14 DAY TRIAL // It’s no secret that Microsoft wants Windows 9 on the market as soon as possible, and now it appears that the company is speeding up the development process so much that the operating system could reach RTM before the end of the year.
Microsoft hasn’t yet publicly talked about Windows 9, but it did confirm that a new Windows version was in the works, refusing to disclose any other specifics concerning the scheduled release date.
According to previous reports, Windows 9 was projected to hit the shelves in April 2015, approximately one year after the launch of Windows 8.1 Update, which would more or less comply with Microsoft’s rapid release cycle that could bring us new large updates and OS releases on a yearly basis.
But if Windows 9 indeed reaches RTM before the end of the year, the operating system might actually be launched sooner than expected, so everyone could get their hands on it in early 2015.
Preview coming this year, full version in early 2015
Microsoft will launch the very first beta of the operating system later this month, but it appears that the company has already finalized the Windows 9 roadmap to make sure that everything goes according to the plan.
Previous speculation on Windows 9 and coming from sources familiar with the development plans indicated that RTM was planned for January or February 2015, with the public launch to take place only a few months later, in April the same year.
The main reason Microsoft wants to bring Windows 9 so fast to the market is the low adoption figures of Windows 8, which are still drawing criticism towards its strategy.
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 currently have a combined market share of approximately 15 percent, enough to become the third most used operating system worldwide after Windows 7 and Windows XP
Microsoft itself is trying to forget the Windows 8 flop, and bringing a new and more advanced operating system to the market is the best way to do it.
New Windows 8.1 update prepared if a delay is needed
Windows leakers have also said that in case Microsoft experiences any delay with Windows 9, the company could also introduce another Windows 8.1 update, just to make sure that their computers remain fully up to date.
At the same time, some have hinted that Windows 8.1 Update 3 (or whatever name Microsoft chooses for this new release) could pave the road for Windows 9, just in case the company is making some changes that would require other deployments.
Of course, all of these are still in the rumor stage, so don’t take anything for granted until Microsoft indeed shares more info on Windows 9 on September 30.