Stop the presses, Windows 9 has been leaked again! The new Windows 9 operating system, or as some sources put it, Windows 8.1 Pro, is the imminently arriving new operating system from Microsoft, which apparently still includes a start menu, even though Microsoft seems to be adding and removing the traditional program starter every time a new version of Windows is released.
Check out our coverage of an earlier leak of of the Windows 9 Start Bar here.
While it’s not yet clear whether Windows 9 will be a standalone or simply an add-on for Windows 8.1, we do know that the software is codenamed ‘Threshold’, and will be arriving in 2015. Windows 8.1 fans, needn’t panic though, as on top of the recently released Windows 8.1 Update 1, we’re most likely also going to see a ‘Windows 8.2’ or a further Update pack prior to Threshold’s 2015 release.
Many internet tech outlets claim to have got hold of some sort of pre release leak, although many of these are simply Photoshop renditions and other fakes designed to attract attention and increase website traffic and ad revenue. However, a pretty reliable source recently posted a new picture of what the new OS may look like.
As you can see the app windows and start menu are clearly detailed in this leak, with features and fixtures clearly visible. The site which the leak originated on, MyCE, also mentioned that the OS would ultimately look different in terms of aesthetic design elements, as the toolbars were not finished yet and could not be considered stable enough to include in a final build.
See also: Windows Phone 9 and Windows 9 Coming 2015?
Also included is an image of the Microsoft app store equivalent, which doesn’t yet show any apps but does include those familiar tiles WIndows users may already be familiar with. In short, this new leak, if legitimate, highlights yet again that Microsoft is looking for a unified operating system design which hopefully will be seen across the board, from mobiles to tablets to desktops to the fastest most powerful gaming PC’s.
Of course, as it is customary to do so with these leaks, we must stress to take these findings with a pinch of salt. The one and only thing we can confirm for definite is that Windows 9 is coming, and that it may (or may not) look like these leaked images. We’ll keep you posted if further leaks occur.
Source: MyCE