Windows 8 Grows in the Shadow of Windows 7

Sure enough, the next iteration of Windows is at center stage, but this does not mean that it is getting Microsoft’s undivided attention. In fact, Windows 8 is growing in the shadow of Windows 7, as the Redmond company has made sure to confirm. The past week, the software giant indicated that it was ready to kick off major improvements designed to revolutionize file access in branch offices for Windows 8. But at the same time, this is not the only aspect of Windows 8 under focus. Microsoft also offered official confirmation that it was planning the next generation of the file server for Windows 8, the successor of Windows 7.

“In Windows Server 2008 R2 release, the Server UX Test team (under the File Server Management organization) is finalizing the MMC based User eXperience (UX)/Interfaces for the File Server Role. Currently the team owns DFS Management, Share and Storage Management, FSRM & Classification UI, Disk Management, SMFS. For Windows 8, the SSD organization is working on the next version of the file server,” a job posting from Microsoft, via Mary Jo Foley, reads.

Microsoft has yet to make available for download the first and only Release Candidate of Windows 7. In fact, the software giant plans to deliver Windows 7 RC only on May 5, 2009, as a public download, with MSDN and TechNet subscribers scheduled to get the bits earlier, but no telling when exactly. Still, this does not exclude the scenario in which Microsoft has at least started planning Windows 8, if not even debuted the development process.

“As a member of the test team, you will focus on working closely with the dev team to finish the automation development for our Windows Server 2008 R2 components. This will provide valuable ramp-up and familiarity with our existing test automation infrastructure. As the team moved to Windows 8, you will have 2 main responsibilities - (i) put on the customer/design critique hat as we plan our next version file server management experience (i) participating in the architectural design, and development and driving automated testing for managing the next generation file server,” it is added in the job posting.