Yes, I know I'm making this thread a day in advance. I'm doing so to make sure I don't forget to post a thread on this tomorrow.

To prevent a mass flood of general Windows 8 posts, here is a single dedicated thread to all general Windows 8 Beta discussion.

Please be sure to read the Windows 8 Beta FAQ: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=23461

If you create a thread asking a question covered in the FAQ, I will lock your thread.

Whats the release time?

Actually tomorrow

TIME not DATE...

Not to be argumentative, I swear, but is this really 100% necessary? I'm not sure I understand why restricting other topics and insisting that your topic is the one that needs to be used for all discussion is the right way to go about doing things. Personally I'd rather see more smaller topics on different aspects of the beta then one mega topic that I'll inevitably have to wade through 40 pages of to find a single post that I'm looking for.

Agreed
Also the count down clock link

http://www.tweakgeek.info/?page_id=1153
Windows 8 can't wait Just hours to go

You have a point, but then again, there won't be a flood of topics (hopefully) like "I like windows 8 cp, how about you?" as it is now...

No offence, but I think you should change "Beta" to "Consumer Preview", since I think that just having "Beta" sounds too general, and will confuse other people here, especially new users (they might think that "Beta" refers to all "Beta" builds of Windows 8, or even worse, all builds of Windows 8).

Also, there are other Beta builds of Windows 8, yet there are only a few Consumer Preview builds in comparison, so I think that such a name as "Windows 8 Consumer Preview Discussion" would be far better suited for this topic, not to mention that it would be much more accurate.

But anyway, I'm certainly going to not only download it onto my system, but also install it, that is, once I'm done working with the Server and Developer Tools counterparts of the widely available Developer Preview (Build 8102).

So Midnight between 29th and 1st for me... Sounds pretty cool. Although according to the news source I read it might be released after the meeting, and I don't know how long the meeting goes (eg, might be released at 16:00 etc.)

Don't know if this has always happened, but searching on Google for Windows 8 Consumer Preview comes up with a link called "Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Microsoft", [url]go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=237323&form=pgbar1[/url]

OK my question is this can anyone tell me if xboxlive app will run on consumer preview?
or is it yet unknown.

Is it a Metro app, or a normal desktop application? Either way, however, especially if it already runs on earlier Metro-enabled builds of Windows 8, it should almost certainly run on the Consumer Preview build, since the non-functionality related code has not really changed all that much.

Even if it was only tested on Windows Vista/Server 2008 and/or Windows 7/Server 2008 R2, it should run fine on Windows 8, since Windows 8, for the most part, continues to use the same code for the Windows API.

And that's why I specified "general Windows 8 posts". This is a general thread for the Windows 8 beta; I'm not going to lock/merge a thread if it was on a focused aspect of the Windows 8 Beta, like "How to develop Metro apps for Windows 8 Beta". Having 150 topics on "Do you like feature XYZ" or something along those lines is what I would consider general discussion; there should be one single thread for small (and often pointless) stuff like that.

I think it's a Metro APP but i don't know i know this is going to replace Games for windows live it was not in the public devloper preview but it was at CES 2011 in the devloper preview but not let out to the public

What will be the difference of Windows 8 DP and Windows 8 Beta? I tryed googling that but apparently that line was too long for google to give me search terms even on that subject. Bug fixes right?

Those that signed-up at Connect for the "Windows Ecosystem Readiness" for Windows 8 DP there is some new links & language mentioning:
"This Connect website is here to provide you with the resources you will need to submit feedback for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview." Along w/ several forums that are available.

Hey has anyone seen this yet?
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/de ... x?id=28966

Check out the system requirements. " Windows Consumer Preview x64"
This is uploaded 27th, seems a bit early. Can't wait, Actual mentioning of the beta (Consumer Preview) on MS site.
Hope its not a placeholder XD
..
Getting hyped up!

My timezone is like in barcelona! Cant wait!

Not only bugfixes, but also some more features may be available in WCP. A few functions of Windows 8 are locked in WDP.
From what I've heard users may access the Store in WCP, and that should not be the only "added" function.

Mine is UTC +8 and I have to wait until tomorrow before I am able to download.

Cool, but whats "PlayReady PC Runtime:?

I think its like a program that connects your windows phone to windows 8 consumer preview.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/de ... x?id=28970
Also this will be the place to download win 8 later
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/se ... %20preview

Ok I made this commercial which was supposed to be for WinBeta, the site I write articles for, but now I'll use it as a Windows 8 Commercial, so here it is you guys! You get to see it first

Windows 8 Beta ESDs (web installer) released early!
No idea if this will work in the Windows Developer Preview web setup.

x86: http://ak.or.esd.microsoft.com/pr/WCPDL ... 794225.esd
x64: http://ak.or.esd.microsoft.com/pr/WCPDL ... 794226.esd

UPDATE: These files are confirmed not working in the Windows Developer Preview setup files.