Windows Blue ~ WindOS X The new Windows 8 logo is blue — coincidence?!?! Perhaps more important, though, is the shift to a 12-month release cadence. Historically, Microsoft has released a major version of Windows every few years, with the intervening periods populated with stability — and security-oriented service packs. Now it seems that Microsoft wants to move to an OS X-like system, where new and exciting features will be added on an annual basis. In turn, Microsoft will drop the price of these releases — probably to around $25, just like OS X.
In theory, quicker releases will allow Microsoft to better compete with Apple and Google, who have shown themselves to be a lot nimbler than Microsoft in recent years. With Microsoft’s current few-year release cycle, there’s always the risk that its OS will already be oudated or bested by the competition by the time it hits the market. By moving to an annual release cycle, Microsoft should be able to stay ahead of the curve, rather than constantly playing catch-up.
We should also pay heed to that tidbit about Windows 8 and WP8 SDKs being “standardized.” As you may already know, Windows Phone 8 shares the same “common core” as Windows 8 — the same kernel, the same network stack, the same low-level security features and so on. Here at ExtremeTech we’ve repeatedly speculated about the possibility of Windows Phone 8 being removed from the equation entirely, with Windows 8 running across every computer form factor, including the smartphone. Having a single desktop and mobile OS that receives major annual updates, and has access to one vast library of apps, could be a very strong strategy for finally cracking the mobile market.
Tags: blue, windows blue, windows 8, microsoft, new os, osx, windosx
