- Microsoft is working on a new project called CorePC.
- CorePC aims to make Windows 12 a modular operating system.
- This approach will bring faster updates, better security, and improved AI capabilities.
Microsoft is reportedly developing Windows 12 as a more modern modular system under the “CorePC” internal name that will provide the ability to update devices faster, improve security, and add more AI features.
According to a new report from Windows Central, the software giant is working on a new project known as “CorePC,” which will dice the operating system into different modules, allowing the company to create different variants (or editions) of Windows 12 (or whatever the marketing name could be) depending the requirements of the device since not every form factor can offer the same features and capabilities, such as legacy support for Win32 programs.
Perhaps the biggest change with “CorePC” is that it introduces the concept of “state separation,” which essentially breaks the entire system into several partitions. Although it’s unclear how these partitions will be presented to the user, the report claims that they are “read-only partitions” not accessible by the user or third-party apps. Android and iOS offer a similar approach. The benefit seems to be that separating the components into different partitions allows better management with faster updates while improving the platform’s security. Also, this approach could make resetting a device faster and more reliable.
Historically, Windows has been using one partition for the entire system (not counting the boot and recovery partitions), which means that system files, applications, and user data are stored in a single place.
In the past, Microsoft has tried a similar approach to modulize the operating system with the “Windows Core OS” project, and we have seen the company trying this with Windows 10X, but it didn’t work. “CorePC” is another opportunity to make Windows modular with the difference that “Windows Core OS” was trying to rebuild the system from bottom to top, and “CorePC” will try to work from top to bottom to maintain support for classic desktop applications and workflows.
According to the same report, sources familiar with the plan say that the new project could deliver a version of Windows 12 that will finally be at the same level as Chromebooks in performance, features, and system footprint. Microsoft is already internally experimenting with a version of the operating system for the education market that only runs Microsoft Edge, Office, web, and Android apps, and it’s up to 75 percent smaller than the current SE variant of Windows 11.
In addition, the software giant is also developing a new compatibility layer internally known as “Neon” for legacy apps to work correctly on a system that uses a state separation.
Furthermore, Microsoft is working to optimize the new system to improve AI capabilities since this technology will play a significant role in Windows 12 and future versions. (We are already seeing some AI features coming to Windows 11 with the Bing Chat integration in search.)
The report also points out that the AI features that the company is working on include the ability to scan content on the screen and offer “contextual prompts to jumpstart projects or apps.” Also, the system may be able to detect objects and text in images so that users can extract that content with a simple copy-and-paste action.
It’s still unclear when (or if) these changes will arrive. However, it’s been said that the company plans to deliver the CorePC project sometime in 2024 with the release of Windows 12, which currently carries the “Hudson Valley” internal codename.
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].