October 26, 2012. Microsoft releases Windows 8, represented as a major redesign of Windows.
Instead of launching the desktop at startup, users were taken directly to the Start screen. The sea of "Live tiles," featuring a mix of apps and notifications, was similar in functionality to the Start menu of past Windows versions, but it was a major source of confusion among consumers.
A Windows 8.1 update on August 27, 2013, addressed many customer complaints about Windows 8's lack of usability.
Microsoft also released Windows RT alongside Windows 8, which had much of the features of Windows 8 but didn't support legacy "Win32" apps like Chrome and iTunes.
