Microsoft Will Announce Windows 9 “Threshold” Preview in Late-September

Microsoft appears to be done with Windows 8, after an unsuccessful start and low growth rate in the past two years, they are looking towards Windows 9, “Threshold” to come and save the day.

Windows 8 has around 5 percent share in the market, Windows 8.1, the small update in 2013, has just over 6 percent. Compared to Windows 7 and even XP, this is a very small slice of the PC pie, hurting Microsoft’s revenues.

Windows Threshold is the internal name for the next update to the PC OS. The technical preview will be coming late in September, according to multiple sources with insider information, this will be the first look at the changes.

Microsoft will be removing the Charms menu, the rather annoying right-side menu for settings and search, the Search Menu will return with a new Metro look and Microsoft will be bringing Metro apps onto the desktop mode, meaning we will still have both modes in Threshold.

This is what is expected at least, Microsoft gave no date for the Start Menu launch at BUILD in June and the removal of the Charms menu is only from internal sources, it has not been confirmed by anyone in Microsoft publicly.

The technical preview should give Microsoft enough time to redefine Windows 9 and make it a more consumer and PC friendly operating system. It is obvious that the move to half-touch was a mistake, with tablet sales for Windows 8 still in the dark compared to iPad/Android.

There are rumors this will be the first “free” update to Windows, following Apple’s recent change to free PC updates. Microsoft is the only company to still make users pay to upgrade, which might be one of the main reasons why users are still on Windows XP and 7.

This change would chunk revenues, but the growth in the PC market stopped a few years ago. Microsoft should look to bring as many new people into the Windows 9 program as possible, and look to make revenue through services and apps sales.