Microsoft To Announce 'Windows 9' Tech Preview on Sept. 30 -- Redmondmag.com

Microsoft To Announce 'Windows 9' Tech Preview on Sept. 30

By Kurt Mackie
09/15/2014

Microsoft will hold a press event on Sept. 30 to describe its next Windows release, code-named "Threshold."

Threshold is sometimes described at the rumor level as "Windows 9," but Microsoft hasn't yet fully described its release plans. Threshold could be an interim OS release before a so-called Windows 9 release. In any case, journalists today received invitations to attend a San Francisco event on "what's next for Windows and the enterprise," which will feature talks by Microsoft executives Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, according to The Verge. A press spokesperson for Microsoft described the event as enterprise focused.

"This [event] is a discussion focused on what's next for Windows and includes information geared toward technical and enterprise customers."

Based on leaked screenshots that appeared late last week, the upcoming Windows release is being referred to as the "Windows Technical Preview." It's expected to bring back the Start Menu and permit Windows Store Apps to run in their own windows on the Desktop side of the operating system, which has all been confirmed by Microsoft officials.

The leaked screenshots are showing other features that may or may not get included into the final OS build. Examples of possible features that may be included in Threshold or Windows 9 include the elimination of the Charms Bar, Cortana integration, an Update button, a Notification Center showing alerts from apps or from the system, as well as a feature called "Virtual Desktops."

The Virtual Desktop feature supposedly lets users compose different screen views, which can be used to pull apps together, as shown in this video produced by the German-based WinFuture site. This screenshot illustrates the concept:

**[Click on image for larger view.]** Screenshot purportedly showing Windows Threshold features, including a rumored Virtual Desktop. Source: WinFuture via YouTube.

A new Windows Server is also expected to be unveiled at the Sept. 30 press event, according to sources informing veteran Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley. In her latest article, Foley summarizes some of the other expectations. For instance, the Threshold release may be the last formal OS release before Microsoft embarks on a more incremental release cycle that's similar to Office 365 software releases.

Foley also suggested that all of the features in this Windows Technical Preview won't be fully delivered until the spring of 2015. In addition, she claims that Threshold is also planned for ARM devices, such as tablets and smartphones, with the release expected sometime in January or February of 2015, according to her sources. Another rumor is that Microsoft might offer Windows Threshold as a free update to current Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

The table below summarizes what might be seen on Sept. 30:

Threshold Feature	Description	Status
"Threshold" name	Microsoft's internal code name for its next Windows OS	Confirmed by Microsoft COO Kevin Turner in July
Start Menu	A revamped Start Menu, shown with Live Tiles and menu items	Confirmed by Microsoft Corporate VP Tony Prophet, who showed a screen mockup in July
Windows Store Apps for the Desktop side of OS	"Metro" apps will be capable of running on the Desktop side of the OS in resizable windows	Confirmed by Microsoft Corporate VP Tony Prophet in July
"Virtual Desktops"	The ability to switch entire screen views, similar to a feature in the Linux-based Ubuntu OS	Rumor, but leaked screenshots show the concept
Elimination of the Charms Bar	The menu of Charms commands that's currently present on the right side of the Windows 8/8.1 screen may be eliminated and pushed into the title bars of Window Store Apps ("Metro" apps)	Rumor
Cortana integration	The Cortana personal assistant app, currently seen with Windows Phone 8.1, is expected to appear in the Threshold release	Rumor
Update button	Allows users to move to the most recent Windows version	Rumor
Notification Center	Shows alerts from Windows Store Apps and Desktop apps, along with system notifications	Rumor
Arrival dates: Sept. 30 press unveiling; general release rumored in the spring of 2015	A "technology preview" confirmed for Sept. 30 unveiling"; "Windows 9" rumored to arrive in the spring of 2015, but Microsoft may release incremental updates	Only the Sept. 30. unveiling is confirmed

Microsoft's next operating system (code-named "Threshold"), with rumored and confirmed features under development.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

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