Windows 9 Threshold Tipped to Feature Interactive Live Tiles and More

Microsoft's anticipated next version of Windows, expected to be called Windows 9 and officially codenamed Threshold, has once again come under the spotlight with reports pointing to new features such as interactive live tiles and notification centre, said to be a part of Modern UI 2.0. Also being actively speculated about is the separation of desktop from Modern UI, the release-cadence cycle of the new operating system, and the expected release of Windows 9 technical preview as early as next month.

Winbeta reports that Microsoft would modify Windows 9 to offer different features on different form factors. ARM-based Windows RT Threshold tablets (as well as smartphones, with the unifying Threshold update) will in most cases barring a few exceptional devices feature the Modern UI only, with no way to switch to the desktop mode or use regular Win32 applications.

On the other hand, laptops, desktops and AIOs would feature only the desktop mode, with the new Start Menu the only place where desktop users will be able to interact with the Modern UI and its apps - the Start Menu is also said to be expandable to full screen to become like the Start Screen.

The website also reports two new features for the Start Screen and Start Menu, namely interactive Live Tiles and a new Notification Centre. The interactive Live Tiles will enable users to perform certain tasks on the app without opening it. The first glimpse of the interactive Live Tile was seen in April. Winbeta notes that not all apps will have interactive Live Tiles functionality, though most important ones will, and that developers will have to make sure their apps support the interface.

The website also adds that the Modern UI 2.0 included in the Windows Threshold will also feature a Windows Phone 8.1-like Notification Centre. The details on the feature are still scarce. In addition, Cortana might also have a dedicated Live Tile on the start screen - just like on Windows Phone. Winbeta says it is still uncertain if Cortana can be accessed via the hardware search button or not.

While these two features are said to reach the users as a part of Windows 9 or Threshold, Winbeta says because of the rumoured separation of Modern UI from the desktop mode, Microsoft may not release a Windows RT Threshold technical preview this year - though it once again notes the uncertainly to this expectation. A separate ARM-based Windows RT Threshold technical preview is expected to be released after the x86-based Windows 9 Threshold technical preview for enterprises, which could be released as soon as next month.

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley adds that Microsoft is looking to tweak its release-cadence cycle substantially with Windows 9, and will provide smaller updates with both fixes and new features on a month-to-month basis after releasing the OS - rather than major updates every year.

Foley says it is still unclear whether Microsoft will employ a subscription-based model to deliver the updates, or just provide them for free while mitigating development costs with other paid subscriptions. Of course, a very fast cadence for updates will not make enterprises or IT managers very happy, who'd prefer to test new versions and features before rolling them out to their users.

The report cites Neowin's Brad Sams to say Windows 9 may include a button in the Windows Update section to allow users to quickly upgrade their version of Windows, without the current hassle. Of course, such a feature, if real, will not be mandatorily turned-on, and Foley adds that Microsoft's Terry Myerson emphasised that operating systems group understood the different needs of users for updates and their frequency, from enterprise to end-user to power user.

A news report indicated that Microsoft is planning to hold an event on September 30 to provide a look at a version of what is expected to be called Windows 9, and is thought to be codenamed 'Threshold'.

The introduction will be aimed at developers behind programs designed for computers powered by Windows software, and Microsoft is expected to release a developer preview as early as October before releasing a public preview by the end of the year.