Windows 8 ‘Consumer Preview’ preinstalled apps list revealed

Windows 8 - Start Screen

As the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview is getting closer, Microsoft is making sure that the next milestone is the best as it can be, that includes making sure that Windows 8 comes out with the right preinstalled apps.

As The Verge has reported from sources familiar with the company’s plan, Microsoft is going to bundle a number of Metro style apps at launch.

Here is the preinstalled application list to come bundled (presumably) in Windows 8 Consumer Preview — Beta:

  • Messaging
  • Camera
  • Mail
  • SkyDrive
  • Calendar
  • Photos
  • People
  • Music
  • Video 

All these application mentioned above, and there could be more, are set to come preinstalled in the Consumer Preview release of the operating system, and they will be updatable from the Windows Store. Massaging, People, Mail and Calendar has been designed to be the main Windows 8 communication apps and they are not branded as Windows Live products. 

The Video and Music apps still currently branded as Zune products. The branding are set to be removed right before the Windows 8 release, moving to Xbox Live for Windows as the entertainment brand for Windows 8 Music, Video and Games.

Even though, theses apps will come bundled in Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the company has not yet made the decision to whether or not these apps will come preinstalled at the launch of Windows 8.

Also the software giant has built an Xbox Live Companion application, very similar to the one in Windows Phone, that it may also come preinstalled in the Consumer Preview (Windows 8 beta) too.

Now, what you can do is to mark February 29 in your calendar, because Microsoft has already chosen that day for the special event: the official unveiling of Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Which also might be the day when you can download the next version of the operating system.

What do you think about Windows 8 so far? Drop us a line in the comments.

Source The Verge

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.