the other optimised for smaller screen netbooks and even tablets (so touch friendly). Switching should be able to be done in a simple setting interface found in the display section.

It's just a thought.
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Herr_Koos , January 26, 2011 7:35 PM

GriffolionOne thing I would like to see is Windows incorporating two interfaces, one for larger screened desktops that would more than likely be akin to the typical interface we see today, the other optimised for smaller screen netbooks and even tablets (so touch friendly). Switching should be able to be done in a simple setting interface found in the display section.It's just a thought.

Simple solution: They need to put the new Windows Phone OS on tablets.
0

Silmarunya , January 26, 2011 8:59 PM

I just hope that this OS will be really good. After all, the last great Windows version was XP. We all know what's wrong with Vista and 7 is just Vista SP 2.0. Even 7 feels underwhelming: it's faster than Vista but slower than XP and lots slower than Mac and Linux. It looks good, but still has that annoying over the top Aero theme (and don't say 'just use basic or classic', because basic is even uglier and classic doesn't work perfectly due to 7's new taskbar).

If it wasn't for DirectX, I'd be using Linux. And if it wasn't for DirectX11, I'd be using XP rather than 7.

Please, please make XP v2.0. Or even better, open source DirectX (*keeps dreaming*)
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Silmarunya , January 26, 2011 9:02 PM

Herr_KoosSimple solution: They need to put the new Windows Phone OS on tablets.

Phone 7 is optimised for... well... phones. Just like many poorly skinned Android UI's look downright clumsy on anything bigger than 5", Phone 7 will be a pain to look at at bigger sizes.

We need dedicated tablet OS'es. Something that runs productivity software and supports external keyboards via USB (and other frequently used connectivity options shoud be included as well btw), properly uses the tablets computing power (lighter than Windows 7, more powerful than Android/iOS).

The clear answer is Linux, but I don't see that happening for some reason.
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Herr_Koos , January 27, 2011 2:13 AM

SilmarunyaPhone 7 is optimised for... well... phones. Just like many poorly skinned Android UI's look downright clumsy on anything bigger than 5", Phone 7 will be a pain to look at at bigger sizes.We need dedicated tablet OS'es. Something that runs productivity software and supports external keyboards via USB (and other frequently used connectivity options shoud be included as well btw), properly uses the tablets computing power (lighter than Windows 7, more powerful than Android/iOS).The clear answer is Linux, but I don't see that happening for some reason.

Same OS for both seems to work fine for Apple...