14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 9 continues to be users’ big hope for significant changes in the Windows operating system and, as far as concepts that reached the web recently are concerned, the next full OS release should be one gorgeous and effective product.
JamesHD2K, a DeviantArt designer who has already created several eye-candy Windows 9 concepts, published this interpretation of an app switching feature that could be part of the upcoming operating system scheduled for released in early 2015.
As you can see for yourselves in the photo above, the concept uses large thumbnails of the running apps and displays big close buttons to make it easier to control each thumb.
The designer says that Windows 8 app switching should work just like Flip 3D on Windows Vista and 7, which could clearly come in handy to all users out there looking for a neat way to jump from one application to another.
“In this particular mock-up, I've taken some inspiration from Windows Phone and how it currently handles app switching. I think this view tends to make a little more sense on a touch interface but, it can operate much like Flip 3D use to on Windows Vista and 7,” he said in the description of this new concept.
Of course, he used the existing rumors as the foundation of his concept, explaining that Metro apps pinned to the taskbar and options to launch them in separate windows right on the desktop would make quite a lot of sense in the future Windows versions.
“As rumored with Windows 8.1 update 1 and Windows 9, metro apps appear on the taskbar or in the case of Windows 9, may have the ability to be windowed,” he pointed out.
As far as the real Windows 9 is concerned, not much is known at this point, but people familiar with the matter hinted that an April 2015 launch seems very likely, even though the company hasn’t yet started work on the new project.
Windows 9 might come not only with options to run Metro apps on the desktop, but also with a Start Menu that would restore traditional Windows functionality and help beginners get around the operating system faster and easier.
Microsoft is expected to share more information on Windows 9 at the BUILD 2014 developer conference in April, so more details should be available in just a few weeks if Redmond is indeed planning to release a new Windows version so fast.