Microsoft's Windows 9 Launch Event Is Tomorrow, Here's What To Expect

Microsoft has a big opportunity tomorrow when they unveil the next version of Windows known by the code name “Threshold” and what could ultimately be dubbed Windows 9. Though its official name has yet to be confirmed, Microsoft is holding an event tomorrow in San Francisco and the unveil invitations sent out hint at “what’s next for Windows.” Lately there have been a flurry of reports and leaks of what is widely known as Windows 9, though there is still some buzz that Microsoft may brand the OS by a different name upon launch. Regardless, here are a few key highlights on what I think we’ll see the Redmond team unveil with this new OS, which is expected to cure the many ills users have been complaining of with Windows 8.

Addressing Desktops, Non-Touch Laptops and The Enterprise

Obviously, this is the most widely reported and demanded change for Windows 9 – the start menu will make a triumphant return. Though Microsoft had best intentions to embrace the touch revolution, ultimately desktop and non-touch laptop users were left with a disjointed mess between Microsoft’s “Modern UI” and desktop mode. In a recent Windows 9 Technical Preview leak, the new start menu made its appearance and a dare I say it’s a really nice combination of both a traditional programs start menu and an expandable, customizable tile menu for a quick hit on your most frequently uses apps. There is also word that Windows 9 will support virtual desktops, allowing you to run multiple desktops at once, simultaneously, which could be a major advantage for workstation professionals, IT managers and the enterprise.

Cortana, Your Digital Assistant Across All Platforms

It makes sense that Microsoft’s arguably more intelligent Siri alternative will also come to the desktop and notebook. On mobile device, this feature is great for location-based search and discovery, calendar functions, research, reminders and the like. However, enabled on the desktop with a fast wired connection or over WiFi, and with lots of processing resources available to enhance natural language interaction, Cortana could go from a sexy sidekick of information, to a real search and processing ninja on steroids.

Update Your OS Like You Do All Your Devices, With The Push Of A Button

OTA updates have been common on mobile platforms for a long time now. It simplifies the user experience and make available both major and incremental updates that not only fix bugs and plug security holes but also afford new functionality and features. Microsoft’s Windows Update service has typically only been used as a vehicle for distributing security updates, bug fixes and performance enhancements. However, with Redmond’s recent commitment to more regular roll-outs of new OS versions with new features and functionality, word on the street is that one-click updating is headed to Windows 9 as well. The move would afford Microsoft the ability to offer feature roll-out much the same way Google does with Android, only for PCs as well as mobile devices, which brings us to Microsoft’s next opportunity for improvement: platform unification.

Windows, One Experience For Everything In Your Life

Of all the opportunities Microsoft has before them with future iterations of Windows, this perhaps could be the most compelling if they’re able to pull it off. Though Windows RT, with its app store on an island, has been met with a luke-warm reception, one Windows Store for all platforms has been a goal the company has been vocal about since the their Surface 2 launch in late 2013. Microsoft needs to play this card for tablets, smartphones and PCs. If they can make it happen, it could help their obvious mobile ecosystem shortcomings immensely and attract developers in droves. For developers, install base exposure is king and offering them the ability to hit all devices from PCs, to tablets and smartphones is a win. Not to mention end customers love to take versions of their favorite apps to any device or system they own, obviously. It’s a proverbial win-win and if you toss in further Xbox One integration, things get even more interesting. I expect we’ll hear more detail on this tomorrow and it certainly won’t come a moment too soon.

Like Shouting “Free Beer!” In A Frat House

The rumor going around, and one that makes a lot of sense, is that Microsoft will make Windows 9 available for free for Windows 8 users. Nothing says I love you and I’m sorry, like delighting those customers you’re courting with a free upgrade. What’s more encouraging perhaps is that this rumor may not just be smoke, but a real fire, with the President of Microsoft Indonesia noting that Windows 8 device owners will receive the company’s next OS as a free upgrade. This one move would bring Redmond some serious good will for all the shortcomings of Windows 8 and further the adoption of their next generation OS and UI for all platforms as well.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Microsoft and again, it represents a lot of opportunity for the company to win back customer and developer confidence. What’s eerily odd about Windows releases is that over the years, Microsoft has repeatedly launched operating systems with successful and the subsequently very unsuccessful cadences – Windows 2000 was a great OS, Windows ME was a disaster, Windows XP was very solid, Windows Vista was a train wreck.

Then we have Windows 7, which has served the Windows ecosystem and end users well for many years, only to be followed-up by what felt like Microsoft pulling the rug out from under us with Windows 8. That said, the core OS of Windows 8 is very strong, with excellent resource management, better thread utilization and overall better system-level efficiency. It was just the user interface and ecosystem support that were off the mark. And that’s a very big “just.” I’m betting Microsoft gets it right this time and we’ll find out how right tomorrow.