Put in the nicest way that I could possibly muster, Windows 8 is just…not very good. A discomforting hodgepodge of ideas and bets Microsoft wrongly categorised as ‘safe’, Windows 8 caters to the wrong part of their audience. Its Metro-style layout presents live, tiled widgets in an interface designed for those who are used to apps, while its exchanging of the Start button for a Windows logo that whisks you away to a page cluttered with those tiled widgets seems to forget that the majority of its users have been using the Start button system for over a decade. So with backlash and a better knowledge of their audience firmly at their side, Microsoft is now working on Windows 9.
Codenamed ‘Windows Threshold’ for reasons that are beyond me, Windows 9 will bring with it a plethora of features than many of us have been pounding on Microsoft’s door for since Windows 8 launched. According to substantial industry mutterings, that Metro layout that displeased so many is also being thrown out. Well, sort of. If you use one of those new-fangled (and actually rather popular) convertible laptops which combines a touchscreen with a keyboard such as Lenovo’s Yoga series, then you’ll be stuck with that Windows 8 design, but if you’re using Windows 9 on a desktop or on a non-convertible laptop, you’ll thankfully be given your Start button back. Phew.
Other much-asked for solutions that we’ll be getting is that Microsoft will be removing the Charms bar. Meant to function like a list of quick hotlinks that you can access and click on in no time at all, the Charms can often get in the way of what you actually meant to do. The fact that the Charms bar comes up when you brush your cursor on that side of the screen means that it also has a habit of getting in the way – plenty will be happy to see it gone, no doubt.
Meanwhile, other rumoured features are just bonuses. For example, Windows Phone users have enjoyed the use of Microsoft’s Cortana personal assistant (like Siri but better and on Microsoft’s payroll) for a short while now and in line with their new focus on productivity, Windows 9 could come with Cortana included. We’ll also be getting automatic push updates which is handy as we won’t have to keep track of them.
Sources that spoke to ZDNet say that a preview build of Windows 9 will be available to the public next month. That’s yet to be confirmed but we’ll keep you posted.
Do you like Windows 8 or will you be glad to see it go? Let us know in the comments.
