14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 9 Preview should be launched in 30 days or so, but Microsoft prefers to remain completely tightlipped, even though we’re so close to the moment when Windows 8 might be forgotten by most of us.
One of the improvements that are causing so much buzz among Windows users is the return of the Start menu, which got the axe in Windows 8 due to Microsoft’s focus on touch-optimized features.
Confirmed at the BUILD 2014 developer conference in April, the Start menu comeback was initially projected to take place in a new Windows 8.1 update, but word is that Microsoft decided to introduce the new design as part of the Windows 9 rollout.
Basically, this is due to the fact that Microsoft itself is trying to step away from Windows 8, so bringing all its new features in Windows 9 could be a way to boost early adoption of the new operating system.
Now there’s some talk online that existing builds of Windows 9 do not have a Start menu, while others, who reportedly received access to these testing versions, claim that this feature is there, but locked to make sure that only a few actually get to try it.
Of course, it’s hard to tell at this point whether the Start menu is ready to see daylight or not since we can’t say for sure who’s right, but some apparently believe that the preview build of Windows 9 might not launch with such a feature.
While this is hard to believe given the fact that Microsoft clearly needs to convince users to have a look at what Windows 9 could bring, it also makes sense at some level because the preview might only be aimed at enterprises and not necessarily at consumers.
The Start menu mockup presented by Microsoft at BUILD 2014 mixed traditional design elements with modern features, such as the live tiles which were previously available on the Start screen exclusively. Rumor has it that the Start menu will come with a full screen mode to better replace the Start screen, offering more customization power to those who can’t live without live tiles.
Even though so many rumors are swirling around these days, it’s pretty clear that the Start menu is going to be part of the final Windows 9 version, thus restoring the full desktop usability that we had before Windows 8. The official Windows 9 launch is projected to take place in April 2015, and the operating system might be free for a number of users, including those running Windows 8.1.