14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already launched Windows 10 Technical Preview for enterprise users, but there’s no doubt that many consumers have actually downloaded it to see what’s new in this operating system.
And still, the word is that Redmond is readying a consumer preview build of Windows 10 for early 2015, and now we have the very first details on this particular version.
Even though Microsoft has remained completely tight-lipped on this particular project, new information coming from Twitter user @FaikeeF, who has until now provided accurate details on upcoming Windows versions, reveals that Consumer Preview could be released in early 2015.
While the final release of Windows 10 is expected in spring 2015, it appears that Microsoft is also working to give consumers the chance to try a build that contains almost the full-feature package, thus helping them decide whether they should upgrade or not.
Internet Explorer 12 and touch version of Office
Microsoft is already working on Internet Explorer 12, and if these rumors are true, the upcoming operating system could come with a beta version of the browser that would allow users to test the browser and play with some of its new key features.
For example, people familiar with the development process have indicated that Internet Explorer 12 could adopt a completely new look that would allow it to better compete against Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, including a tab bar at the top of the screen.
Support for extensions is very likely to be offered as well, sources say, as the company is looking into ways to extend functionality of the application.
Internet Explorer already supports plug-ins, but the company is aiming at third-party extensions for even more features.
At the same time, it appears that a touch-optimized version of Office could also see daylight in the consumer preview, but only in the form of a very limited beta.
Microsoft has already confirmed that Office for Windows 8 Metro is in the works, and pundits have hinted that the first version could see daylight by the end of the year. The consumer preview, however, is due in early 2015, so Microsoft might actually push back the release for a couple of months.
Nothing is confirmed so far, so you should actually take all of these with a pinch of salt, at least until Microsoft publicly speaks about them. The consumer preview, however, will clearly bring a lot of improvements, and a beta version of Internet Explorer could be the best way to introduce a game-changer Windows release.