It’s been just little over three months from the Windows 8 launch and we are already talking that Microsoft is planning to release the next big update for its latest operating system, which thus far is known as “Blue”.
A new report coming from ZDNet suggest that this upcoming feature-pack update is not just for Windows, but instead will be a platform update, covering Windows client and server, Windows Phone and Windows Services (e.g., Outlook, SkyDrive and others), and the update is expected to be released gradually for each platform and not all at the same time.
This of course doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more updates until then, regular “Patch Tuesday”, fixes and firmware updates will continue as they are ready for Windows 8, Windows RT, and the other platforms.
This is a big shift from Microsoft since for more than 20 years the company has only been releasing major updates every three years (and every six years, if we count the release of Windows Vista). The company’s new direction is to try to keep a yearly update schedule and getting it to people more quickly, which according to a well guarded source to ZDNet, Microsoft might use the Windows Store to roll out Windows Blue.
The change is also in response to stay competitive with Apple and Google who also release new updates in short cycles, and Blue is the first try to do just that.
We are still in the early days and thus far there is not specific information which new features will be coming in Blue. However, as I previously mentioned, is possible to see new enhancements to the user interface, new Windows SDK for developers to move from the Windows 8 app design to the new platform, as well as new updated Mail, Calendar, Bing, a new Internet Explorer and other Microsoft modern apps.
Furthermore, Windows Blue will also bring backward compatibility for Windows 8, changes to the Windows kernel and driver-level updates, which could enhance battery life and performance.
Source ZDNet
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].