Microsoft is planning a new Windows conference for May, but it sounds like Windows 8 won't be on the agenda.

The Windows Summit, as the Redmond, Wash., event is known, is aimed at helping software and hardware makers create products that work with today's versions of Windows and Internet Explorer. The three-day event, for which Microsoft quietly began registering people last week, will be held May 25-27.

"Windows Summit 2010 is an opportunity for partners and developers to interact directly with the Windows Team and learn to build great products based on technologies in Windows 7 and Internet Explorer," Microsoft said, in response to my query about the conference. The company said it is for those hardware and software developers "who are looking to engage with Microsoft on an intimate level or who haven't engaged with Microsoft in the past 18 months."

Full story: c|net