Microsoft Prepares for a Blue Summer

By Evan Niu, CFA – May 9, 2013 at 8:00PM

NASDAQ: MSFT

Microsoft

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$2,966B

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Microsoft is set to release a public preview this summer of Windows 8.1, codenamed "Blue." It'll be a busy couple of months full of major announcements from fellow tech giants, as well.

Microsoft (MSFT -1.27%) is about to host its Build Windows developer conference in June, and will release a public preview of Windows 8.1, known as "Blue." It's now been six months since Windows 8 was launched, and reception has been poor.

Blue will be the company's first opportunity to address some of these criticisms, including the removal of the Start Menu. There have also been clues that Blue will include support for smaller devices and form factors, paving the way for Microsoft's foray into the lower end of the market.

Rivals Apple (AAPL -1.22%) and Google (GOOGL -1.23%) are hosting their own developer conferences between now and Build Windows, and some major product announcements are expected. Apple will show off iOS 7, OS X, and possible new MacBooks. Google will detail the next version of Android, and possibly unveil a new Nexus smartphone.

In the video below, Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, discusses how blue Microsoft's summer will be.

Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.