Microsoft has been working a lot around its top ventures lately, and today the latest batch of Windows 8 rumors crossed the wire. It was forecasted that the software maker will launch Windows 8 sometime in the second or third quarter of 2012, but there may be a different time-table we can expect. ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley cited a “trusted source” who said Microsoft will launch the new version of Windows 8 by April 2012. That includes Windows 8 for x86, Windows 8 for ARM/SoC and Windows 8 Server.

“I’ve also heard from my contact that Microsoft’s game plan is to deliver a beta build– not a pre-beta or preview — of Windows 8 around the time of the Build conference in mid-September. This allegedly will be the one and only Windows 8 beta, my contact said.”

Microsoft will reportedly release a final Release Candidate by January 2012. Currently, based on a sizable number of leaks, Windows 8 has already passed internal milestone 3.

Windows 8 will have a lot of Windows Phone 7 features in it (mainly the file system) to make it more friendly to tablet users. So far the mobile platform has seen a fair amount of growth, including a $2 billion partnership with Nokia. The latter has been lagging behind the rest of the mobile market, and hopes WP7 will help it regain some of its lost momentum. Some info and pics about the first upcoming Nokia Windows Phone 7 handset have been leaked not  too long ago.

Microsoft is focused on growth, but it’s also gunning the competition. Just like Oracle, it claims pieces of Android’s success, and is going after Google’s manufacturing partners. That paid off in the case of General Dynamics Itronix, which will now pay the software maker an undisclosed royalty amount in order to avoid a lawsuit.

Over on the personal cloud front, Microsoft is taking on iCloud and the personal cloud storage market with the overhauled SkyDrive. Users upload their files, and then share their them with colleagues in a collaborative framework.