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Rumor calls out Windows 95 as the reason Microsoft skipped version 9
Still confused about why the new version of Windows is 10, instead of 9? Beyond the loosely defined numbering schemes that are all too common in tech (how many iPhones did it take to get to 6?), a note posted to Reddit could provide an answer. Reddit user cranbourne claims to be a Microsoft developer, and cites rumors that early testing with the name "Windows 9" ran into problems with code some third-party developers used as a shortcut to detect when apps are running on Windows 95 or Windows 98. The problem, is that it wasn't written to actually check for the extra character. Whatever the real reason is Microsoft isn't saying, and it gave Gizmodo a vague non-answer about the new name so your conspiracy theory is as good as ours (we think they were avoiding a Tolkien nine rings of power reference, and we have evidence to prove it.)
Microsoft's next OS is Windows 10, will ship later in 2015
Instead of announcing the next version of its iconic operating system in front of a massive crowd of thousands, Microsoft chose an intimate venue with 50 or so reporters to launch the new Windows, which it's calling Windows 10. The company looks at the new number (yes, it oddly skipped a number) as an indication of the direction it's taking with the OS; Microsoft says it'll be "the most comprehensive platform ever," featuring a full range of products that'll be placed under the Windows 10 umbrella as part of "one tailored experience." That means it will support everything from the "Internet of Things" to enterprise servers, taking advantage of responsive design. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore showed off an early beta version of the new Windows on stage, which looks very much like the leaked screenshots we saw not too long ago; Belfiore says that the company wanted to bring the familiarity of Windows 7 and combine it with the functionality of Windows 8.
Watch new Windows 9 features in action with these leaked videos
Whether you're going to miss the Charms bar or not, users likely have a list of things they love (or loath) about Windows 8. We've already had a few hints at what to expect in the next version -- the classic start menu for example. Now, we have some videos (below) purportedly showing the Windows 9 in action (or, a fairly complete build of it, at least). Some of the more interesting features shown include a revised, (unified) Notification Center, a demonstration of how multi-desktop will work, and of course, that beloved start menu. Naturally, all usual caveats apply (things could change, and probably will), but, as Windows 9 creeps further out of the shadows, we're getting a clearer picture of what sort of user experience we can expect.
Leaked Windows 9 screenshots hint at a redesigned desktop
Slowly but surely, we're starting to get a clearer idea of what the next version of Windows will look like. Microsoft already teased a classic-style Start Menu, while ZDNet's usually-reliable Mary Jo Foley has reported that the Charms Bar might be removed. Today, we're sifting through what might be the biggest single leak yet -- a collection of 20 screenshots from the German sites ComputerBase and WinFuture. In these images, reportedly from the "Windows Technical Preview" expected to arrive this fall, we can see not just the Start Menu, but a refined Taskbar, with a new search icon located next to the Start button.
Next version of Windows to get public trial in the fall
While some people are still getting used to the idea of Windows 8, Microsoft's already working to put the next major iteration of Windows in people's hands. And that could be happening sooner than you think. According to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, who has a solid track record on Microsoft-related scoops, the Surface maker is looking to release a "technology preview" of Windows Threshold, aka Windows 9, toward the end of September or the beginning of October. Foley notes that, in an effort to enhance the serviceability of the OS, people who instal the preview will be required to agree to "have subsequently monthly updates" pushed to their computer -- which seems like a small pledge to make in exchange for trying some new software.
Microsoft may ditch the Charms bar in its next big Windows update
Some would already argue that Windows 8 is anything but charming, but a slew of new reports indicate that Microsoft might give one of Windows 8's most iconic interface elements - the Charms bar - the axe in its next big OS release. Not much for names? The Charms bar is that love-it-or-hate-it disappearing menu that offers up access to device settings, sharing and the Windows search function (among other things). The tricky bit about it is that it's just peachy to use on touchscreen devices, but flicking your mouse cursor into a corner of your desktop's screen to invoke it gets tiresome after a while.
Weekends with Engadget: Android Wear review, ditching social media and more!
This week, we reviewed Google's Android Wear platform, examined a few practical steps toward ditching social media, watched a sniper hit his target without looking and took a look at the phenomenon of social media activism. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Daily Roundup: Windows 9 gets morphing powers, Reading Rainbow wins Kickstarter and more!
Today, we watch Reading Rainbow become the most popular Kickstarter project ever, look at a mood-sensing blanket from British Airways, evaluate Samsung's new flash memory and learn about Windows 9's morphing abilities. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Windows 9 will morph to fit the device it's running on
Still holding onto your trusty copy of Windows 7 with a steely kung-fu grip? Well partner, it looks like Microsoft's next operating system, codenamed "Threshold," or, Windows 9 in the common tongue, is aimed right at you. The OS will apparently ship in three different flavors (desktop, tablet and mobile) and recognize the hardware its running on and adjust the experience accordingly, as ZDNet's Windows-leak queen Mary Jo Foley writes. Meaning, if you're on a traditional desktop or laptop using a mouse and keyboard, Threshold will boot directly into the Windows desktop you know and love. The Live-tiled Start screen may return for people using touch-based machines like tablets and convertible laptops, although there will supposedly be an option to switch between the two environments if Threshold detects an attached keyboard. What's more, Foley's sources also say that if you're itching to get your hands on the new OS ahead of its reported launch next spring, there'll be a public preview version this autumn. [Image credit: Associated Press]
Microsoft may preview Windows 'Threshold' in April, launch it in 2015
Microsoft may have just released Windows 8.1 a few months ago, but it's reportedly on the cusp of previewing its next major Windows version, Threshold. The SuperSite for Windows hears from sources that Microsoft will provide a "vision" for the OS at its Build conference in early April. While there aren't many details of what the software involves beyond an emphasis on cross-platform unity, the tipsters claim that Threshold will likely be called Windows 9 and center around a refined interface that's better-suited to desktop users. Whatever the OS looks like, don't expect to see it in action this spring. Provided the rumors are accurate, the crew in Redmond would only start work on Threshold after Build, and it would ship the finished code in April 2015. The sneak peek would mostly set expectations for developers worried about Windows' future in an unreceptive PC market.
