Windows 8 ad campaign worth $1 billion

The Windows 8 operating system will be here in a few days, and the event is clearly going to be one of Microsoft’s biggest in recent times. While all the hoopla around it continues to swell, the Washington-based company doled out its first  Windows 8 ad campaign on Sunday during the NFL games. The campaign is worth a mind-blowing $1 billion, reports Dazeinfo. 

The 31-second long advertisement begins with the staple countdown clock, but the countdown ends at the number 8 (no guesses!). Along with foot-tapping music in the video, users are shown glimpses of touchscreen-based desktops, and laptops running obviously the Windows 8 OS. The video quite expectedly ends with a reminder that the OS will be launched on October 26, 2012.   

Spending big on Windows 8

Microsoft had started accepting pre-orders for the much anticipated operating system last week. According to the report, Microsoft has set the price of Windows 8 at $70 (roughly Rs 3,712) for a DVD pack. The operating system is also available digitally for $40 (around Rs 2,121), where users can download Windows 8 on launch day, October 26. Along with this, any customer who buys, or already bought, a Windows 7 PC between June 2 and the end of January 2013 will be able to get an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $15, a move designed to prevent a drop-off in PC sales before the launch of Windows 8.

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It was recently revealed that Microsoft had released an update to Windows 8 even before the official launch. Microsoft states on its official blog that this ‘post-RTM’ update has been issued to do away with the usual waiting times users experienced with earlier versions of Windows as the company went about improving its core code to suit the various OEMs’ newly-developed or enhanced components, drivers and accompanying software. It states this update ensures we won’t have to wait for a service pack to experience such enhancements. This update to Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 will be integrated with the operating system when it is released on October 26.

Additionally, Microsoft is working on updates for its in-built Windows 8 apps. The company will release updates for many of the apps included with the release to manufacturing (RTM) build of Windows 8, delivered to manufacturers and to MSDN and TechNet subscribers in August. The company announced on its official blog that it has started rolling out updates for the various apps Windows 8 comes with.

These app updates will also be available to manufacturers to include by default with PCs shipped in the future. Those who have already installed Windows 8 RTM can get the updates from the Store app. The Store tile will notify you when updates are available, and you can open it and click the updates link in the top right corner to see the list, and install the ones you want.

The Bing app is the first app to get the update. Microsoft will be rolling out updates for the rest of the in-built apps until October 26. The apps that would be updated include SkyDrive, Mail, Calendar, People and Messaging, Photos, Maps, Bing, Finance, News, Sports, Travel, Weather, Video Music and Games. Among some of the more interesting updates for the various apps is the ability to purchase videos in local currencies, new games, improved customisation, including custom pushpins and roaming options along with integration with Bing and travel apps for the Maps app, and the ability to search within SkyDrive.