Industry buzz about the pending announcement of Windows 9 gives software giant Microsoft the opportunity to capitalise on new technology developments and attempt to wow end-users after the lacklustre reception of Windows 8.
The introduction of Threshold - or Windows 9 - is apparently set for 2015 and its launch is expected to be announced at this year's Build conference. However, Microsoft has not provided much information around the OS, giving it the opportunity to leverage new technology developments that come out this year.
Windows 8 was not seen as spectacularly successful and was improved upon in the 8.1 version last October, just a year after launch. The lack of appetite for Windows 8 was one of the reasons behind declining PC sales, according to research house IDC.
News of Windows 9 was revealed in a blog written by Paul Thurrott, who said Threshold will be Microsoft's next major Windows version. The latest version has yet to be confirmed by Microsoft, which will officially only say: "We have nothing to share at this time."
Beyond updates
Thurrott says Windows 9 "is more important than any specific updates". He writes Threshold needs to "strike a better balance between meeting the needs of over a billion traditional PC users, while enticing users to adopt this new Windows on new types of personal computing devices. In short, it needs to be everything that Windows 8 is not."
Windows 8 was unveiled to much fanfare in October 2012 and was touted as boasting an entirely new look and feel to previous versions - and was designed to be used across an array of devices like desktops, laptops, tablets and phones.
Its features included a new user interface, and a range of apps with the opening of the Windows Store, available on a range of Windows 8-certified PCs and tablets. Six months after launch, Microsoft said it had sold 100 million licences, but there were soon questions as to just how many of these were in use.
Thurrot says the OS is "tanking harder than Microsoft is comfortable discussing in public". He claims Windows 8.1 is used on fewer than 25 million PCs, despite being a "substantial and free upgrade with major improvements over the original release".
The most recent update was aimed at addressing criticism of the operating system and saw the return of the Start button and menu. Thurrott said, before Windows 9 hits shelves, Microsoft will update Windows 8.1 in 2014, which is expected to ship in April.
A new chance
However, although Thurrot provided some input into Microsoft's thinking, exact details around features of the new OS are not available, notes Swift Consulting CEO and tech blogger Liron Segev.
Segev says because Microsoft has not confirmed any details in what is expected to be a major update, it has the opportunity to include any new technological developments launched this year. This, he says, will allow the OS to be "nice and fresh" on launch.
Segev adds Windows 9 is likely to present a more unified offering in which Microsoft combines all its assorted platforms. Mobility will also play a big part of its strategy, he says. "Everything will be built into the core."
Windows 8 was not well accepted, says Segev. World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says the OS was "wonderful on well-specced tablets, and even on touch-screen laptops, but Microsoft seemed to miss the memo from the world that suggested it look after other laptop and desktop users at the same time".
Goldstuck adds experienced users hate losing control of their systems, and inexperienced users hate not knowing where to go. "When presented with these arguments, the typical response was that users would get used to it, or that the interface would dazzle them enough to persuade them to learn it."
However, he says with the pending departure of CEO Steve Ballmer, it is likely Microsoft is "spending more time listening and less time dictating to customers".
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