14 DAY TRIAL // With Microsoft continuing to keep mum on the next iteration of the Windows client, it’s virtually anybody’s guess of what the operating system will bring to the table both on the surface and under the hood. On April 1st, 2011, a new Windows 8 leak was made public, reportedly revealing the new UI design of the overhauled Welcome Screen for the OS.
There have been those pointing out that because the leak coincided with April Fools, the information offered to the public wasn’t real.
At the same time, others confirmed its authenticity, including the sources Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott.
The latest leak seems to indicate that the software giant will indeed port elements of the Metro UI from Windows Phone 7 to Windows 8.
To me, and I do emphasize that this is nothing but my own opinion, it’s also a sign that Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 might be connected more intimately than is the case for Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7 today.
The Windows 8 Welcome Screen provides information on the date, as well as accessibility options and instructions to log in.
The resemblance with the Windows Phone 7 lock screen is indeed uncanny, and this might have something to do with the fact that Microsoft will also tailor Windows 8 to emerging form factors including Tablet PCs / slates.
On such devices the option to use Ctrl + Alt + Del will not exist, but it appears that customers will be able to unlock their OS via specific gestures / touch patterns.
Of course, with no official confirmation from Microsoft, I advise you to take any leaked details on Windows vNext with a grain of salt.
Even if some of the information that makes it into the wild is as real as possible, this early in the Windows 8 development process (Milestone 3 (M3)), nothing is set in stone.
It won’t be until Windows 8 hits Beta, sometime in the second half of 2011 that the public will get the chance to form valid expectations about what Window s7’s successor brings to the table.