New Windows — that’s Microsoft Windows 8 for those who enjoy putting a finer point on things — will be arrive on retail shelves at the end of October, according to the AFP. The announcement came as part of the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto on Monday, although a specific date has yet to be determined as of this writing. Communications manager Brandon LeBlanc says that the software is currently on-track to meet the company’s autumn deadline, with manufacturing scheduled to begin this August.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer stated that Windows 8 “is simply the biggest deal for this company in at least 17 years.” It’s kind of hard to believe it’s been that long since Windows 95 took the world by storm. Regarding the landscape-changing OS, Ballmer added, “It’s the glue, it’s the foundation of everything Microsoft is built on.”

When the latest version of Windows hits retail shelves, consumers can expect a wide variety of new functions, including the “SkyDrive” cloud-based storage system, which will allow users to store and share a wealth of information across a number of different devices. Ballmer stated that, when the software arrives, it will be available in 109 languages across 231 different markets.

In addition to powering your personal computer, Windows 8 will also fuel smartphones, tablet PCs, and touch and stylus-based devices. This, according to experts, will help the company move forward through the world of mobile gadgets, a market that is currently dominated by Google and Apple. Although Microsoft is banking on the OS to help them get a foothold, only time will tell if Windows 8 is the answer to their digital prayers.