No one knows what exactly the next version of Windows will look like, or even what it will be called. Internally it's called Windows.Next, but Microsoft developers refer to it as Windows 8 on LinkedIn. The details we have come from LinkedIn, the portfolio of a developer at Microsoft India R&D, a official statements and presentations by Microsoft and slides supposedly leaked by an HP engineer responsible for OEM relations. Together, these pieces begin to form a picture of what the next generation of Microsoft's operating system will look like.
Let's take a look at some of what may be in the next version.
1. 128-Bit Support
In 2009, PCPro reported that a Microsoft developer mentioned on his LinkedIn profile that he was working on 128-bit compatibility for Windows 8 and 9. Considering how slow the adoption of 64-bit operating systems has been, we doubt 128-bit support will be a game changer for anyone but those needing high-end computing resources.
2. 3D Support
Last year a Microsoft enthusiast Francisco Martin posted the slides from a presentation on Windows 8. He claimed they came from an HP engineer in charge of vendor relations. Martin's website has been taken down, but you can still view some of the Neowin and TechRadar.
According to the slides addressing multimedia, Windows 8 will include support for 3D. Companies like Lenovo already offer laptops with 3D displays and HTC just announced the EVO3D smartphone with glasses-less 3D support, so this may be old hat by the time the OS actually comes out.
3. App Store
Microsoft will also jump on the desktop app store bandwagon, according to another slide. Microsoft already has a Windows Phone 7 store, so this will likely be an extension. Tech Radar reports that one slide said: "Currently the indication is that app development will move to the Web. There is significant opportunity for Microsoft if hardware capabilities, and OS services and Web could be integrated into a hobbyist developer toolset."
4. ARM support (Meaning: Tablet Support)
Microsoft officially announced ARM support earlier this year. That might sound boring, but what it really means is that Windows 8 will run on tablet computers, and maybe even smart phones. Tablets were also pictured in the slides.
5. Facial Recognition
Another one from the slides is facial recognition for logging in. Apparently, the OS will be able to switch user profiles automatically based on who is looking at the screen. This is another feature already available for Windows through third-parties.
6. Faster Startup Time
According to the slides, Microsoft is working boosting its startup speed. It will accomplish this with a new feature called "Log-off and hibernate," which will cache system components but still shut down applications and reload the desktop. This seems like a must-do, considering the startup speed of ChromeOS, OSX on the Macbook Air and "instant-on" operating systems like Splashtop.
7. Kinect Support
OK, this is the exciting one: Kinect for Windows. WinRumors claims to have a source at Microsoft who confirmed that a Kinect SDK for Windows will be released.
8. Location Awareness
The location awareness features shown in the slides is another indication of Microsoft's intention for Windows 8 to be a multi-device OS. Windows 8 will supposedly include support for location sensors, which will be controlled by the user. To address privacy concerns, the applications will have to ask for location access and users will be able to grant permission on a per-request basis or on a permanent basis.
9. Multiple desktops
Multiple desktops are nothing new, and third-party applications have provided the feature for years. However, it's one of the features shown in the portfolio of Microsoft India R&D developer Manoj Manduva. Stephen Chapman of ZDNet drudged the portfolio up while searching for clues about what the next Windows OS would look like.
10. Smart Sticky Notes
Another concept from Manduva's portfolio is "smart" sticky notes - sticky notes with features like reminders and hyperlinks. There's not much detail on this.
11. Skew Window Managment for Touch
The last piece from Manduva's portfolio is a mock-up for a skew windows management tool. Chapman thinks this is actually a concept for the Windows 8 touch UI, since it is remarkably similar to the existing 3D windows manager in Windows 7. Perhaps this could also be a means for switching between windows while using Kinect?
Bonus: A Radical New Interface and/or Name?
Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie demonstrated a concept earlier this year based around a bubble interface. It seems unlikely that something as radically different as this would actually become a part of Windows as soon as the next release. On the other hand, Steve Ballmer said last year that the next version of Windows will be Microsoft's "riskiest product bet," and Business Insider reported a rumor that the Windows 8 tablet interface will be based on the Windows Phone 7 interface.
If it does go with the new bubble interface above, or the WP7 "panels" interface, is it possible that Microsoft might even change the OS name? Tech Republic's Brien Posey writes "I think that in an effort to lose its dated image, Microsoft may rebrand Windows as something completely different. It might even lose the name Windows."
Stranger things have happened, but I wouldn't get too carried away. The (again, supposed) screenshots leaked earlier this year show off a new look for Windows, but not THAT new.
Conclusion
It's easy to be underwhelmed by the proposed features, especially since most of them are already available from competitors or third-parties and Windows 8 won't even be available until next year. But consider some of them as a whole: instant-on, facial recognition, 3D support and Kinect-esque gestural support. Even without a mad new interface, these could add-up to a radically different experience.
It's hard to believe that a Minority Report-style system is coming to a desktop near you in the next couple years. And if it follows the recent "dud, hit, dud, hit" pattern that ME, XP, Vista and 7 are following, this one will be a dud. But it could be the start of something genuinely new, and that's worth paying attention to.
