In a recent announcement, Microsoft has confirmed that the company's new operating system, Windows 8, will launch on October 26 this year. According to reports, Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division announced the same on June 18 at the company's annual sales meeting. The announcement came several weeks after launching Windows 8 Release Preview.

Earlier this month, at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Windows Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller told attendees that Windows 8 would be available in October but she did not share any information on the specific date of its release.

Reller, however, mentioned that the final version of Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Windows 8 Preview Release version is available in 14 languages and introduces several improvements over its last version that was released three months ago.

The new Microsoft system will support a wider range of devices, including touch and stylus-based smartphones and tablet PCs as well as desktop and laptop machines. Moreover, it will include a new user interface based on Microsoft's Metro design language, more ways to connect to other Microsoft services, a new multi-monitor support, display apps in a mosaic of tiles, run on desktop, laptop and tablet computers, offers more security controls and more touch-screen features.

It will also introduce a refurbished login option, which can sync background settings, address book, IE10 history, bookmarks, passwords and other social networking site accounts, email, instant messaging, Xbox Live integration and many more.

Windows 8 will be available as a downloadable update for all Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users for just $40 through January 31.

Microsoft, however, still hasn't mentioned the non-upgrade Windows 8 price for those who build their own PCs or who need to run the Windows on Mac.

Meanwhile, the software giant has been trying to expand its presence in the booming market for smartphones and tablets, which is currently dominated by Apple and Google.