Windows 8

A significant update of the Windows NT operating system created by Microsoft, Windows 8 is the latest version of the system. The product was made available to manufacturers on August 1, 2012, and it was made available to the general public on October 26, 2012. MSDN and TechNet have made Windows 8 accessible for download, and it is also available as a replacement for all Windows 7 customers via the usage of the Windows Update service.

In Windows 8, Microsoft made significant modifications to the operating system's platform and easy to use interface, with the goal of improving the user experience on tablets, where Windows was now competing with operating systems such as Android and iOS. It included a touch-optimized Windows shell based on Microsoft's "Metro" design language and the Start screen (which displays programmes and dynamically updated content on a grid of tiles), a new platform for developing "apps" with an emphasis on touchscreen input, integration with online services (including the ability to synchronise apps and settings between devices), and the Windows Store, an online distribution platform for downloading and purchasing new software. Most of these features were ported over from the Windows Phone platform. Windows 8 now has support for USB 3.0, Advanced Format hard drives, near field communications, and cloud computing, among other features and enhancements. To prevent malware from infecting the boot process, additional security measures were added, including as built-in antivirus software, integration with Microsoft SmartScreen's phishing filtering service, and support for UEFI Secure Boot on compatible devices with UEFI firmware.

During the month of October 2013, Microsoft launched Windows 8.1, which addressed some of the issues with Windows 8 that had been raised by reviewers and early users, as well as including significant enhancements to many areas of the operating system. Windows 8 was eventually replaced by Windows 10 in July of that same year. Windows 2012 and Windows Embedded 8 Standard would no longer support Internet Explorer 10 as of January 31, 2020. By October 2020, the company's market share had decreased to 1.06 percent.