Windows 9 Coming (Review + Features)

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Windows 9 Is Coming Next Year And Will Fix A Lot Of Problems With Windows 8

Microsoft might be preparing to give the public its first taste of Windows 9 between the second and third quarters of 2015, according to a newly leaked document.

Tech blog Myce has obtained a leaked internal Microsoft document from a source in China known as FaiKee.

The document, first spotted on Myce's website by Windows blog WinBeta, lists both Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9 as scheduled for a release preview between Q2 and Q3 2015.

Here's a screenshot of the document:

A release preview is exactly what its name suggests. It's a nearly finished version of the software that the public gets to mess around with before the official launch.

The document also mentions another unreleased Windows product in its alpha stage known as Windows 365, which could be a reference to Microsoft's rumored subscription version of its operating system.

At the end of April, Ars Technica heard from a tipster that Windows 9 would include some sort of subscription-based system, although it's unclear exactly how that would play out.

One potential scenario is that the core operating system would be free, while users would have to pay for additional features.

Windows 9 is believed to address many of the complaints that resulted from Windows 8. Among other features, the new software may allow users to run "modern UI" apps on the desktop. This means you'll be able to use apps from the Windows Store in desktop mode as well.

The next version of Windows, which is rumored to be codenamed "Threshold" internally, may also reintroduce the classic Start menu.

Windows Phone 9

Talking of Cortana, the document also mentions Windows Phone 9, which is tagged alongside Windows 9 for a Q2-Q3 Preview release. We're only just seeing new smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1 - the first version to feature Cortana - but in a year's time Windows Phone 8 will be consigned to the history book. Let's just hope that existing hardware will be upgradeable and that owners don't end up in the same situation as Windows Phone 7 buyers did.

Windows 9

Based on Microsoft's Build 2014 developer conference,

Microsoft partners will be getting a pre-beta version of Windows Developer Preview 9 soon, we understand. Thus those partners will have seen the earliest version of Windows 9 before the Build conference this April.

We expect to see a single beta of Windows 9, which will likely appear in the summer of 2014. If everything goes perfectly it is possible that Microsoft will release a Release Candidate version at the end of August or the beginning of September 2014. That date could easily slip.

Once a RC is released, bugs will be collected and fixed for several months before the final code is released to manufacturers. On this basis, it makes sense to see a Preview version from April 2015 onwards.

Windows 9 price

There's no word on what Windows 9 will cost, but we can make an educated guess. We'll update this piece as we know more.

How to price Windows 9? This is the classic innovator's dilemna: Microsoft has existing products that make it a lot of money, but is building new and better products for which it cannot charge as much. The market has changed. Apple gives away the most recent version of OS X for free, and PC- and laptop makers are feeling the pinch as smartphones and tablets eat into their markets.

So how much will Windows 9 cost? Not a lot.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was free to consumers, although not to OEMs who purchase licences to put on PCs and laptops they sell. Even if customers have to pay to upgrade to Windows 9 they won't have to pay much. Just a few pounds.

Windows 9 features

We expect that Windows 9 will be 64-bit only, although we expected that for Windows 8 and we were wrong. A lot depends - as ever with Microsoft - on what OEMs want to build, and what Intel gives them with which to build.

One thing that Microsoft has to do is allow Windows Phone and Windows RT apps to run on both Windows Phone and Windows. Even Xbox apps should become cross compatible. You may also be able to pin Metro apps to the taskbar. Also expect to see Kinect-based 3D gestures to be enabled for laptops with 3D cameras - basically the ability to control your computer with gestures.

Microsoft's recent pronouncements suggest a full return of the Start menu and that Windows 8-style apps will be able to run on the desktop. Windows 9 will definitely be less traumatic a chance for desktop users.

One key - although less obvious - development is likely to be much improved power management. The rise of mobile devices has made battery life a key battle ground for Windows. Intel has done its part, massively improving power management with its latest generation of mobile processors. But the Windows software needs to keep pace, so expect Microsoft to make great claims for Windows 9's power management capabilities.