Microsoft is doing something incredibly bold this year. They’re launching three new operating systems. Two of them you’ve already heard about, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. The third is one that’s set to confuse consumers all around the world, Windows RT. What is it? It’s Windows 8, but made to run on ARM compatible processors. What does that mean? You’ll be able to use it like a Windows 8 machine, except for one key difference. You aren’t going to be able to run “traditional” applications. By “traditional” we mean applications that today run on Windows 7. That’s right, Windows RT is going to launch this year with what’s essentially zero applications. Normally that would be a bad thing, but this is Microsoft we’re talking about here. They own the PC space, which means there are plenty of developers who will support Windows RT without asking any questions.
Now as for today’s news, Bloomberg is saying that Samsung is going to launch a Windows RT tablet this October. Said tablet will be powered by a Qualcomm chip. Why is this tablet important? Because as far as we can tell, this is the only Windows RT tablet that we’ve heard about that isn’t made by Microsoft. In case you haven’t heard, last month Microsoft introduced two tablets, Surface and Surface Pro. The latter runs Windows 8 and has an Intel chip inside, the former runs Windows RT. Since Microsoft decided to enter the PC space with Surface, rumor has it that companies have decided not to make Windows RT tablets, which would make this as yet to be announced Samsung tablet all the more interesting.
Anyway, all you need to know is that in Q4 2012 you’re going to get flooded with advertisements telling you to buy a new computer, a new tablet, and a new smartphone. We’ll make sense of all those devices once they’re actually out. For now, just sit back and wait three months.