Microsoft has been announcing bits and pieces about the upcoming version of Windows for a few months now. There is much excitement surrounding the unveiling of Windows 10, and interested users have been eagerly anticipating its release. With the official launch set for summer 2015, here’s everything we know about the next Windows so far.
Microsoft has changed the operating systems development program and Windows 12 points on the horizon as the next major versionWhen will it be released, what will be new, what hardware requirements will it have, will it be free, how long will it be supported? We will try to answer these and other questions with the information we have so far.
Putting the context, to say that Microsoft was confident that Windows 10 would be. “its ultimate operating system.”. To this end, it adopted a model of continuous updating in the form of a ‘rolling release‘ used by Linux distributions and that would allow to keep it always up to date. It soon became clear that the company would not be able to maintain this model and after some disastrous updates in terms of stability, it was reducing the biannual release schedule with a few updates that did not go beyond a mere service pack.
Of course, Windows 10 was not “the last” and Microsoft released Windows 11 with the same kernel, some of the aesthetic aspects developed for Windows 10X, further integration of the Fluent Design design language, revamp of the internal apps and tools delivered with the system and some (few) novel features such as the Android Subsystem for Windows.
Light novelties for a “new” Windows, but quiet: Windows 11 won’t be the last either. Microsoft has bet on a new engineering timeline with which the company would resume a three-year release cycle for major versions of Windows. Or what amounts to the same thing, a new Windows every three years. This cycle is not new (it was used in Windows 7 and Vista) and has its advantages as it improves overall stability and software quality. To keep the system up to date, the program also contemplates the delivery of new features with timely releases of what they call internally ‘Moments’.
Windows 12, on the way
Last October, during the Ignite professional conference, someone from Microsoft was kind enough to sneak some screenshots of what the media and analysts considered to be the initial outlines of Windows 12. It was only possible to see changes in the general user interface that we will review below, but it was the first time that the development of a new version of Windows was “officially” confirmed. We bring you up to date on what we know and what we can expect based on a few questions and answers.
Do we know the release date of the next Windows?
If the new engineering schedule and the release of new major versions of Windows every three years materializes, the date chosen for the release of Windows 12 would be October 2024. Following the schedule, we could expect a Windows 13 in 2027 and a Windows 14 in the fall of 2030.
What will it be called?
They say that the internal name is ‘Next Valley’, which makes sense considering that the name of Windows 11 is ‘Sun Valley’. Beyond that, the commercial name cannot be specified, although everything indicates that Microsoft will follow the strategy of using the name Windows plus a number. It has not always been this way and let us remember, for example, Windows Vista. Or the omission of a Windows 9 jumping directly to Windows 10.
Will it be free?
Yes, for upgrades from previous systems on validly licensed computers. Microsoft launched a free upgrade program in Windows 10 that was originally only going to last for one year, but seven years later it is still running. Windows 12 would follow the strategy, upgrade Windows 10 and 11 PCs for free and be the reference version for pre-installations on OEM PCs from launch. Microsoft and third-party vendors would sell licenses at retail, for new computers created by users, those from manufacturers that are sold without a system or for virtual machines.
How will you upgrade?
Windows Update will continue to be the preferred way to upgrade between versions, with the ability to keep files, applications and user data installed. ISO images will also be released for media creation, ‘clean’ installations from scratch and use in virtual machines. Release feature updates will come via what are known as “Moments”, while security updates will be maintained – at least – with monthly patches. A major improvement in distribution should come from the use of UUP (Unified Update Platform) that promises 30% faster and lighter Windows update downloads.
Will hardware requirements increase?
The increase in hardware requirements and the chaotic management of Microsoft have penalized the market share of Windows 11. We do not believe that Microsoft will eliminate the requirements of TPM and Secure Boot, but we expect more clarification in this section and compliance with them since those of Windows 11 have come to nothing by being able to skip them in several ways. In Windows 12 the TPM would be mandatory if the Microsoft Pluton security chip integrated in the same CPUs is confirmed. Perhaps it will also increase the minimum RAM memory, since the 4 GB are insufficient and in view of the improvement of the hardware level in the PC market.
What will be its life cycle?
Windows 12 will cohabit with Windows 11 at its launch and -if the three-year schedule is confirmed- would have a lifespan of at least six years, extended according to business needs in companies with the extended support phase. Windows 13 would repeat the same cycle, so that Microsoft would always keep two versions active and officially supported.
Do we know its main new features?
What we’ve seen so far are changes in the user interfacewith a new floating taskbar at the bottom, system icons at the top right, a floating search box at the top center and widgets such as the weather widget at the top left.
It is certain that Microsoft will continue to deploy its Fluent Desing design language throughout the interface, with the general idea of achieving an ultimate interface to scale to any device, better optimized for touch screens, but without diminishing the experience (as happened with Windows 8) for the millions of users who use Windows on the desktop with keyboard and mouse.
The general channel release of the Android Subsystem for Windows should materialize in Windows 12, along with a full integration with the Android system that Microsoft has adopted as its own and that goes along the lines of. “full ecosystem” that Apple has with iOS and macOS, with recognizable apps on both and a lot of functionality from mobile to PC and vice versa.
Microsoft has updated a few of the apps considered system apps in Windows 11, from file explorer to notepad, and we assume it will follow with the rest. Also pending is the move of management functions from the Control Panel to the general Settings tool. It is not ideal for advanced users, but it is the strategy followed until now.
To end by quoting the latest statements by Microsoft’s executive vice president and product manager, Panos Panay, that the next Windows will be powered by artificial intelligence in performance, search or security tasks. Given the amount of money that Microsoft is investing in OpenAI (the organization behind ChatGPT) we should find news in this section.
What about the future of Windows?
If you have read the previous point you will agree with us that the “revolution” Microsoft has been thinking about for a decade will have to wait. Windows has legacy components dating back to Windows 95.such as the aforementioned control panel and others. The company would like to leave them behind, but it remains to be seen who will be the one to put the bell to the cat, considering that the Windows ecosystem in hardware and software is nowadays monstrous and must be supported.
The answer should come someday with developments like the interesting one. Windows Core OSwhich appeared a few years ago and was expected to be released in the foldable Surface, but definitely did not arrive and the truth is that we have no idea what stage it is at. As its name suggests, it would include a basic core to which layers would be added based on modules to adapt to each device where it would run.
Moreover, Windows Core OS would eliminate all previous legacy components. It would natively run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications as well as PWAs (progressive web apps). It is not known how Microsoft would support Win32 applications that are still used by millions on the computer desktop and are the big problem for Microsoft to bet on a revolutionary Windows.
Another novelty would be the addition of components Open Source in an approach that seems unstoppable seeing CEO Nadella’s “love” for Linux and the applications released for Windows in recent years such as the Windows Terminal command line, the Winget package manager or the Linux Subsystem for Windows itself.
Within this group we have known internal development to improve the security of Windows open source components and also the “containers” project that would be the key to run Win32 applications. on this Core OS which should open a new path for Windows.
