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Rumors: Microsoft May Be Getting Rid Of Windows Numbering, Nokia Brand

By - Source: GeekOnGadgets | B 29 comments

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.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

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Top Comments
  • 15 Hide
    anneoneamouse , September 11, 2014 11:33 AM
    "I'd like to buy a copy of windows please, for a desktop. "
    "Certainly Sir, which version would you like- Windows, Windows, or the latest generation, Windows?"
Other Comments
  • 7 Hide
    Blaise170 , September 11, 2014 10:42 AM
    I saw the news a few days ago. Maybe it will ease "consumer confusion" whatever that means, but can you imagine working in my IT department? Hi, I have this computer with Windows, can you fix it?
  • 2 Hide
    memadmax , September 11, 2014 10:45 AM
    Why bother sharing our "opinion" for?

    They didn't listen to us last time, and that's the truth...

    They just want us for bug and vulnerability hunts...
  • Add your comment Display all 29 comments.
  • -6 Hide
    TechyInAZ , September 11, 2014 11:03 AM
    I'm glad that windows is making their name changes, since windows 8 and RT brought a ton of confusion. At least Microsoft is fixing their windows naming system.
  • -1 Hide
    stevejnb , September 11, 2014 11:20 AM
    Quote:
    Why bother sharing our "opinion" for?

    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...
  • -1 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 11, 2014 11:21 AM
    Anyone who buys anything from the "windows store" is an idiot. Hey microsoft, i do not want that store taking up space on my SSD. Make it optional.
  • 0 Hide
    JOSHSKORN , September 11, 2014 11:25 AM
    Windows One. Yay!
  • 15 Hide
    anneoneamouse , September 11, 2014 11:33 AM
    "I'd like to buy a copy of windows please, for a desktop. "
    "Certainly Sir, which version would you like- Windows, Windows, or the latest generation, Windows?"
  • 2 Hide
    christinebcw , September 11, 2014 12:06 PM
    I understand Microsoft exec's are happy with this possible change since they won't be threatened with removing shoes and socks when subbing at the Tech Support desks.

    "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.
  • 0 Hide
    Zepid , September 11, 2014 12:17 PM
    Wasn't the whole purpose of buying Nokia to bring on the legendary name to give some credibility to the Windows Phone platform (after Microsoft decided to ditch the enterprise market when moving from WinPho 6.5 to 7)?

    I can't fathom the reason behind the Nokia branding being dropped, in fact I don't believe it.
  • 3 Hide
    christinebcw , September 11, 2014 12:30 PM
    Microsoft may be showing that far-sighted brilliance of theirs. After seeing Jobs and Yoko & Paul go at it over a certain fruit name, perhaps Microsoft is undermining a threatened Apple suit if Apple proceeds in acquiring a popular Scandinavian home-furnishings conglomerate. After all, it would easily fit within Apple's current product line - iPhone, iPad, iMac, iSpy, iWant, iHave, iKea.

    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..."
  • 2 Hide
    alidan , September 11, 2014 12:31 PM
    Quote:
    I'm glad that windows is making their name changes, since windows 8 and RT brought a ton of confusion. At least Microsoft is fixing their windows naming system.


    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?
  • 1 Hide
    StarBound , September 11, 2014 12:42 PM
    Another stupid idea in a long line of stupid ideas from microsoft if rumour is to be believed. Personally I cannot see this happening unless microsoft plans on having a single OS built with a subscription model, because MS will definitely not release windows for free and support it like steam.
  • 0 Hide
    christinebcw , September 11, 2014 12:46 PM
    Remember Apple tried to stop numbering the iPhone last year, too. That went soooo well, too.
  • 8 Hide
    weilin , September 11, 2014 1:19 PM
    They went down this path before. Windows XP was actually short for "Windows eXPerience". The idea was one version of windows that's continuously updated and enhanced with new features. XP was supposed to be a modular OS, sorta like what Google did with Android. Move as much of the non-core functionality out of the OS distribution and make it part of an software distribution service that's independent of the OS. At the time, the independent software distribution service was windows update (notice how you could, if you opt in, get other Microsoft software on windows update like Defender, Security essentials, Windows (Live) essentials, Bing desktop/toolbar, etc). Today it would be the new Microsoft (App) Store.

    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...
  • 1 Hide
    soccerplayer88 , September 11, 2014 2:58 PM
    Windows 9 is to be rumored that it detects what devices you have available and installs the version accordingly.

    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.
  • 0 Hide
    plast0000 , September 11, 2014 9:35 PM
    I hope that Windows 9 is worth the upgrade and I'm 100% sure that it will, 7 is not a real upgrade for me and 8 has an annoying UI (plain white? no, metro? it's not very helpful and the classic shell has some bugs)

    Vista SP2 x64 user
  • 0 Hide
    christinebcw , September 12, 2014 5:13 AM
    Oh, don't worry. Windows 9 will be the greatest operating system on earth! Yessirreee... and all the Win 8 fans should be loading on the very first thing - after all, they whined and cried that everyone else was "afraid of change", so I'm soooo sure they'll all be the first ones switching. From one "greatest OS" to the next one. Uh huh.
  • 1 Hide
    TRWRacing , September 12, 2014 6:48 AM
    @Christine Actually it was the Chevy Vega that had one the all aluminum engine not the Chevy Nova and it was developed by Cosworth.
  • -1 Hide
    christinebcw , September 12, 2014 8:18 AM
    I thought the Nova had an alum block, not the engine, and that caused so many head-gasket issues then warping. Hubby said they made a nice burbling sound before the engine block cracked, though.
  • 0 Hide
    bourgeoisdude , September 12, 2014 8:28 AM
    Wow...could be big news. In my mind, this can only mean the next Windows may be the last--Windows will be an evolving platform like Office 365. Once that happens there will be little reason to differentiate between versions, since it's either "Windows" or "Windows 8.1/7/Vista/XP" or whatever. Big and bold--and probably still hated. But at some point necessary, it's too difficult for them to keep supporting six different versions of Windows at once. They can finally consolidate around a single platform as early as 2022.

    Of course I could be 100% wrong.
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