Windows 9 to be released November 2014?
We do not know a lot about the operating system that is coming after Windows 8. It has been rumored for a while that Microsoft wants to reduce the time span between operating system releases considerable, and one of the technologies that got mentioned in this regard over and over again is Windows Blue.
As it stands now, Windows Blue does not seem to be Windows 9, and while none of this has been confirmed officially, it appears as if we are going to see a release of Windows Blue this year. It is interesting to note that Microsoft is keeping the tight-lipped approach about future products after the departure of Steve Sinofsky.
If rumors turn out to be true, Windows Blue will be a free update for Windows 8 users coming this August. Information about Windows Blue were posted on a Chinese forum. The main points posted there are:
- No major UI changes, which means no start menu, no changes to start screen / desktop interface.
- Lower power consumption.
- Better performance, downsized Kernel.
- Scaling improved for Metro apps
- Multi-screen applications.
If you take this into account, it looks more like a service pack then a new version of Windows. Instead of releasing service packs, Microsoft seems to move towards a system that is similar to Apple's release schedule.
Today news about Windows 9 were posted on Soft-forum that suggest the following timeline for the operating system:
- 7 January 2014 Windows 9 Beta
- July 2014 Windows 9 Release Candidate
- October 2014 Windows 9 RTM
- November 2014: Windows 9 Release
It needs to be noted that this has not been confirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt until it is. If true, it would confirm the faster deployment of operating systems as Windows 9 would be released only 2 years and 1 month after Windows 8.
What strikes me as odd is that there is only one month between the Windows 9 RTM and the public availability of the operating system.
With Windows Blue being released in 2013, it could very well mean that we will see a new version of Windows being released each year from now one.
Based on all the rumors currently in circulation, it seems as if Windows Blue will be more like a service pack type of update for Windows 8, while Windows 9 may introduce major changes to the system instead.
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Oooops – sorry for the double-posting!
@Gregg DesElms: there is definitely sth going wrong in yr life/head when you’re worrying at yr age about heart-attacks, stroke etc. …
And: operating systems – MAN, we, the humans, use them! We are free to choose…..
Take some vitamines – they always help!
As soon as Linux or Mac supports all games….
I’m sure will have it installed at the office by no later than 2020.
Amping up everything I don’t like about the changes MS made with Windows 8 and still not caring about customers. Methinks they are on their way to self-destruction but not because of us little folks – we don’t matter. Businesses will not find it cost effective to keep up with new versions popping up once a year. I envision desertions. Apple will be pleased.
I think its Windows 8 blue not Windows 9 !!
Windows 8 Blu is like a SP and will be out before the end of the years.
Windows 9 is a new Windows.
Larson-Green leading the team = more ribbons and tiles in Win 9? MS isn’t known for backtracking. There’s a better chance that Win 9 will be even less professional friendly than Win 8.
The other rumor (MS releasing Office for Linux in 2014) is much more interesting.
If Win Blue is more like a subtle SP update, that would be smart for MS to allow more adoption time for Win 8. Hopefully, they won’t turn the OS to subscription-based like Office365.
I thought about that for a moment, a one-year release cycle could suggest that.
If a subscription is the way Microsoft goes on Windows, itself, then Win8 is the last version I’ll ever own. That, if they do it, will finally tip it in for me for going Linux.
I’m 56, and was hoping that I could outlive all the oppressive Microsoft silliness. But if subscriptions are on the foreseeable horizon, then it now seems that only my going ahead and having that big heart attack or stroke that I’ve been fearing in the next less-than-five years or so would ultimately allow me avoid it… that is, if I stick with Windows.
Hmm. Decisions, decisions. So, then, maybe switching to Linux would help me live into my 80s. Of course, if we keep electing Republicans to Congress, I’ll have the heart attack or stroke anyway, so what the heck. [grin]
Gregg L. DesElms
Napa, California USA
gregg at greggdeselms dot com
That’s gonna be disappointing if the rumors are true. I expected more drastic changes in Windows Blue. I kinda like the name.
Hi,
I don’t think releasing new version of windows each year is a good idea
It’ll be headache for ms to provide support for all previous versions and if they are not going to provide support then this plan is going to be an epic fail,
Businesses will abandon ms wagon and start looking for other options,
Reports saying that many of the businesses out there going to skip windows 8
Too fast for Win8, but maybe just right for Win9. What I mean by that is businesses that have moved to Win8 will be frustrated by the quick release of Win9. They will have barely gotten things settled down from the Win8 transition, if they’re not still in turmoil, and will be looking at another round of upgrades. Cost will be a factor too. They won’t be happy. They might skip Win9.
On the other hand the folks that are skipping Win8 might find that Win9 will work for them and the timing will be just about right. The advantages of Win9 over Win7 might be enough to get them to upgrade, if there are any worth mentioning.
And I just hate that there obviously won’t be a service pack 2 for Win7…
Hey, haven’t installed 8 yet and now there’s this version 9?
I don’t think anybody can claim that since someone else (for example Apple) is doing successfully that means it can work for everybody. Releasing new versions of Windows every 3 years is too early, nevermind 2 or less. From a standpoint of new features it’s nice to have new stuff but from a business standpoint it will fail much more often than it succeeds.