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Microsoft Hosting Windows 8 Consumer Preview Event Feb. 29

Chloe Albanesius
 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Microsoft is expected to unveil a consumer preview of Windows 8 at Mobile World Congress later this month.

The software giant today sent out an invite for an event on Feb. 29 at 3pm in Barcelona, which reads "Windows 8 Consumer Preview."

No additional details were provided. In December, however, Microsoft said a public Windows 8 beta would be released in late February.

There was talk that Steve Ballmer was going to release the Windows 8 beta during his final keynote at last month's Consumer Electronics Show, but he instead talked up the promise of the next-gen OS, as well as Windows Phone.

Ballmer promised a big "milestone" for the OS in February, and reiterated that Microsoft has "reimagined" Windows with Windows 8.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

During a demo at CES, Tami Reller, chief marketing officer for Windows, said we should expect to see Windows 8 on tablets and ultrabooks. In an earnings call this week, ARM CEO Warren East said Windows 8 could propel more tablet sales than Google's Android mobile operating system has accomplished so far.

Over the weekend, a version of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview leaked to the Web, and it included an interesting tidbit – the new OS would remove the start button. Redmond this week also revealed a list of games that will be available via the Windows 8 app store.

For more, see Windows 8: Early Speed Tests and Installing Windows 8 on a MacBook Air, as well as PCMag's Hands On with Windows 8 Developer Preview and the slideshow below.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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