New Windows 8 RTM build screenshots leak
updated 07:30 am EDT, Mon July 23, 2012
Windows 8 edges closer to release
New screenshots of the work going into the release to manufacture (RTM) build of Windows 8 have surfaced. Among the finishing touches that the Windows 8 team have added include a boot screen featuring the new Metro-styled Windows logo, a new look for the color customization options, redesigned tabs and buttons in IE 10 (as well as matching colors for the selected theme), new themes as well as wallpapers. The final build of Windows 8 is expected to reach OEMs in the next two weeks.
One further touch in Windows 8 will be the removal of the Aero Glass UI that marked Windows Vista and Windows 7. While many people liked the appearance, just as many found it an unnecessary adornment. Further, Aero was also system intensive and chewed valuable CPU cycles and also subsequently was a drain on batteries for notebook users.
Although Microsoft has not revealed the date that MSDN and TechNet subscribers will have access to the final build, it usually arrives within a week or two of when manufacturers get the RTM build. Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 will be released on October 26, at which point consumers will be able to download the upgrade or get their hands on the latest Windows 8 devices including Microsoft's first ever Windows hardware, the Surface tablet for Windows and for Windows RT. [via WinUnleaked.info]
