Windows 8 release preview will be out in the first week of June, Microsoft announced Monday evening.

Photo: Internet
Microsoft President Steven Sinofsky made the announcement during an on-stage appearance at Japan's Windows 8 Dev Days and more broadly on the Build Windows 8 Twitter feed.

The release preview is generally the last stage before a product's final version, which is expected in the fall.

Release preview will be the next major pre-launch version of Windows 8 from the company after it released Consumer Preview on Feb. 29.

Windows 8 will be a big test for Microsoft. Windows 8, which aims to unify Microsoft's flagship OS on the desktop and tablet, is "the most integrated and most capable operating system Microsoft has ever put out," according to CNET Reviews Editor Seth Rosenblatt.

Windows 8 is tooled to run on ARM chips as well as so-called x86 chips that power traditional PCs. Microsoft officials announced the Windows 8 SKU lineup last week and shared details about some of the features in the coming version. (Agencies)

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