Microsoft has announced the availability of Windows 8 for its customers in India and around the world.
Windows 8 has to offer a beautiful new UI, a wide range of apps with the grand opening of the Windows Store, available on a variety of Windows 8 certified PCs and Tablets. With Windows 8, Microsoft wants to ensure that its new operating system runs on all form factors - desktops, notebooks and even tablets.
At first look, Windows 8 looks awesome, rich, clean and invitingly playful. Its user interface (UI) is a cluster of applications in use, all split into little rectangular tiles. Each tile can be dragged around and its positioning changed, as can each cluster of many tiles. Each cluster can also be customized to one's tastes by adding or subtracting individual tiles in the cluster.
Presently Windows 8 PCs and Tablets will be available in India from 14 OEM partners Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HCL, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, RP Infosystems, Sai Info System, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Wipro and Zenith Computers on a variety of form factors from Tablets and hybrids to laptops and ultrabooks on both touch and non-touch devices. In India, over 250 Windows 8 enabled devices, including 23 completely new SKUs of Windows 8 PCs are available across 100 cities and more than 2500 retail stores.
Windows 8 comes with a new smooth and intuitive start screen and tiles that are brimming with content, and update in real time. Windows 8 is natively cloud-connected and users only need to sign in once with their Microsoft account to ensure that all the things they care about most including mails, calendars, contact, pictures etc. are seamlessly synced across multiple devices. Further, Windows 8 comes with a reimagined browser, Internet Explorer 10 that is touch-ready and delivers a full screen browsing experience.
Old Windows users, who have at least a Windows XP or a Windows 7 PC, can also upgrade to Windows 8. Those who bought a PC June 2, 2012 onwards this year (and till January 31 next year) can upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 for just Rs.699. Others can update their OS via an electronic software download which will cost Rs.1999.
Microsoft will provide technical support for Windows 7 till January 14, 2020.
With this launch, the Windows Store is now open and a plethora of global and local apps will be available for download. In India or India specific Apps, a range of immersive, free and paid apps can be downloaded including Bharat Matrimony, BigFlix, BookMyShow, Bookyourtable, Burrp, Dhingana, Fastrack Tees, Flyte MP3, Gaana, Goibibo, Hindustan Times, ICICI Bank iMobile, ICICIDirect, JustEat, MakeMyTrip Explore, MapmyIndia, my airtel, NDTV Play, PVR Cinemas, Tarla Dalal, The Times of India, Yahoo Cricket, and Zovi, among others.
