Following the much-criticised
Windows 8, Microsoft launches a major overhaul of the operating system in 2015.
Windows 9.0 addresses a number of usability issues – refining the
"Metro" design language of its predecessor and providing a more distinct
experience for desktop, mobile and other platforms. This includes a return of
the traditional Start Menu. The OS introduces a more unified code base, for
improved compatibility and simpler transfer of data between various devices and
services. There is a much greater focus on apps. Highly advanced gesture
recognition is also incorporated, now that 3D cameras are becoming more common.
It also deals with power management issues. Initially codenamed
"Threshold", it is released in April 2015.**
Windows 8 is chock-full of good ideas, but the execution is still lacking at times. As Windows 9 rumors swirl,
here are five things we'd like to see Microsoft include.
5 Things We Want for Windows 9
http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/16/technology/enterprise/windows-9/
5 things we want for Windows 9
Windows 8 is chock-full of good ideas, but the execution is still lacking at times. As Windows 9 rumors swirl,
here are five things we'd like to see Microsoft include.
More layout flexibility: Windows 8's "snap widgets" essentially serve the same
function as old-school windows in desktop mode. Snap widgets make productivity
easier on tablets, allowing users to go back and forth between windows. But
there is a lot of room for refinement.
Being able to divide widgets into smaller tiles that could be
arranged horizontally or vertically along a grid could help users go in and out
of various apps much more seamlessly. And being able to quickly take an app
into full screen mode and back would go a long way towards making the Windows
layout feel less claustrophobic.
Desktop-only mode: Although the Windows 8 tile display is adequate on a standard
laptop, it's still not optimal for productivity tasks, particularly on a
desktop computer. There are also many apps that only work in desktop mode. The
abrupt move between Windows 8's starkly contrasting tile and desktop
environments has left a bad taste in the mouths of many users.
In Windows 9 -- or whatever the next big revision of Windows
will be called -- users will be able to run those "Modern" apps in a window on the desktop, according to WinSuperSite's
Paul Thurrott. If Microsoft also gave users the ability to lock their computers
in desktop mode, that would help make the experience of using Windows on a
laptop feel more consistent.
Microsoft shouldn't give up on the Start Screen, but some users
just don't need it.
More consistent trackpad standards: Sometimes it seems like the trackpad on every
single Windows 8 device feels different, making use of clicks and gestures in
different ways.
For example, unlocking the homescreen requires a swipe on some
trackpads, and a click on others. At their best, exemplified by Logitech's standalone
Windows 8 trackpad, gestures in Windows 8 are as quick and
intuitive as touching a screen. At their worst, ironically exemplified by
Microsoft's Surface tablet, gestures can be incredibly frustrating.
If the next version of Windows could standardize the trackpad
experience, it could go a long way towards making Windows more usable.
Better Display Handling: One of the biggest problems facing Windows 8 is its inconsistent
display settings. When connecting a PC to larger, more pixel-dense resolutions,
settings that look good in tile mode don't look so great in desktop mode and
vice versa. A second display only makes things more complicated.
And that's before you consider the super-HD screens that PC
makers are starting to use. Even if you manage to find a sweet spot, some
settings will frequently revert back.
If Microsoft really wants customers to love its new approach to
Windows, the display has to look good in any mode, and on any device.
More interactivity with Windows Phone and Xbox: Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and the Xbox One software are all built on top of the same
foundation. They also share a suite of services and utilities that should
function as a glue that binds each product. Yet, the overlap between the
experiences on these devices is still lacking.
Buying an app on Windows Phone doesn't mean you automatically
have access to the corresponding Windows app. If you start a Skype conversation
on your computer, there's no way to push it over to your phone. While there is
basic functionality for streaming video from a Windows 8 device to the Xbox,
it's often unreliable or half-baked.
Multiplayer games have the potential to simultaneously span
phones, tablets, computers, and consoles. Few companies are in a better
position to facilitate this than Microsoft, but for now, the idea lies dormant.
Being able to intuitively share media or move your work between
devices should be a big consideration in the next era of Windows. 
5 Things We Want for Windows 9
http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/16/technology/enterprise/windows-9/
By Adrian Covert @CNNMoneyTech First Published: January 16, 2014: 12:55 PM ET
Windows 9 Release Date, News and Rumors
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-9-release-date-news-and-rumours-1029245
By Dan Grabham
What Windows 9 Must Do to Avoid Flopping Like Windows 8
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/01/17/what-windows-9-must-do-to-avoid-flopping-like-windows-8/
By Gordon Kelly, January 17, 2014
Windows 9 Release Date, News and Rumors
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/windows-9-release-date-news-and-rumours-1029245
By Dan Grabham
What Windows 9 Must Do to Avoid Flopping Like Windows 8
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/01/17/what-windows-9-must-do-to-avoid-flopping-like-windows-8/
By Gordon Kelly, January 17, 2014
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