April 2015 Release for Windows 9?

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According to Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows the April BUILD 2014 developer conference will feature discussion on the future of Windows-- namely "Threshold," a year-off release likely to be renamed as Windows 9 come 2015.

Windows 9"Threshold" is reportedly the codename for the next wave of Windows updates set to follow a Windows 8.1 service/feature pack called Update 1 (or GDR1) and Windows Phone 8.1. According to Thurrot it involve the return of the Start menu, the ability to run Metro-style apps on the desktop alongside desktop applications and even the dropping of Windows 8 branding. How come? Windows 8 wasn't much of a success (currently it is in use in less than 25 million PCs) and Microsoft wants to wipe the slate clean from the influence of former Windows boss Steven Sinofsky.

Another major focus for Threshold is the "maturing and fixing" of the Metro design language, probably with a windowed mode that works on desktop.

Further efforts to bury the Sinofsky era include the "vision" announcement at BUILD-- a first since the 2003 "Longhorn" announcement. Apparently Microsoft wants to return to a more open "we can do it all" Windows unit, as opposed to the "KGB-style secrecy" of the Sinofsky days.

Thurrot says the final Threshold release will be staggered across three milestones, but it's not clear which (if at all) will be available to the public.

And since we were talking about Steven Sinofsky, one might wonder what the ex-Windows boss up to these days. Well, he does like many and blogs, specifically on a site he calls "Learning by Shipping." An interesting recent post is the "The Four Stages of Disruption," a rambling piece obviously the logic behind the introduction of Windows 8... even if Windows is nowhere mentioned.

Go "Threshold" to be Called Windows 9, Ship April 2015 (Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows)

Go The Four Stages of Disruption (Learning by Shipping)