The
Windows 8 Release Preview, available as of May 31, is one of the last steps before the new OS launches "for the holidays", to quote a
company blog post by Windows president Steven Sinofsky.
If past Windows release dates are any indication,
Windows 8 will launch in October.
The Release Preview comes with new features and functions for the new Metro user interface, including the ability to more easily group tiles and apps on the Start screen and pin subsections of an app -- such as a stock ticker from the Finance app -- to the Start screen as well.
The Release Preview has also brought more sports, travel and news apps from both Microsoft and its partners to the
updated Windows App Store. Additionally, the Metro version of Internet Explorer 10 has been tweaked in the Windows 8 Release Preview with an integrated touch-friendly
Adobe Flash Player and the
"do not track" privacy setting in IE10 has been turned on by default.
