New operating system expected to bring back the popular Start menu and feature an even flatter design than Windows 8
Microsoft will unveil an update to its Windows operating system at a launch event next week, with a raft of new features to replace its unpopular Windows 8 software. Although the operating system still officially has no name, the head of Microsoft France, Alain Crozier, referred to it in the week as Windows 9, and Microsoft China has already leaked a Windows 9 logo on Twitter. The event on Monday is widely believed to be a release of the "technical preview" of the new operating system, a preview which is more for developers than it is for consumers. According to Tech Radar the consumer launch will not come until March 2015. Still, the new product is likely to have most of the features that will be seen in the final version. So how will Windows 9 look? Start menu returns: Central to the new operating system will be a return of the Start menu. Windows 8 controversially did away with the Start menu – a simple navigation system that was first introduced by the company in 1995. Microsoft hoped to create a single navigation system, called Metro, that would work across desktops, tablets and mobile phones. Now, though, Microsoft appears to have backed away from the idea and will reintroduce a Start menu that, according to Extreme Tech, will look like the Windows 7 Start menu but will incorporate Metro-like live tiles. A compromise between old and new. Out with Charms: Early rumours suggested Windows 9 would do away with the unpopular Charms bar altogether, but recent reports say that rather than being disposed of, the bar will simply be hidden in the new OS. The Charms bar was an innovation of Windows 8 that aimed to help users quickly see the actions available to them on any given screen, including options for searching and sharing. Windows 9 seems likely to hide the toolbar in the background. Now even flatter: Microsoft was ahead of the design curve on its last outing, removing embossed edges and drop shadows from their home screens before most of their rivals, including Apple, who swiftly followed suit. According to leaked screenshots, next year's system will be even flatter than before, with thinner window edges and planer icons. Cortana built in: Cortana, Microsoft's digital personal assistant looks set to feature in Windows 9. Cortana allows users to type questions or ask hem verbally. Cortana is likely to be able to understand a certain amount of natural speech, so, for example, users could say "Cortana, show me all my pictures from my trip to Prague" or "Play me some Arctic Monkeys". Multiple desktops: Windows 9 will likely allow users to switch between multiple desktops, which Expert Reviews says, is "a great productivity tool and something that Windows has been missing for a long time". Price: With so little confirmed, it is difficult to know how much Windows 9 will sell for, but Windows 8 retails for around £100 in the UK, leading Expert Reviews to estimate that the new system will cost roughly the same. For further concise, balanced comment and analysis on the week's news, try The Week magazine. Subscribe today and get 6 issues completely free. Source: The Week UK
