Windows 8 to come bundled with Internet Explorer 9

Back in June, leaked slides (dating from April 2010) reference “Windows 8,” not “Windows v.Next” (the Windows client team’s preferred codename these days).

They indicate that the next version of Windows, which is expected by many to ship in 2012, will possibly offer some of these features:

• Fast startup (Huzzah!): A new feature combining Logoff and Hibernate to result will give the look and feel of boot/shutdown be faster
• Slates mentioned specifically as a target form factor: It will be interesting to see how Microsoft distinguishes between slates running Windows Embedded Compact and slates running Windows 8
• Push-button reset: A button “that will essentially reinstall Windows while maintaining all of your personal files, applications, settings, etc. without the need for the user to back all of that stuff up,” as Stephen Chapman of Microsoft Kitchen describes it
• Support for facial recognition as one of the ways identity management/log in will be handled
• IE 9 (no surprise there): With another confirmation of August as being the target for the first beta

Source: Mary Jo Foley