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| Version of the Windows NT operating system | |
 | |
 Screenshot of Windows 8 | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Source model | |
| Released to manufacturing | August 1, 2012[2] |
| General availability | October 26, 2012[3] |
| Final release | 6.2.9200 / December 13, 2016 |
| Update method | Windows Update, Windows Store, Windows Server Update Services |
| Platforms | IA-32, x86-64, ARM |
| Kernel type | Hybrid |
| Userland | Windows API, NTVDM |
| License | Trialware, Microsoft Software Assurance, MSDN subscription, DreamSpark |
| Preceded by | Windows 7 (2009) |
| Succeeded by | Windows 8.1 (2013) |
| Official website | Windows 8 (archived at Wayback Machine) |
| Support status | |
| Start date: October 30, 2012 All editions except Windows Embedded 8 Standard:
With the exception of Windows Embedded 8 Standard users, installing the Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 update is required for all users for continued support after January 12, 2016. Windows Embedded 8 Standard:
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Windows 8 is a version of the Windows computer operating system, which was published by Microsoft. Windows 8 was released everywhere on October 26, 2012.[5] The president of the Windows Division, Steven Sinofsky, said: "With this system we shall make the biggest change from Windows 95". Microsoft removed the "Start" button and designed a new tile-based user interface to replace the "Start" menu (which first appeared in Windows 95). Microsoft unsupported Windows 8 from January 12, 2016, and users will upgrade Windows 8.1 after it was discontinued on January 10, 2023.
Several versions of Windows 8 were made available to software developers well before the final release. The first of these, the Developer Preview, came out in September 2011. On February 29, 2012, Microsoft released a beta version of Windows 8.0 known as the Consumer Preview. Anyone could register online to download this version for free. After the Consumer Preview, a final preview named "Release Preview" was released on May 31, 2012.
On October 26, 2012, Windows 8 became available to the general public. Windows 8 received negative reviews. Microsoft also released a version called Windows RT, which was adapted for devices using ARM processors. Windows RT could not run most Windows applications.[6] On the same day, Microsoft also put new devices running Windows 8, including its newly-created Surface tablets up for sale in stores and online.
An update for Windows 8 was released on October 17, 2013, and it is called Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 returns the normal "Start" button to the taskbar. During development, Windows 8.1 was known as "Blue".
Windows 10 was made to replace Windows 8 and 8.1, and it came out on July 29, 2015. Users who owned Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 installed, or Windows 8.1, were able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free until July 29, 2016.
As of August 2023, Windows 8 (i.e. 8.0) was used by 0.35% of PCs; with Windows 8.1, at 1% of PCs.[7]
- ↑ "Shared Source Initiative". microsoft.com. Microsoft. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ↑ Windows 8 has reached the RM milestone Archived September 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. August 1, 2012
- ↑ "Windows reimagined. #Windows8". Blogging Windows. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Product lifecycle Windows 8 Embedded". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ↑ Pocket-lint (January 12, 2012). "Windows 8 set for October 2012 launch". Pocket-lint.
- ↑ http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/07/18/windows-8-will-be-available-on.aspx
- ↑ "Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide". StatCounter Global Stats. Retrieved August 8, 2023.