Windows 8 public beta slated for release late February

Word is that the public beta of Windows 8 is apparently slated to be released in late February of 2012, according to sources close to Microsoft. The timing of the public beta launch has been much talked about in tech circles; it's expected that Windows 8 will be officially released in 2012, but the actual expected date for the completion and shipment of the upcoming Microsoft operating system remains, at the moment, unrevealed. Though, with the knowledge of the public beta release's time frame, we'll have a better idea of the overall time frame of the new Windows operating system.

The Next Web was unable to confirm from Microsoft precisely what will be in the public beta of Windows 8, the feature set not yet released nor specified. But it will most likely be decided by the engineers working on the project deciding which parts are release-ready. So, no information has been imparted yet on the email function currently missing from the developer preview of Windows 8, and if it will be in the beta in late February.

Though February is a bit a later than some of us were hoping for a pubic beta release, Windows 8 seems to be making continuing progress, and assuming that Microsoft hits this milestone, the official version of Windows 8 should be on track for its expected third quarter launch next year. Have any SlashGear readers downloaded or used the Windows 8 developer preview yet? What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave them in the comment section below.

[via The Next Web]