Just weeks away from the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft is wrapping up its efforts to build an adequate ecosystem around it. The company has already launched Windows 8 apps store, and has now announced a partnership with Barnes & Noble to bring millions of ebooks to Windows 8 users.
It’s just not the Windows 8 or Surface tablets Microsoft is planning to release on October 26. The software giant will launch music service for Xbox on the same day. The Verge reported the new development citing sources familiar with Microsoft’s plan. The new Xbox Music service will be available on Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Xbox 360.
October 26 – the biggest date of the year for Microsoft. The company will launch its flagship Windows 8 operating system on this day. But, that’s not all. Microsoft will also launch its Surface tablets, with Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro flavor, on the same day. Microsoft has left the pricing of Surface tablets a secret so far. But a contest run by Dummies.com has hinted at a sub-$350 price-tag for the Windows RT version of the tablet.
Microsoft is gearing up to release its much-touted OS, Windows 8, later this year. However while that is still a few days away, the company has been putting its weight behind the Windows Store so as to have the Windows 8 apps up and running by the time Windows 8 launches. Now, Microsoft has elaborated on how developers can monetize their Windows 8 apps.
Microsoft has been spending around a lot of cash to gear up multiple services for its upcoming OS, Windows 8. Given the fact that Windows 8 has been specifically tweaked to run on mobile devices such as tablets and machines with touchscreens, it is no wonder that Microsoft has poured in a major stake into a new partnership with Nook, apparently to bolster support for Windows 8 digital reading apps.
It appears Microsoft may have sent one of its Surface tablets in for FCC approval earlier today. It’s labeled model 1516 and running Windows 8 RT with a membrane keyboard peripheral according to documents submitted earlier today. The only unconfirmed tidbit is whether it really is a Surface slate tablet.
In October, some smartphone manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung and HTC will launch Windows 8 devices. Recently, a rumor has been raised up about Microsoft that the software giant is working on its own-branded Windows 8 smartphone. That means, the company will come in the smartphone device market along with its own software to compete with existing manufacturers.
Back in 2010, Microsoft was contemplating a dual-screen notebook tablet under the Courier project. Eventually, the project was trashed and the notebook tablet could never see the day’s light. It now seems that the whole idea behind the Courier project may have a bit of a comeback in a Windows 8 app called ‘Project Austin.’