RUMOUR: Microsoft Planning to Release Windows 9 in April 2015

Let’s face it, Windows 8 was not the grand success the people at Microsoft were hoping for. What people forgot was that it was the first step towards Microsoft’s vision of a hybrid tablet and desktop operating system and it is still an evolving UI/OS (Remember the Android 1.6, 2.0 stock UI?).

Although the company is focused on continued development on Windows 8.1, with an “Windows 8.1 - Update 1” on the cards, Windows watcher Paul Thurrott is reporting that the company has started planning on a release of Windows 9, code-named "Threshold" sometime around April 2015. Allegedly, Microsoft will unveil its ideas/plans/vision for Windows 9 at the company’s Build 2014 developer conference in April later this year.

The move to Windows9 could help Microsoft to move away from the criticism that Windows 8 received. It’s currently unknown what type of changes will be made in Windows 9, but a "Metro 2.0" is being reported, which will focus on improving Microsoft’s new app world and tiles. One of the major things that will supposedly come in between now and April 2015 is a full return of the Start Menu, although it is more likely that Microsoft will include this change in the Update for Windows 8.1 rather than in an entirely new operating system next year.

BUILD 2014 Will Set the Vision for Windows 9

Like it did with Windows 8, Microsoft will use three major milestone development points for Windows 9, but it’s not clear how many of them will be released to the public during the development period.

Windows certainly needs public excitement, more Windows 8-style apps, and in house innovation if it is to succeed with its vision of a hybrid tablet and desktop operating system. Hopefully Build 2014 and Windows 9 will provide the company just that.

One thing is clear, while there will be further modifications to Windows 8.1 in the coming updates, Windows 9 looks to be the next major release.

Source: WinSuperSite

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TechGooner Explains: Why Does Rebooting Help Fix Most of the Problems?

Recently, I met a guy who put some really interesting, yet basic questions in front of me regarding stuff on Windows, Android, etc. This gave me the idea of starting a new series ‘TechGooner Explains’. Here we go with the first one..

The moment your PC starts showing problems the first thing that comes in your head is “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” This is the standard response any computer geek will give you (even if they have not watched The IT Crowd). So the question that pops up is, why don’t geeks try to identify and fix problems rather than use the blunt hammer of “reboot”?

Firstly, remember this reset philosophy/process is not restricted to Windows, it is applicable on routers, phones, iPads, sound systems and even software’s! Ever had extensions crash in Chrome?

To illustrate the requirement of a reboot, I’m going to use the most famous example – the blue screen of death! The problem is usually caused because of problems in hardware drivers or hardware malfunction. Windows has reached a state where it does not understand the error. So it stops all functions, shows the blue-screen of death and gathers the require information about the problem in the background. After this Windows automatically restarts the computer for you. This restart fixes the blue screen of death.

Another usual occurrence is the loss of Graphic Drivers. Earlier (Windows XP and the ones before it), a crash in the Graphic Drivers would ‘hang’ the system, and one had to force reboot it. Windows has improved, the desktop will lose its fancy graphical effects for a few moments before regaining them. Behind the scenes, Windows is restarting the malfunctioning graphics driver.

But why doesn't Windows simply fix the problem rather than restarting the computer itself?  Well, because it can’t — the code has encountered a problem and stopped working completely, so there’s no way for it to continue. By restarting, the code can start from square one and hopefully it won’t encounter the same problem again.

Examples of Restarting Fixing Problems

Windows is Slow: Windows running slowly, usually means that a program is misbehaving and using up a major chunk of the CPU. A geek could head to the task manager and look around, hoping to locate the misbehaving process an end it. If an average user encountered this same problem, they could simply reboot their computer to fix it.

Browser is Using Too Much Memory: Internet browsers including Firefox and Chrome are well known for memory leaks. Over time, the browser would often consume more and more memory, getting larger and larger and slowing down. Closing the application will cause it to relinquish all of its memory. When it starts again, it will start from a clean state without any leaked memory. This doesn’t just apply to Firefox and Chrome, but applies to any software with memory leaks.

Internet or Wi-Fi Network Problems: If you have a problem with your Wi-Fi or Internet connection, the software on your router or modem may have encountered a problem. Resetting the router — just by unplugging it from its power socket and then plugging it back in — is a common solution for connection problems. On the computer front, resetting the adapter works, but rebooting does the same trick.

In all cases, a restart wipes away the current state of the software. Any code that’s stuck in a misbehaving state will be swept away, too. When you restart, the computer or device will bring the system up from scratch, restarting all the software from square one so it will work just as well as it was working before.

Ultimately, the answer is that “resetting a computer wipes away the current state of the software, including any problems that have developed, and allows it to start over from square one.” It’s easier and faster to start from a clean state than identify and fix any problems that may be occurring — in fact, in some cases, it may be impossible to fix problems without beginning from that clean state.

If you want a certain topic in the next edition of TechGooner Explains, leave it in the comment section below.

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Microsoft Confirms Forthcoming Windows Blue

It has been known for quite a long time that Windows was planning a low cost annual upgrade cycle to the Windows and Windows Phone OS, with the project supposedly having a code-name of Windows Blue. Now, we have the first official mention of Windows Blue via a job posting on Microsoft’s careers site.

What is Windows Blue?

With Windows 8 released just a couple of month’s back, Microsoft is now preparing the next generation Windows client. Microsoft plans to adopt a standardized approach across Windows and Windows Phone in an effort to provide more regular updates to consumers. This project is known as Windows Blue.

Originally uncovered by ZDNet, the update will bring changes in the UI and alterations to the entire platform and pricing. Microsoft is trying to make Windows Blue the next OS that everyone installs. The approach is a very simplistic one, Microsoft will price its next Windows release at an extremely low cost (maybe even free) to ensure users upgrade. Once Windows Blue is released, the Windows SDK will be updated to support the new release and Microsoft will stop accepting apps that are built specifically for Windows 8, pushing developers to create apps for Blue. Windows 8 apps will continue to run on Blue despite the planned SDK changes.

The Verge also goes on to say that a user will need a genuine copy of Windows to upgrade to Windows Blue. Built-in apps and the Windows Store will cease functioning if a copy is upgraded that is pirated. Sources also point that Microsoft will be likely to keep the Windows 8 name for the foreseeable future, despite the Windows Blue update. A big part of Windows Blue is the push towards yearly updates for Microsoft’s OS. Microsoft will kick off an annual upgrade cycle for Windows that is designed to make it more competitive against rival platforms from Apple and Google.

The job posting is for a software development engineer who will join the "Core Experience Team" to work on "most of what customers touch and see in the OS." The first paragraph of the listing reads -

We’re looking for an excellent, experienced SDET to join the Core Experience team in Windows Sustained Engineering (WinSE). The Core Experience features are the centerpiece of the new Windows UI, representing most of what customers touch and see in the OS, including: the start screen; application lifecycle; windowing; and personalization. Windows Blue promises to build and improve upon these aspects of the OS, enhancing ease of use and the overall user experience on devices and PCs worldwide.

By the sound of the description it looks like Windows Blue will focus mainly on UI and how users interact with their computers rather than under-the-hood changes. Windows Blue is expected to debut in mid-2013, so it is only a matter of time before which we will find out how good the upgrade is at smoothing out any of Windows 8 rough edges.

Apple has enjoyed great success in this annual upgrade arena, gradually adding new features to Mac OS X every year, through its feline-themed updates. Google too is having a good time with the annual Android upgrades, bringing new desserts to the table. Will Microsoft have similar success with Windows Blue? Only time will tell.

Update: The Microsoft Career's website no longer displays the job with a message - This Job is no Longer Available.

Source: ZDNet, Microsoft Careers

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