Microsoft says Windows 8 will be available to consumers in late October as part of the software giant's effort to ramp up its operating system for a variety of devices. The new Windows 8 Release Preview Start screen (AFP Photo) Monday's announcement came at Microsoft's annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto. Communications manager Brandon LeBlanc said the company "confirmed that Windows 8 is on track to release to manufacturing (RTM) the first week of August" and "will reach general availability by the end of October". Windows 8 will be available in 109 languages across 231 markets worldwide, he noted. - AFP/ir