Microsoft will release a near-final version of its Windows 8 operating system in the first week of June, the president of Microsoft’s Windows division, Steve Sinofsky, has told a developer event in Japan.

The ‘release preview’ will most likely be the final release before public availability, following the developer preview in September and the consumer preview last month.

Microsoft hasn’t announced a release date for Windows 8, but if the release preview goes well it could be sooner rather than later.

An attempt to create a unified operating system for PCs and tablets, Windows 8 will be pivotal for keeping Microsoft competitive with the likes of Apple and Google.

The ‘release preview’ will be the best indication we’ve had as to what the final product will look like and how it will work.

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