Windows 8 Samsung tablet to be revealed this week

Windows 8 makes its first proper appearance this week -- bringing a new tablet with it. Word on the street is that the first Windows 8 tablet, built by Samsung, will be revealed at Microsoft's annual Build conference tomorrow.

Build kicks off in Anaheim, California on Tuesday. The bunfest for software developers will also see Microsoft give us our first proper glimpse at Windows 8 in action, and reports say attendees will each receive a Samsung slate powered by the new operating system.

Windows 8 is based around big colourful squares, or tiles, which are designed to look good on screen and be friendly for fingers to tap on touchscreens. The design is based on the interface of Windows Phone, Microsoft's software for smart phones. That touchscreen-tapping penchant should make Windows 8 run on tablets too.

Windows 8 will have an app store, and apps built for Windows Phone could even run on Windows 8 computers and tablets.

Windows 8 will Intel-designed chips used in PCs, as well as the low-power chips found in smartphones and based on designs from UK-based ARM

Windows 8 is likely to run on other devices too, so desktop computers, laptops, tablets, phones, and even TVs will have a unified look and feel. Xbox Live will also be integrated with Windows 8 -- and is already in Windows Phone -- tieing games consoles in too.

Phones and computers coming together to make sweet software love is so hot right now. Apple has drawn on elements of its iOS operating system for the iPhone and iPad in desktop software Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, including multitouch gestures and apps. Click here for our ten essential OS X Lion tips.

You can keep track of Windows 8 direct from the horse's mouth at the official blog. We've had the merest glimpse of Windows 8 so far, but screenshots have whet our appetite.

Could this latest version bring the fun and excitement back to the world's most widely-used operating system after the disaster of Vista and the mish-mash of Windows 7? Tell us your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.