A 'Reimagined' Windows: Microsoft's Year in Review

At Microsoft, this year was all about "reimagining Windows" and creating a more cohesive experience across PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

That rebirth came in the form of Windows 8, a completely revamped, touch-centric operating system that took many of its cues from the tiled Windows Phone interface. Gone was the start button and in its place was a colorful array of panels that looked much like the apps you might find on your favorite tablet or smartphone.

Microsoft didn't completely abolish the traditional Windows desktop experience. It's still there, but the focal point is the home screen previously known as Metro. As a result, many of the Windows 8-based devices have a touch component – convertible laptops with screens that lift off to become tablets, or tablets like the Surface that turn into mini PCs thanks to kickstands and covers that double as keyboards. Classic, non-touch laptops can also take advantage of Windows 8, but execution with a mouse is .

Windows 8 Becomes a Reality
Redmond kicked off the year with its last, official keynote at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES). Steve Ballmer (and Ryan Seacrest) was on hand to Microsoft had up its sleeve with Windows 8. There wasn't much in the way of announcements; the company saved that for Mobile World Congress the next month, when it .

Over the next few months, the Windows team – headed up by Steven Sinofsky – penned several lengthy blog posts that provided details on key features in the new OS, from plans to to the in Windows 8. The team also revealed a rather boring .

In a surprising move, meanwhile, Microsoft revealed that it was not just working on Windows 8 software, but also had some hardware up its sleeve. At a June press event in Southern California, the company , dubbed the Surface. The move had many wondering how its partner companies would take to from Microsoft itself. There was also talk about whether Microsoft would branch into more hardware, like phones. Steve Ballmer later talked about a "" for Microsoft that would more closely tie the PC, tablet, and phone experience together – much like Apple.

By August, Windows 8 was , but shortly thereafter, Microsoft ran into some legal trouble with the name it had selected for its Windows 8 home screen – Metro. Despite the insistence from Redmond that Metro was simply a code name that it always planned to phase out, that the move was prompted by a trademark challenge from Germany-based Metro AG. It is now just referred to as the Start screen.

The OS – and the tablet – finally made its debut on Oct. 26. Microsoft to show off its new products, and one month later, it had sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses.

In the wake of the Windows 8 launch, however, Microsoft announced that the company. that his departure was due to his desire to merge the Windows and Windows Phone departments. The rumor mill suggested that Sinofsky simply clashed with the Microsoft higher ups and they did not want to work with him on the next iteration of Windows. Sinofsky recently announced that he will be teaching at Harvard.

Since the launch of Windows 8, meanwhile, there has been some chatter that the OS is . It seems it might take some consumers a bit longer to get on board with Redmond's complete reimagining. For more, see .

Windows Phone 8
In addition to revamping its flagship Windows OS, Microsoft also gave its beleaguered mobile OS an upgrade just days after the launch of Windows 8. One sticking point, however, is that current Windows Phone 7 users will not be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8. They'll get a mini upgrade to something , but for the whole Windows Phone 8 experience, a .

Windows Phone made some modest gains in 2012 – picking up a percentage point of market share here and there throughout the year. But it failed to truly make a dent in Apple iOS or Android, which dominated the mobile space thanks to the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy lineup of devices. Windows Phone has received high marks from reviewers and those who use the OS, but Microsoft still from their iPhones or Android gadgets. Can some and a tie-in with Windows 8 help change that in 2013? And will Microsoft ? Stay tuned. Until then, check out .

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Microsoft vs. Google
Microsoft isn't only battling Google on the mobile OS front. The two companies also had quite the catfights this year over browsers, search, and even patents.

In February, Redmond capitalized on to its search and privacy policy by specifically designed to get users to switch to Microsoft's products. The ads, which appeared in major U.S. newspapers every day for a week, were titled "Putting people first" and focused on how the search giant's changes affected you and your personal information.

Later that month, Microsoft . The video, dubbed "Googlighting," channeled the 80s TV show Moonlighting and featured an over-confident salesman clad in a white suit and a multi-colored tie reminiscent of the Google logo. He arrived late to a pitch meeting and made a rather half-assed attempt to sell Google Apps.

That video, meanwhile, came shortly after of bypassing cookie-related security features in its Internet Explorer browser. Google, however, was only found to have violated security features related to the Safari browser – .

Later in the year, Microsoft also went after Google Search , which urged users to compare search results from both services. In late November, Microsoft also suggested that by the search giant with its paid ad policy.

Patents, Patents, and More Patents
In May, meanwhile, with the European Commission, accusing Nokia and Microsoft of mobile patent abuse. "Nokia and Microsoft are colluding to raise the costs of mobile devices for consumers, creating patent trolls that side-step promises both companies have made," a Google spokesman said at the time. "They should be held accountable, and we hope our complaint spurs others to look into these practices." Microsoft called the complaint a desperate move.

That wasn't the only patent battle in which Microsoft was embroiled this year, though. Redmond inked a number of patent deals with companies like LG and Pegatron. But most of its patent dealings this year were with Motorola, which is now owned by Google. Both sides had some victories this year – in April, the International Trade Commission (ITC) found that the Microsoft Xbox ; in October, that Motorola does not infringe on a Microsoft patent for apps that work on different handsets.

At issue is how much Motorola and Microsoft should pay to license their respective patents; in February, Motorola and Google of patent abuse. The EU is .

Microsoft, meanwhile, also tangled with Barnes & Noble over its Nook software. Ultimately, the two sides settled, with in what is now known as .

What else happened in Redmond this year? Here's a rundown.

For more, see PCMag's year in review for , , , , , , and .