Microsoft shared a screenshot of an unnamed Windows user interface at its Ignite 2022 conference. Thus, the Redmond company might have shown a preview of the Windows 12 UI. Microsoft launched its new Surface PC lineup at the Ignite 2022 conference. However, an image showcasing a variant of the company’s flagship OS that the users were still unaware of, has caught attention. Is it a Windows 12 sneak peek?
MICROSOFT REVEALED THE INITIAL DESIGN OF WINDOWS 12
When it comes to breaking news regarding the upcoming release of Windows, it is Windows Central that does it best. The website examined this image that was in use to illustrate the Microsoft Teams application during the presentation. After saying that Windows 12 might launch in 2024. Due to the image’s poor quality, a model was designed to accurately demonstrate what we saw. The illustration in question shows a new UI. It does not look like the Windows user interface that is currently familiar to us. As a result, the floating taskbar is located in the lower portion of the screen. While system icons are located in the right corner. The floating search field is available in the top center. And the weather appears in the upper left corner of the image. Windows Central re-drawn the design. Because they had already seen an internal presentation of a similar Windows 12 interface prototype with a similar layout. Therefore, while the image above may not be an exact representation of the new UI. It does serve as a statement of what Microsoft teams hope to accomplish with the upcoming release. Which has the codename “NextValley.”
Read more: Microsoft accidentally revealed Windows 12 new interface
Microsoft unveiled a bounty of upgrades for Windows 11 lately, which has been positioned as the operating system of the hybrid working era. The additions included a new-look File Explorer, improved video conferencing facilities and various security upgrades. However, implicit in some of the announcements were also clues as to how the company might shape its future operating systems. And if the rumors are to be believed, Microsoft has already started work on Windows 12. The focus of the Windows 11 roadmap on enhanced mobility and the renewed emphasis on Windows 365, the company’s PC-as-a-Service offering, suggest the future of Windows lies firmly in the cloud, particularly in a business context.
Head in the clouds
In a world in which connectivity is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that Windows 12 could become Microsoft’s first ever cloud-only operating system, hosted off-device and bundled with compute and storage as part of a subscription package. The system would be similar in many ways to traditional virtual desktop setups, which have been deployed by businesses for years to support BYOD scenarios, but offer simplified pricing and configuration structures and extend out to a wider audience that includes the consumer. Certainly, Microsoft is already interested in shifting towards a hybrid arrangement. Speaking at the event earlier this week, CEO Satya Nadella announced that “the boundaries between the PC and the cloud are fading away”. At the moment, the idea is to streamline the transition between local and Windows 365 desktops, such that users are unable to tell whether their apps, compute and storage are coming from the cloud or their machine. But the logical next step might be to take the whole lot into the cloud, à la Chrome OS. Microsoft has already announced it will allow Windows 365 customers to boot directly into their cloud desktop, bypassing the local OS, which feels only one step short of the cloud-only vision. In a business setting, moving to a cloud-only system would give IT administrators tighter control over security configuration and identity management, and full oversight of how devices are being used. But in a broader context, shifting to a cloud setup is more about enabling new models of consumption. Windows 365 is marketed as a service that provides professionals with unrivaled flexibility, in terms of the location and device they work from, but also the resources available to them. There are currently twelve separate Cloud PC configurations, each of which offers a different amount of resources, and customers can switch between the tiers at any time.
Read a lot more on our special dedicated Windows 12 Board here
Read more: Windows 12: Microsoft’s first cloud-based operating system?
Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 last year which is already available for most of the supported systems. Now, it is being said that the company has already started working on the launch of Windows 12. The Windows has been possibly named Next Valley. In a parallel piece of information, the Windows 11 23H2 version has been stopped and all the focus has been shifted to Windows 12. According to the leaks, Microsoft will first roll out Windows 11 22H2 in September or October 2022. Microsoft will be following a 3-year release cycle for the Windows operating system. So, considering that Windows 11 was launched in 2021, we can expect to see Windows 12 in 2022’s fourth quarter.
Expected features in Windows 12?
Microsoft has not confirmed anything regarding the features of the upcoming Windows. Still, the company can be seen testing different features in the Dev channel. We can get to see a different kind of taskbar in Windows 12. On top of that, Microsoft is also testing the notification badges for the weather widget. Not only this, but the latest version will also have the ability to copy a phone number, time, and date. We can also get to see some of the mentioned features in the upcoming Windows 11 update too.
Well, we can’t comment on the fact whether Windows 12 will be available for free or not. We can expect that all the PCs that are eligible for Windows 12 will get the option to install it, similar to the way we got to see in the case of Windows 11. On the other hand, you would be supposed to pay for the retail license if you want to run on Windows 12 on a custom-built PC.
Read a lot more on our special dedicated Windows 12 Board here
Read more: Microsoft Windows 12: expected features, pricing and more