From X-bit Labs: It is well known that the situation with adoption of Microsoft Corp.’s latest Windows 8 operating system is far from rosy. Obviously, this impacts not only Microsoft’s business, but also sales of personal computers by companies like Dell, Hewlett-Packard or Lenovo. A new rumor suggests that the software giant intends to release its next Windows already this November so that to stop losing market share.
WZor, a well-known blog dedicated to Microsoft’s new software and unofficial news about the company with a respectable track-record, recently revealed that according to the data it had obtained, the Redmond, Washington-based software company plans to RTM [release to manufacturing] Windows 9 “Threshold” on the 21st October, 2014. The operating system is projected to be officially released in late November, so PCs featuring the new OS will hit the market this holiday season, if the information is correct.
Previously it was reported that the next-generation Windows is only due in April, 2015. At this year’s Build conference in April, the world’s largest developer of software is expected to formally announce the “Threshold”, present its vision for next-gen Windows and determine its exact feature-set.
The forthcoming Windows 9 code-named “Threshold” will need to strike a right balance between meeting needs of emerging computing devices and over a billion of traditional Windows users, WinSuperSite reported earlier this month. One of the key things to achieve such a balance will be Metro 2.0 user interface that will bring support for windowed mode that works on the desktop. Another expectation is that the Metro 2.0 will bring back Start menu. The new version of Windows will also sport a number of improvements when it comes to controls using keyboard and mouse. Other details regarding the GUI of Windows 9 “Threshold” are not known.
Previously it was reported that Microsoft Windows 9 “Threshold” will be released in several flavours aimed at different types of PCs: traditional version for desktops/laptops; modern version for tablets, smartphones and so on that will lack compatibility with traditional apps for Win32/x86; and enterprise version designed for traditional enterprise users, who need backwards compatibility, support for group policy, device management, solid security and other things. The latter type of Windows “Threshold” will support PCs, tablets and other devices.
The launch of the Windows 9 before the end of the year is a good news for PC makers, some of which are switching back to Windows 7 operating system to sell more systems.
Every piece of information about Windows 9 “Threshold” is unofficial at this point and therefore may be inaccurate. One thing that is clear at this point is that Microsoft wants to release its next-generation OS rather sooner than later. However, considering a very short development time, it remains to be seen how different will Windows 9 compared to Windows 8.1.
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