Windows 8 Dubbed 'Windows.Next,' Details Leaked

A Microsoft blogger recently posted a description of Windows 7's successor, internally codenamed as Windows.Next, otherwise known as Windows 8. The post, however, appears to have been removed from Microsoft's Development Network (MSDN) website at the time of this writing.

Rumor: Windows Kernel Overhauled

The post claims that the "minimum that folks can take for granted is that the next version will be something completely different from what folks usually expect of Windows." It also says that the "themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs..."

The simplest explanation for the major change would be a new kernel in the next Windows. The kernel is effectively the brain of the operating system and controls how resources are used, and more specifically what the computer does at any precise moment. Windows 7 uses the same kernel as Vista which is why it's so often described as a revamped Vista rather than a fresh start.

Windows 8: May be Cloud-Based

There have also been rumors in the past that the successor to Windows 7 will be online-only, similar to Google's Chrome operating system. Though such solutions will no doubt become more popular in coming years, it seems extremely unlikely Microsoft would make that move so early.

The writer of the post also notes that it's by no means certain that the next system will be titled Windows 8. He or she says the public name won't be revealed until it's absolutely finalized. That's in contrast to Windows 7, which was an internal codename for the project that was later adopted for the finished product. The writer notes that some Microsoft staff are referring to the new system as "Windows.Next".

Blog Post May be a Ploy for Marketing

It is possible the post was a deliberate ploy designed to leak information and create hype for the next edition of Windows. But that's more the type of behavior you'd expect from a video games producer rather than a major software giant such as Microsoft. It could be that the writer is pushing for the Windows.Next name within the company and hopes the "leak" will earn the name some public support.

In the end, the post doesn't really tell us much we couldn't have deduced ourselves. The one drawback of Windows 7's great start is that it leaves less incentive for users to consider an upgrade. That's particularly the case if the next edition of Windows really is set for August next year as some have speculated. To sell a new system so quickly will be an easier task if Microsoft can promote some fundamental changes rather than mere improvements to an existing system. (Source: electronista.com)