The next version of Microsoft's Windows operating system will let users run PCs by touchscreen as well as keyboard, and shop in an app store like Apple's, an official with the US software giant said on June 4. Previous versions of Windows for mobile devices such as tablet PCs and smartphones have lagged behind Apple's system and Google's Android.
"It allows you to use all of your Windows 7 devices and software and compatibility with corporate systems and it allows you to take advantage of new applications," said Microsoft corporate vice president Steve Guggenheimer.
Windows 8 users will also have easy access to an app store and Microsoft Office, Guggenheimer said at a Computex Taipei 2012, one of the world's largest annual high-tech trade shows.