Today is the day we’ll get a new beta version of Windows 8 – dubbed the “Consumer Preview”. Although it’s not known what will be included in the beta, how to download or if we’ll see an actual webcast of the event – we do know that everyone should be able to download a new beta of Windows 8 sometime today.

The launch event happens in Barcelona and starts at 3 pm Central European Time or 9 am Eastern Time. We should expect more details to emerge some time around 9:30 am EST or so. As more details emerge this page will be updated with links and details about the new beta.

The download now is available HERE 
Go straight to x86 English iso or x64 English iso

Expect some great speeds from the download too, at least in the early-going. You can download both ISOs at the same time.

Updates:

– It is known that the event is happening in the Hotel Miramar in Barcelona
– Microsoft has released a Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Business ahead of the beta download. You can get this PDF document here.
– Also available today: Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 Consumer Preview. These tools are used to administer a Windows 8 Server from the Consumer Preview machine. Download the tools here.
– Microsoft says they’ve made 100,000 changes since the developer preview

– Internet Explorer on Metro looks to be similar to what it was in the Developer Preview.

– Windows 8 won’t have a CTRL-ALT-DEL  to login – it will just need ENTER to start that.
– There are indications that a Kindle Metro-style app will be available for the consumer preview

– The START button/orb is definitely out of the Consumer preview

– Microsoft’s way of looking at the Desktop in Windows 8 – “That’s the desktop, it’s still there. It’s completely integrated with the rest of the system. It’s just like another full screen Metro app.”
– During the Consumer Preview, all the apps in the app store will be FREE
– Hardware requirements posted for the Consumer Preview:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher

Also, check out this recently released video of the Consumer Preview: