facebook rss twitter

Windows 9 Threshold unveiling expected on 30th September

by Mark Tyson on 22 August 2014, 09:30

Tags: Windows 8

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qach3r

Add to My Vault: x

There's not much more than a month until the official unveiling of Windows 9 Threshold say new reports. Insider sources speaking to The Verge said that Microsoft is "tentatively planning its press event for September 30th," for the big reveal. We are also told that a developer preview version will be let loose on or shortly after that date.

This latest insider news about the timing of the Windows 9 reveal from The Verge falls slap bang in the middle of Mary J Foley's earlier prediction. A week ago information from Foley's sources was summarised in her 'All About Microsoft' column as "Microsoft is aiming to make available a technology preview of Windows Threshold around late September or early October."

At the unveiling event Microsoft will not Christen its latest OS, suggests The Verge. The stage time will be taken up by more technical considerations as well as giving a good overview of the new key features. We should also learn more about the future of the Windows ecosystem which could include a "combined version of Windows RT and Windows Phone."

HEXUS has previously covered what are expected to be the headline features in Windows 9 Threshold. Most recently we reported upon the coming integration of Cortana into the desktop. At the start of the month lots of info was spilled about the upcoming OS including; the Charms Bar's demise, the introduction of virtual desktops and Modern UI apps behind shoved into desktop windows. These changes might feel relatively minor compared to the biggest change to the UI, the Start Menu's return, including traditional/modern UI menu elements.

Please let us know your thoughts on Windows 9 and if you will be installing the developer preview.

HEXUS Forums :: 28 Comments

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!
Posted by Percy1983 - Fri 22 Aug 2014 10:27
Looks like 8 with lipstick so should be as sucessful as the vista with lipstick was.

I won't bother with previews but will keep an eye out for the cheap license deals which usually appear near release, if not I will stay with 8.
Posted by crossy - Fri 22 Aug 2014 10:36
Please let us know your thoughts on Windows 9 and if you will be installing the developer preview.
If 9/Threshold is a version of 8 with the annoying flaws* fixed, then sure, mark me down for a pre-order and yes, I'll be installing the dev preview if I can find a suitable “mule” system.

(*primarily the separation between MUI and “classic” desktop).
We should also learn more about the future of the Windows ecosystem which could include a “combined version of Windows RT and Windows Phone.”
About time - RT always struck me as a bit unecessary - sort of of “we'd like to use Windows Phone but can't figure out how to get it working on tablets” kind of deal. Although if they decide to do the smart thing and replace RT with “Windows Phone for Tablets” then please Microsoft, make sure that current RT devices can get the upgrade.
Posted by TheAnimus - Fri 22 Aug 2014 11:01
crossy
About time - RT always struck me as a bit unecessary - sort of of “we'd like to use Windows Phone but can't figure out how to get it working on tablets” kind of deal. Although if they decide to do the smart thing and replace RT with “Windows Phone for Tablets” then please Microsoft, make sure that current RT devices can get the upgrade.
More a case of we can't figure out how to get windows 8 running on phones.

With WinPhone8.1 that's changed, now you can write a “Universal App” that runs on Windows RT/8.1 and on Windows Phone 8.1

Personally I don't want a desktop on my phone (unless I'm able to dock my phone, which would be awesome) I definitely want the more ‘fuller’ experiance you get on RT than on a phone.

This is what has always pissed me off with the iPad, it's so expensive, yet so limited. iOS can't do anything. Want to view my pictures on my digital camera, move them straight to HDD? I'm out of luck. Want to print something? It reminds me of trying to get linux to use a modem in the early 00s. Oh you want to use that modem, oh no.

What MS really need to do, is get the whole universal app development improved. We need to be able to make window'd versions like you can with certain 3rd party apps.
Posted by crossy - Fri 22 Aug 2014 11:34
TheAnimus
More a case of we can't figure out how to get windows 8 running on phones.
Personally I don't want a desktop on my phone (unless I'm able to dock my phone, which would be awesome) I definitely want the more ‘fuller’ experiance you get on RT than on a phone.
Sorry I didn't really explain myself there* - from what I've seen RT is essentially the full screen UI of Windows8 “proper” bolted onto something that might be WP8 internals. Unnecessary because I think the WP8 UI could probably scale up to use the extra space on a tablet. And besides wasn't the whole idea behind MUI on the desktop that it was a seamless move from phone to tablet to desktop?

Not that the Windows Phone store is going to bother Play or iTMS anytime soon but surely not having to do a separate “RT” version would mean better support for Windows8 mobile (phone and tablet). My missus has got both phone and tablet and that's her biggest complaint - that even some of the major apps just aren't available. Last one mentioned was iPlayer.

(* in a hurry to get a comment in before the flood of “oh no, we don't need 9/Threshold because 8 is perfect” complaints).
Posted by abychristy - Fri 22 Aug 2014 12:03
Does Win 9 come with DX12 ?

SEE NEWER »