Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky began showing off the Windows 8 operating system (which is fully optimized for tablets) during the D9 conference in California. According to the folks over at AllThingsD, which got an early peak at the operating system, Microsoft’s ultimate goal was to create an OS that cold run on a home computer as well as run on a portable tablet. The new start screen that can be seen in the picture above shows a tile-based interface that is very similar to Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system; one that makes use of the company’s Metro UI. Windows 8 includes Internet Explorer 10 and can run applications that are designed for desktop use as well as HTML5 and Java applications that will run better on tablet-sized devices that may provide less power. Sinofsky told AllThingsD that Windows 8 will deliver a new business model for developers – an app distribution mechanism – assumed to be a storefront and a touch interface. Microsoft reportedly started working on the operating system when it shipped Windows Phone 7. “We really did take a step back after Windows 7,” Sinofsky told AllThingsD. “We were clearly influenced ourselves by phones.” The most recent demo products are devices with Intel processors, but Microsoft has reported that devices powered by ARM processors are compatible as well. There still is no word on when we will see the first Windows 8 device hit the market but we are definitely excited based on what we are seeing so far. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below! As usual, stay tuned for more news and info on the topic by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and/or subscribing to our RSS feed.