Earlier this week, Microsoft gave a glimpse of its next generation operating system at this stage called Windows 8 and slated for delivery to consumers later next year.

Yes, you say, we have heard all this before, so what? What usually happens is that either what follows is a big yawn (Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows Vista), a bit of a surprise (Windows 3, Win 95 and XP) or a “better fixit the natives are unhappy” version (Windows 7).

This version however is different and even Mac aficionados are taking note as you see, this version, apart from having a radically different interface to the desktop and icons we have become used to and instead using a wholly new API (application programming interface) dubbed Metro, has something rather special that not even the mighty Apple can match. And it’s more than a party trick.

There that caught your attention didn’t it?

You see, unlike the Mac, iPhone and iPad, the new Windows 8 will work on tablets, phones and PCs in exactly the same way; it is the SAME operating system! As well as pleasing users, this will also have the developers jumping for joy as it means they only have to write their application once and tweak a few lines of code to transfer it to a phone or a tablet.

Indeed, my colleague and Auscam writer Anthony Caruana said in his Hydrapinion blog yesterday he believed that Microsoft would rule the world in tablets. Tech commentator and futurist Mark Pesce suggested the same thing on the ABC’s Technology and Games website earlier today. This is significant I feel, as both these august gentlemen are quite the Mac admirer (without being an excessive fanboy I hasten to add).

For business and consumer alike, but mainly business as don’t forget there are millions upon millions of Windows desktops out there in corporate land, this is significant as there is nothing IT managers like better than a unified and consistent front to their fiefdom. As this would solve that problem and in the process, effectively banish the iPhone and iPad from the boardroom.

A tablet, phone AND PC all running the same operating system. What an IT Manager’s dream.

That would hurt Apple more than a tad.

What does it mean for videomakers? That is hard to pick as my surveys and statistics tell me that there are far more Windows based editors than Mac ones. And another factor here – even if my stats are wrong – is the ‘new’ Final Cut which has been received to less than stellar reviews. Even our own Chris Oaten, an FCP user from way, way back wasn’t overly impressed, calling it the “Beta Release You Have To Pay For” (See Auscam Sep edition).

Sure, Adobe has had some success with it’s re-launch of Premiere on the Mac platform, but it seems to me that the new versions of Edius, Vegas and Premiere, plus the mid-level applications AVID Studio, Corel VideoStudio, MAGIX, and so on are grabbing the professional and consumer levels respectively.

A new start, a new interface and a lack of applications on the Mac in comparison may be enough of a tempter to make people switch, especially if they also like the new Windows Phone.

We have a very limited version of Windows 8 (available from http://tinyurl.com/windows8preview) and will have a more full play and be able to give a more informed opinion a bit down the track.

But it does look exciting!

Warning: if you DO download this sub beta, DO NOT USE IT ON A PRIMARY COMPUTER! The best idea is to install onto a spare hard drive. This version will not dual boot either we are told.

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com