14 DAY TRIAL // As we reported to you yesterday, a Microsoft developer evangelist revealed at Ignite conference in Chicago that Windows 10 “is the last version of Windows,” confirming previous rumors that Microsoft might stop releasing new versions of the operating system in favor of big updates.
Obviously, with Microsoft remaining pretty much tight-lipped on this new approach, statements like this can create even more confusion, so there are plenty of people out there who believe that Microsoft might actually give up on Windows and focus on Office, tablets, phones, and cloud services.
But no, Microsoft is not abandoning Windows, as that would really a terrible idea, given the fact that the OS is the second biggest cash cow for the company after the Office productivity suite.
Actually, “the last version of Windows” refers to a new concept that Microsoft could try with Windows 10 and that would bring new releases to users at a faster pace than before.
Big updates every year
Previously, Microsoft rolled out new Windows versions every three years: Windows 7 in 2009, Windows 8 in 2012, and Windows 10 in 2015, but once the new version comes out, a different approach will be embraced.
Instead of bringing out new versions every three years, Microsoft will focus on large updates that will be released when they’re ready. This means that improvements and new features should arrive at a faster pace, but although this could really sound amazing for Windows users, we’re hearing that big updates will continue to arrive yearly.
In other words, updates that you get “when they’re ready” might not bring so many significant changes, as the company would try to release such improvements every 12 months. Pretty much as Apple does right now, so many of you could already be familiar with this concept.
As for the name, Windows 10 could be the last version of Windows that has a name, because from now on, we might only have Windows. Windows powering PCs, tablets, and smartphones and everything else. Instead of Windows and a number following it, Microsoft will call its OS just Windows, trying to capitalize on the great brand that Windows has become.
The updates, on the other hand, are very likely to receive codenames that would help users and the company know which version they’re running. Of course, this is a strategy that can change as we advance towards the final product, so let’s take everything with a pinch of salt for now.