14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 9 is expected to be the next full Windows version prepared by Microsoft and although the company has until now remained tight-lipped on what's to come as part of this release, plenty of details have surfaced via unofficial channels.
A new report posted by Microsoft News and citing information provided by Faikee, a Twitter user who has a good track on leaked Windows details, reveals that Windows 9 might after all arrive in Q2 or Q3 2015, which more or less confirms previous speculation pointing to an April 2015 launch date.
At the same time, Faikee says that Windows 9 might come with two different previews, which means that developers might actually get the chance to try out the new OS version in late 2014 when the first beta is likely to be released to users.
Microsoft hasn't talked about Windows 9 so far, but we do know that the next full version of Windows could bring some pretty big changes for desktop users, including the addition of a desktop flavor of Cortana, Microsoft's personal assistant currently available on Windows Phone 8.1.
Recent rumors also suggested that Microsoft might after all give users the option to disable Metro completely in Windows 9 Enterprise, thus sticking on the classic desktop interface that made so many people love this particular operating system.
Microsoft, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be ready to abandon the Modern and the company actually invested a lot to make users get to know the Start screen better.
In fact, Microsoft's executives admitted in recent interviews that the Start screen was offered on Windows 8 with no Start menu option in order to make everyone aware that it's there. Otherwise, the company says, users could be tempted to disable it in order to stick to the familiar Windows 7-like interface.
Windows 9 could bring back the Start menu if Microsoft doesn't pick another Windows 8.1 update to do it, but people close to the matter said that while the company is already working on this new feature, it might take a while until it's released to users.
The Start menu was initially expected in Windows 8.1 Update 2, which is scheduled to be launched in August or September, but if these reports are true, Windows 9 might be the OS version to bring it.
As usual, Microsoft does not comment on speculation, so let's just take these as rumors until the company is ready to provide some details on Windows 9.