Over the last couple of days, screenshots that purport to be
from an early build of Windows 9 (Threshold) have leaked online.
Most notably, one of these screenshots includes the new
resurrected Start menu that Microsoft first showed off
at its Build conference in April.
Another screenshot shows Metro apps running in a window
on the Desktop.
The leaked Start menu appears to be physically identical to the
one shown off in April but with a different set of tiles indicating
that the Metro portion of the Windows 9 Start menu will be
customizable in the same way as the current Windows 8
Start screen.
The new hybridized Start menu appears to be part of
build 9788 which was compiled on July 4.
While no one seems to have leaked the ISOs for
build 9788 yet the general consensus seems to be
that the build does indeed exist somewhere at
Microsoft — and that it might also feature
Windows NT kernel version 6.4
(i.e. the complete version number is 6.4.9788).
The screenshots show a Windows 8.1 Pro watermark
but this isn’t unusual for a very early alpha of
a new build of Windows.
If this really is the next version of the Windows NT kernel
then we’re most likely looking at an early build of
Windows 9 (Threshold) rather than Windows 8.2.
The resurrected Start menu itself is fairly unremarkable
it’s identical to the Start menu demoed by Microsoft back
in April.
from an early build of Windows 9 (Threshold) have leaked online.
Most notably, one of these screenshots includes the new
resurrected Start menu that Microsoft first showed off
at its Build conference in April.
Another screenshot shows Metro apps running in a window
on the Desktop.
The leaked Start menu appears to be physically identical to the
one shown off in April but with a different set of tiles indicating
that the Metro portion of the Windows 9 Start menu will be
customizable in the same way as the current Windows 8
Start screen.
The new hybridized Start menu appears to be part of
build 9788 which was compiled on July 4.
While no one seems to have leaked the ISOs for
build 9788 yet the general consensus seems to be
that the build does indeed exist somewhere at
Microsoft — and that it might also feature
Windows NT kernel version 6.4
(i.e. the complete version number is 6.4.9788).
The screenshots show a Windows 8.1 Pro watermark
but this isn’t unusual for a very early alpha of
a new build of Windows.
If this really is the next version of the Windows NT kernel
then we’re most likely looking at an early build of
Windows 9 (Threshold) rather than Windows 8.2.
The resurrected Start menu itself is fairly unremarkable
it’s identical to the Start menu demoed by Microsoft back
in April.
The left side of the new Start menu is virtually identical to
what you might find in Windows 7, while the right side looks
like a mini Start screen.
There’s no info on how customizable the new Start menu
will be, but presumably you can move and resize the live tiles.
While I’m sure there are lots of people who would rather
just have a stock Windows 7 Start menu without the Metro
stuff on the right-hand side, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re
forced to keep the live tiles (Microsoft is still firmly set on making
Metro the unified UX across all of its operating systems).
Another screenshot shows the new Metro PC Settings
(control panel) running in a window on the Desktop.
In my opinion, this is a far more important change
than the resurrected Start menu.
This change might actually make mouse-and-keyboard users
somewhat inclined to interact with Metro, rather than avoiding
it like the plague (assuming Microsoft massively increases
the use of keyboard shortcuts within Metro
apps on Windows 9, anyway).
Windows 9, codenamed Threshold, is due to be released in
spring 2015 probably at the next Build conference.
The latest rumors suggest that Windows 9 will probably
be split into multiple SKUs (versions), with at least one SKU
that will be oriented towards mouse-and-keyboard use.
Presumably this version will boot to the Desktop
and open Metro apps in a window by default.
There will also likely be a continued push towards
creating a unified experience between Windows
Windows Phone, and Xbox — but until we hear
some official information from Microsoft, we don’t
want to speculate too much about that.
In the mean time, if you don’t want to wait until 2015
for the official Start menu revival, check out our
rather excellent list of third-party Start menu
replacements.
Sources: Windows 9 | ExtremeTech.comwhat you might find in Windows 7, while the right side looks
like a mini Start screen.
There’s no info on how customizable the new Start menu
will be, but presumably you can move and resize the live tiles.
While I’m sure there are lots of people who would rather
just have a stock Windows 7 Start menu without the Metro
stuff on the right-hand side, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re
forced to keep the live tiles (Microsoft is still firmly set on making
Metro the unified UX across all of its operating systems).
Another screenshot shows the new Metro PC Settings
(control panel) running in a window on the Desktop.
In my opinion, this is a far more important change
than the resurrected Start menu.
This change might actually make mouse-and-keyboard users
somewhat inclined to interact with Metro, rather than avoiding
it like the plague (assuming Microsoft massively increases
the use of keyboard shortcuts within Metro
apps on Windows 9, anyway).
Windows 9, codenamed Threshold, is due to be released in
spring 2015 probably at the next Build conference.
The latest rumors suggest that Windows 9 will probably
be split into multiple SKUs (versions), with at least one SKU
that will be oriented towards mouse-and-keyboard use.
Presumably this version will boot to the Desktop
and open Metro apps in a window by default.
There will also likely be a continued push towards
creating a unified experience between Windows
Windows Phone, and Xbox — but until we hear
some official information from Microsoft, we don’t
want to speculate too much about that.
In the mean time, if you don’t want to wait until 2015
for the official Start menu revival, check out our
rather excellent list of third-party Start menu
replacements.