Download the Windows 8 Release Preview today!

Windows 8 today reached another milestone with the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview which is now available for download along with the Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate.

While you’re downloading the Windows 8 Release Preview and Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate you should check out the following:

If you already started writing METRO style apps for Windows 8 using the Consumer Preview you’ll also want to review the Migration Guide that documents the API changes since the release of the Consumer Preview and how you can migrate your code to the new Release Preview.

You’ll also find lots of invaluable information on the Windows 8 developer and design websites: dev.windows.com and design.windows.com.

Windows 8 Start

When installing the Windows 8 Release Preview you’ll be asked for a product key and you can use TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF. Alternatively MSDN subscribers will have access to product keys within MSDN subscriber downloads.

If you’d like to install the Windows 8 Release Preview from a bootable USB key you’ll find the Microsoft Store Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool useful. Using this tool you can create a bootable USB key from the Windows 8 Release Preview ISO image.