Those who may have skipped on the option to download the Developer’s Preview of Windows 8 last year don’t have to wait for the full retail release of Microsoft’s new OS to take a glance. Today, Microsoft has made the Consumer Preview available to download. I’m absolutely in love with the redesigned look and feel of Windows, and the new tile metro style they’re utilizing across all Windows products.

As part of the Consumer Preview, Microsoft has announced that all applications in the Windows Store will be free during the preview. Of course, once the retail version of Windows 8 launches, you’ll have to cough up some coinage. Still, quite a fantastic opportunity to really test out what Microsoft has been working on for the past few years.

You can download the preview here.

Microsoft

Kinect broke major ground in the gaming industry when it debuted last fall for the Xbox 360, but Microsoft has no intention of stopping there. The company announced that a Kinect for Windows SDK will be released this spring for application developers, so they can create great new uses for the motion sensor.

Eventually, the SDK will be released commercially. Ironically, just a few weeks ago Sony confirmed that they are not going to try implementing their motion controller, the PlayStation Move, outside of the PS3 console.

I’m glad to see Microsoft trying to really push the sensor, and expand its uses. While it certainly has its flaws, it could potentially bring with it some new and unprecedented gameplay experiences.

Microsoft