Windows 8 beta expected in January

Microsoft may release a beta of its flagship operating system Windows 8 in January 2012, with the Windows Media Center making a comeback. Enthusiast site MakingWindowsEasy.com said Media Center appeared to be included in the latest build, along with some improvements to the OS. "The big change ... which will make a small but vocal group of users happy, is that Media Center is now included," it said. It said many users were horrified to find Media Center not included in the initial Developer Preview and worried that Microsoft may be cutting the application. But Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky allayed those fears and assured the next edition of the app would appear in a later build. Other features in the latest pre-beta build included Start Screen Metro app zoom features, and changeable metro background color. A separate article on WinRumors.com said Microsoft is preparing for its beta of Windows 8 and may deliver it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) in January. — TJD, GMA News