Traditionally, Microsoft has released "betas" and "release candidates" of in-development software. But Microsoft hasn't had an official beta release of Windows 8—instead, the company has labeled it a "Consumer Preview." Now, Microsoft has announced it won't have a "release candidate" either, because that too has been renamed: Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows Division, has announced that Windows 8 "Release Preview" will be released and freely downloadable in the first week of June.

Sinofsky made the announcement at a Windows 8 developer event in Japan. The news confirms previous rumors that the release candidate was due in June, and leaves Microsoft on track for a retail release in October.