A few days ago, screenshots from an unreleased build of Windows 8 found their way to the Internet. Those images reportedly come from the 8516 build of the OS. Now the site that leaked those screenshots reports that the current Windows 8 Release to Manufacturing (RTM) candidate build number from Microsoft has gone beyond 8516.
Winunleaked.info (free registration required) claims that the current build for Windows 8 RTM is now 8523.0.win8_rtm.120723-1815. If accurate, it shows that Microsoft continues to tweak and change elements in Windows 8 in the days leading up to its final version.
Microsoft is expected to complete the RTM build of Windows 8 sometime in the first week of August. Once that happens, the final build will be replicated on discs and sent to PC makers to install on new PCs, along with discs that will be packaged in retail stores. The official launch of Windows 8 is scheduled for October 26th. The company has already announced that Windows XP, Vista and 7 owners can upgrade their PC to Windows 8 for just $39.99 from the time of its release to January 31, 2013. People who buy a new PC between now and January 31 will be able to get a Windows 8 update for just $14.99.
Source: Winunleaked.info