DJs
Microsoft schedules event on September 30, likely Windows 9 unveiling
Microsoft has sent out invitations for an event which will take place in San Francisco on September 30th. The invite reads "Join us to hear what's next for Windows and the enterprise." During the event, Microsoft is expected to unveil the next major version of Windows, and release a "Technical Preview" to those who want to test it.
The event will be led by Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group at Microsoft, Joe Belfiore, and Executive Vice President of Operating Systems, Terry Myerson.
The next version of Windows is expected to unify Microsoft's mobile and desktop platforms. As part of this change, Windows Phone may be known simply as Windows moving forward. Currently known as Windows 9, the platform will give users back the control of their desktops with several enhancements to unify the Modern UI and the desktop.
We don't know much about what Microsoft has planned for Windows 9, but we have gotten a glimpse of its progress in the form of leaked screenshots and videos.
We will be covering the event as it happens, so mark the date on your calendars and check back for updates.
source - The Verge
DJs
source - WinFuture
Windows 9 features demonstrated on video
Microsoft is hard at work readying Windows 9 for mainstream use, and we recently saw some screenshots demonstrating a few of the features we can expect from the update. Now we have access to some leaked videos which show some of the features headed to Microsoft's desktop OS.
After reenabling the Start button for Windows desktops with the Windows 8.1 Update, Microsoft is looking to enable the Start Menu for desktop users. The updated Start Menu which will (optionally) replace the Start Screen on desktops allows users with a keyboard and mouse to better interact with their computers.
The Modern apps and Live tiles will now live within the desktop environment allowing desktop users to interact with them like regular Windows programs that float on your desktop. Even the Live Tile information can be displayed on your Start Menu.
Another new feature coming to Windows 9 is virtual desktops. This multi-desktop mode has been available to Linux users including Mac OS X users for quite some time, and will debut on Windows for the first time with Windows 9. The multi-desktop mode works just as it would on OS X, allowing users to create more than one desktop and quickly switch between them.
Next we get a look at the new notification center in Windows 9. Microsoft has borrowed their Windows Phone implementation in this case, offering a new icon on the taskbar which shows the notification shade. Once clicked, it will invoke a notification center that lists all of the notifications that applications have pushed out as well as a variety of system level alerts that users may be interested in. Alerts are grouped by the application that triggered them, as shown by the Skype message notifications in the following video. Each notification contains a short summary of what it contains, and all notifications can be cleared at once should a user wish to start afresh. Individual notifications can be removed by clicking a little ‘X’ icon by their side.
Windows 9, which is known within Microsoft as ‘Threshold,’ is believed to be on course for a public preview release – or the technical preview as it’s being referred to in various reports – towards the end of this month. Once it has been announced, potential testers will get to try out the much requested return of the Start menu amongst other new features. While Microsoft has rectified several of their mistakes on Windows 8 through a few rounds of updates, it never quite lived up to the promise of Windows 7. With Windows 9 Microsoft seems to want to get it in the hands of the users as quickly as possible and work with the public to shape the platform to its fullest potential.
source - WinFuture
DJs
source - Computer Base (translated) | WinFuture (translated)
Windows 9 screenshots leaked
Remember when Microsoft released Windows 7 to save us from Windows Vista ? It looks like the company is getting ready to do it again with the release of Windows 9. Some screenshots of the upcoming Windows 8 successor have leaked and they look promising.
With Windows 8, Microsoft introduced us to the Modern (Metro) user interface, which lived outside of the familiar Windows desktop. Because of the dissociation, users would live either solely on the Modern UI if they were on tablets or use the desktop all the time if they had a keyboard and mouse.
With Windows 9, Microsoft aims to further integrate both environments, so that users can get the full Live Tile experience even on the desktop. The Start menu is finally back, and is now enhanced to feature your Live Tiles. Modern apps now reside within Windows, making them easily accessible to Windows users. Even the traditional Windows icons are been tweaked to match the Modern design language. You are also getting multiple desktops, a notification center and much more. All in all, this will be an update that classic Windows desktop users will like: it refreshes the operating system’s style without breaking the functionality.
The Windows 9 screenshots come from two German site that have gotten them from an alleged "Windows Technical Preview". That preview should go live to developers in October, and it will incorporate the flat, single-tone visuals of Metro into the classic Windows desktop.
source - Computer Base (translated) | WinFuture (translated)
DJs
The latest on Windows 8.1 Update 2 and Windows 9
Microsoft is said to be working on two new updates for their desktop operating system - Windows 8.1 Update 2 (also known as Windows 8.2) and Windows 9. There have been several rumors, reports and leaks which will lead up to the eventual release of these updates and we have put together all that is known so far.
Windows 8.1 Update 2 (Windows 8.2)
Windows 8.1 Update 2 is expected to be the next update for Windows. Microsoft released Windows 8.1 Update 1 in April, and reports suggest that the Windows 8.1 Update 2 will be released sometime between August and September this year.
It is currently not known what Microsoft plans to offer with Windows 8.1 Update 2, but we expect the software giant will continue its trend in making subtle improvements to the platform to make it more desktop friendly.
Windows 9
Meanwhile Windows 9 will be a major update to Microsoft's desktop platform and is rumored to arrive in April 2015. With Windows 9, Microsoft is expected to allow modern apps to run in a windows, on your desktop. You will also be able to pin modern apps to your Windows taskbar and quickly access them in windows. This will allow a more seamless experience for users across desktop and modern apps.
The classic Start Menu is also expected to return on Windows 9. The Start Menu was previously expected on Windows 8.1 Update 2 has now been pushed back to Windows 9. Microsoft hasn't explained why the Start Menu was pushed back, but we do know for sure that it will be returning. The Start Menu will allow Live Tiles to be pinned to it and can be seen in action in the following video
The lack of a Start Menu and Start Button was the center of controversy for Windows 8. Microsoft brought back the Start button with Windows 8.1.
Microsoft is also expected to be working on bringing Cortana from Windows Phone 8.1 over to Windows 9. In a recent article we discussed the possibility of Microsoft porting Cortana for Android and iOS, but it seems the company's main priority will be to bring the voice activated digital assistant to Windows Phone and Windows first.
Are you excited about the upcoming features on Windows ? Leave us a comment and let is know what you are looking forward to the most
The lack of a Start Menu and Start Button was the center of controversy for Windows 8. Microsoft brought back the Start button with Windows 8.1.
Microsoft is also expected to be working on bringing Cortana from Windows Phone 8.1 over to Windows 9. In a recent article we discussed the possibility of Microsoft porting Cortana for Android and iOS, but it seems the company's main priority will be to bring the voice activated digital assistant to Windows Phone and Windows first.
Are you excited about the upcoming features on Windows ? Leave us a comment and let is know what you are looking forward to the most
DJs
[RUMOR] Information on Windows 8.2, Windows 9 and Windows (Cloud) 10
The Windows 8.1 Update 1 is already available to users and as things go, its time to look to the future and to what comes next. There have already been rumors and speculation on Windows 9 and even reports suggesting that Windows 10 will be a "full cloud based operating system." Now a new report sheds some light on Microsoft's future plans for their primary desktop operating system.
According to the report Microsoft will roll out another update to Windows 8.1 (Update 2) sometime in September of this year, during the Autumn season. Microsoft may refer to this update as Windows 8.1 Update 2 or may even call it Windows 8.2, as there appears to be some sort of heated internal discussion on what to call it. Microsoft is expected to roll out the Start Menu, showcased during Build 2014, in this update.
Microsoft will also release some sort of next generation Metro interface with Windows 9, which could refer to the interactive Live tiles we recently got a glimpse of. The Start button will also be present in Windows 9, on devices without a touchscreen and on server systems. The Start button will be a tad bit different on touch devices, but no details were given. The report claims that Microsoft may offer Windows 9 for free, but that is still being discussed (and is somewhat unlikely).
Microsoft is apparently working on a prototype operating system called Windows Cloud. This is rumored to be an operating system that requires an internet connection for full functionality. While in offline mode, the operating system would be similar to Microsoft’s budget operating system, Windows Starter, offering basic functionality. It is unknown if this Chrome OS like version of Windows will become Windows 10. With the new CEO's background in cloud computing its not far from a possibility.
Keep in mind that all of the above mentioned information is based on rumors and should not be considered as facts. Microsoft has not offered any details on whats coming in the next update to Windows but we will make that information available to our readers as soon as it is made available.
Meanwhile we encourage you to share your thoughts with us on what you think about these reports and rumors on Windows 9 and Windows 10.
DJs
We know that Microsoft is working on a Windows update codenamed ‘Blue’ which is likely aimed at adding support for 7 and 8 inch tablets running Windows 8. But it turns out that Microsoft has also started working on their next versions of their desktop and mobile platforms – Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9.
The new operating systems are expected to arrive in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season and based on the current information it doesn’t look like Microsoft will converge their two platforms just yet.
The news comes from a Microsoft employee who mentions that they are working on the next version of Windows and even mentions partners like Nokia, HTC and Qualcomm. Samsung is strangely left out of the list, probably indicating that the manufacturer is fully focusing on Android and their own Tizen OS instead of Windows Phone.
Strangely the posting refers to working on Windows 9 on HTC and Nokia and we cant help wonder if it was meant to read Windows Phone or if the two manufacturer's are planning Windows 9 tablets. The next posting from an iSoftStone employee clearly indicates a month long project involving Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 9.
In any case there is no surprise that Microsoft is working on their next platform, but its interesting to see how the software giant shifts its releases to an annual one instead of what we have been used to in the past with Windows. Microsoft seems eager to compete vigorously with Apple and Android and we are ready to warmly welcome it.
source - MSFTKitchen
Microsoft starts work on Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9
We know that Microsoft is working on a Windows update codenamed ‘Blue’ which is likely aimed at adding support for 7 and 8 inch tablets running Windows 8. But it turns out that Microsoft has also started working on their next versions of their desktop and mobile platforms – Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9.The new operating systems are expected to arrive in time for the upcoming holiday shopping season and based on the current information it doesn’t look like Microsoft will converge their two platforms just yet.
The news comes from a Microsoft employee who mentions that they are working on the next version of Windows and even mentions partners like Nokia, HTC and Qualcomm. Samsung is strangely left out of the list, probably indicating that the manufacturer is fully focusing on Android and their own Tizen OS instead of Windows Phone.
source - MSFTKitchen