Microsoft Corporation has released a test version of Windows 8 at its annual developer conference, hoping to stoke excitement over its new operation system.

Microsoft Corporation has released a test version of Windows 8 at its annual developer conference, hoping to stoke excitement over its new operation system.

Windows unit chief Steven Sinofsky stressed the new operation system is the first to focus on applications. It boots up in seconds and features a home page filled with colorful tiles taking the user directly into applications such as Facebook, messaging or news feeds.

Analysts say the new system is consumer-orientated and intuitive but it will take time to see whether it is an iPad killer. Microsoft itself has not set a schedule publicly for release of Windows 8. Sinofsky says the process will be "driven by quality, not by a date".