The company gushes over how good this is for Tegra 3

Mar 1, 2012 10:25 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has launched the consumer preview of its next-generation Windows operating system and, sure enough, NVIDIA did not stay silent about what this means for it.

For those that don't know yet, Microsoft has released the early, testing version of its Windows 8 operating system.

If you folks haven't already, you might want to download it and give it a spin. Go here to read exactly what it is about before making any commitments though.

One of the major elements of the OS is the support for the ARM architecture in general and tablets in particular.

As such, since NVIDIA has one of the most successful ARM tablet platforms, the Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 (and is already sampling Tegra 3+ and Tegra 4), it did the logical thing and gave its two cents.

Apparently, the Santa Clara, California-based GPU and SoC maker is working with Microsoft on a program meant to distribute Windows 8 test PCs to software developers and device manufacturers.

Naturally, this includes devices based on Tegra 3, tablet-shaped or otherwise.

"Microsoft is excited to partner with NVIDIA to bring developers leading edge Windows on ARM test PCs to support the creation of compelling Metro style app and device experiences for Windows 8," said Aidan Marcuss, senior director of business planning, Microsoft.

The purpose of this collaboration is to enable recipients to come up with apps and Windows on ARM devices by the time the OS is fully ready to debut, later this year (2012).

In other words, you won't have to worry about not having content for your Windows 8 tablets when they're finally here.

"NVIDIA has a long record of supporting software developers working on the cutting edge of innovation," said Tony Tamasi, senior vice president of content and technology at NVIDIA.

"We're furthering this tradition by helping to realize the extraordinary potential of Windows on ARM processors, like Tegra 3."