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Report: Windows 8 'Blue' Hits First Development Milestone

The Windows 8 refresh code-named Windows "Blue" has just completed its first milestone build (M1), according to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.

Citing unnamed sources, Foley reported on Tuesday that Windows Blue has hit the halfway point of development, and the last milestone build will be M2. Because Windows Blue's rapid pace of development, there is no estimated timetable for when development and testing will be complete.

"It's hard to know what will come next, given Windows Blue is the first Windows release to be on an accelerated schedule," Foley wrote. "Will Microsoft deliver a developer preview of Blue? A consumer preview? Or just go straight from internal milestone builds to final? (I'm thinking it's likely to be the last option, if the Windows team sticks to an earlier leaked target ship date of August 2013.)"

A rumored screenshot of Windows Blue also surfaced online on Tuesday, which Foley said supports her sources' information on current status of Windows Blue.

While Microsoft has refused to comment on the project, Windows Blue is rumored to be a comprehensive update for not only Windows 8, but also for multiple Microsoft products and services, including Windows Phone 8, Hotmail, SkyDrive and Windows Server 2012.

Late last week, more information surfaced on the project in a Microsoft software development engineer job posting:

"We're looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide."

Windows Blue and its mobile counterpart, code-named Windows Phone "Blue," are rumored to be the first of multiple annual updates for Microsoft's current generation of products.

About the Author

Chris Paoli (@ChrisPaoli5) is the associate editor for Converge360.

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