Windows 8 released to manufacturers in time for launch

leaked Lenovo Windows 8 Tablet from Techin5.com

Microsoft announced Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing (RTM). With RTM, they’ve completed the product development and testing and have officially started handing off the final code to their OEM partners, who are preparing new Windows 8 PCs and tablets they’ll introduce this fall. For more on RTM, check out Steven Sinofsky’s blog post on the Building Windows 8 blog.

Select audiences, including developers, IT professionals and partners will have early access to final RTM code beginning later this month. Highlights include:

• ·         August 15th: Developers building new apps for Windows 8 will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via an MSDN subscriptions, and can visit the Windows Dev Center to get access to the final build of Visual Studio 2012.
• ·         August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through a TechNet subscription .
• ·         August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
• ·         August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
• ·         August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.