Rumors: Microsoft May Be Getting Rid Of Windows Numbering, Nokia Brand
Is Microsoft getting rid of numbers and identifiers in the Windows branding? That seems to be the case according to a confidential internal document. On the Microsoft Mobile front, the company is phasing out the Nokia branding, leaving devices to be known only as "Lumia." The Lumia 830 and Lumia 730 are supposedly the last devices to have the Nokia branding.
On the Windows Phone front, Microsoft is moving away from advertising phones with the Windows Phone branding. Instead, the company is looking to merely use the Windows brand, which seemingly backs up previous rumors that Microsoft plans to combine Windows Phone and Windows RT into one platform. (Notice, for example, that the Surface 2 doesn't sport the "RT" branding.)
There's also talk that Windows 9 will drop its numbering as well, pushing forward with merely just the Windows branding. That was made apparent in a batch of new screenshots stemming from a leaked build of Threshold, as well as an advertisement for the HTC One M8 for Windows, and an advertisement for a Windows-based laptop (previous adverts listed Windows 8).
Rumor has it that Microsoft plans to release the "Windows Technical Preview" later this month or at the beginning of October. The recent leak of Threshold Build 9834 reveals that Microsoft has added a search icon next to the Windows button, as well as an icon to move between virtual desktops and revamped icons for Internet Explorer and File Explorer. The Start Menu sports both the typical program access and Modern UI-based tiles such as Windows Store, Mail and News.
According to ZDnet, Windows testers will be able to share their opinions about features and how they function thanks to a special "mechanism." These features will be rolled out in regular Threshold updates. One feature that might not remain in Windows is the Charms Bar, although ZDnet reports that it may remain part of the Threshold Enterprise Tech Preview. One screenshot taken from the leaked build suggests that replacing Charms will likely be a drop-down menu in apps that sports some of the Charms functionality, including Share, Play, Print, Project, Settings and Full Screen.
Of course, because Windows Threshold is still a work in progress, all of these "leaked" changes and additions might not end up in the final product.
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"Certainly Sir, which version would you like- Windows, Windows, or the latest generation, Windows?"
They didn't listen to us last time, and that's the truth...
They just want us for bug and vulnerability hunts...
They didn't listen to us last time, and that's the truth...
They just want us for bug and vulnerability hunts...
Actually, they gave me a great deal of what I was asking for - an OS that was 100% as capable as Windows 7 that also had an interface suitable for ultra portable devices as well. Go figure, it's my favourite version of Windows yet and is on possibly my favourite computing device that I have ever owned, for what it lets me do.
I get the feeling that you people who were screaming "WE WANT A NEW WINDOWS JUST LIKE WINDOWS 7!" sometimes forget that Windows 7 still works just fine and dandy if that's what you want...
"Certainly Sir, which version would you like- Windows, Windows, or the latest generation, Windows?"
"Thank you for calling Microsoft. Which Windows are you using? 7... 8... 9... 10... oops... hold on, let me pull off those socks again."
The marketeers will settle for this outcome, since some of those same execs were whining about "Why not call it WINDOWS AND THIS LI'L PIGGY WENT WEE WEE HOME?"
There are strong denials that those meetings also had one camp demanding the next version sequencing be based on "Dasher, Dancer, Prancer..." etc.
I can't fathom the reason behind the Nokia branding being dropped, in fact I don't believe it.
By avoiding the Kia-Kea wars, Microsoft might be saving oodles of money, this way. Plus maybe a certain South Korean car manufacturer has looked up American '70s auto history and discovered how Chevy's innovative Nova (one of the very first aluminum-block engines) actually earned the Spanish word, "No Va" as in "no go". Especially when so many Nova/NoVa's were seen. littering bar-ditches and service roads.
"OK, no more Kia stuff. No KIA is too insulting, so let's get rid of that name..."
so, do you want windows or windows, though i wouldn't recommend windows for you, and for god sake windows isn't compatible with your system but you are going to want at least windows to go on.
note im talking about 5 different things without identifiers but windows, this is so stupid, getting rid of numbers for what? letters when they decide to put out 14 skus?
Well, 2002 wasn't really the best time for such an idea... 2015 however, sounds a bit more viable. I see 2 implications from this decision. Either Windows is moving towards a monthly/yearly licensing agreement (What Microsoft thought of doing back with XP), or Windows is moving towards being free. For something to be continuously updated, they can't just sell you one license for life, it all comes down to how worried Microsoft is about marketshare. This will be interesting...
Have a touchscreen and mouse/keyboard? You'll get the Start Menu Desktop interface with tiles.
Have just a keyboard/mouse? You'll just get the Start Menu Desktop (aka Windows XP/Vista/7)
I'm eagerly awaiting the public release of 9 at the end of the month. See if it's worthy enough to leave my Windows 7.
Vista SP2 x64 user
Of course I could be 100% wrong.