Download Windows8 Free

Available today will be the next phase in the development cycle of Microsoft’s replacement for Windows 7, the Windows 8 Consumer Preview (Windows 8 Beta).  Update:  download links for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are in our Windows 8 Download Center.

At an event at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain, Microsoft have this afternoon released the Consumer Preview (beta) for Windows 8 to the public.  You can download it from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/download

It was interesting to hear what Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky was saying about the new operating system though, as it gives an interesting insight into why Microsoft have done what they have.

He began his keynote by saying. ”We knew of course when we did the developer preview that the UI wasn’t done — lots of it wasn’t done. The goal was to get it out there and get people to understand what we were after.”  This is a tacit reminder that the negative feedback the Developer Preview received wasn’t something he felt was justified (though he did release it publicly!).  He went on to say “But today every element of the OS has been touched and improved as we prepared for the consumer preview of Windows 8.  Since the developer preview in September, we have made over 100,000 changes in Windows 8. We think of it as complete all the way through.”  Needless to say Microsoft now consider Windows 8 to be finished (bug hunt not withstanding).

Windows 8 Picture Password

One of the coolest things that we’ve seen come from Windows 8 is the new picture password log on feature. For those of you who don’t know, this is a new method of logging in. All the user has to do is draw a pattern and tap in a certain location and sequence to unlock their PC. It’s quite a cool feature if you ask me, however it’s been slated be some security experts.

Kenneth Weiss runs a three-factor authentication business called Universal Secure Registry and is the inventor of RSA’s SecurID token. Here’s what he had to say about it

I think it’s cute, I don’t think it’s serious security

Well that doesn’t say too much for it now then does it. Kenneth actually described it more like a Fisher-Price toy than a serious choice for secure computer access.

The concept is good, but from a security perspective there is some flaws. For example, if anyone sees you input the pattern it’s quite easy for them to remember. Unlike a traditional password where the pin/password that you enter is displayed as “*”, you’ll be able to see exactly what the user’s entering. Also it’s a bit of a pain trying to right down what your pattern is in case you forget it. It would have to be quite long winded to make sure that you get the pattern right.

However, because it’s so quick and simple to set one up and enter the password, I think we may find that more people will start using this. There’s plenty of people who don’t use a password what so ever so if they used this picture password it would be better than nothing wouldn’t it?

Also all you have to do is make sure that the wrong people don’t see you entering in your pattern and you should be ok. But I’d be interested to hear what you guys think of the picture password.

Windows 8 Beta

A public beta of Windows 8 will launch in late February of next year, 

Citing "sources close to Microsoft," TNW pointed to February for the beta's debut but said the release date for the final version of Windows 8 remains a mystery, though it's expected to ship next year.

Mary Jo Foley of CNET sister site ZDNet said she's heard that the beta would appear after next month's Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from January 10 to 13, but Foley said she isn't aware of any specific dates.

If the February timeframe holds true for the beta, the RTM (release-to-manufacturing) version of Windows 8 could hit the market as early as June. The final shipping version would then see the light of day in the third quarter, just in time to land on PCs and mobile devices for the 2012 holiday season.

This past June, Dan'l Lewin, Microsoft corporate vice president for Strategic and Emerging Business Development, hinted at a fall 2012 release date for the new OS, though that was predicated on the beta already being out by now.