Microsoft has already said that it plans to launch the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 8 sometime during the first week of August. Now there are rumors that Microsoft could now have a more specific target day for the RTM release.
During the latest Windows Weekly podcast, ZDNet"s Mary Jo Foley said that, according to her unnamed sources from Microsoft"s MSDN and TechNet services, the company could launch the Windows 8 RTM build to its OEM hardware partners as early as August 1st (her comments come around the 26:40 mark).
Even with these rumors, we might get the RTM build a little earlier. Microsoft launched the Release Preview version of Windows 8 on May 31st, one day ahead of its previously stated schedule. It"s more than possible that Microsoft could decide that the final version is ready and launch the Windows 8 RTM build ahead of August 1st but this is only speculation.
Based on unconfirmed reports, the final build number for Windows 8 RTM could be as high as 9200. It"s important to point out that Microsoft has not commented on any of these reports and likely won"t. In fact, it may just put the Windows 8 RTM version on its servers for OEM partners to download with no advanced warning.
Source: Windows Weekly podcast