Will Microsoft release Windows 9 in October, following the path it's taken with the release of Windows 7 and Windows 8? That seems to be the case thanks to insider information provided by Windows leaker WZOR who claims that Microsoft will release Windows 9 this fall.
That goes against everything we've heard about the Windows release schedule thus far. According to previous reports, Windows 8.1 will get an update, called GDR1, which will launch alongside Windows Phone 8.1 and the Surface Mini tablet this Spring during Microsoft's BUILD conference.
Sources claim that Microsoft will talk more about Windows 9 during that conference. Windows 9 was originally expected to be part of the "Threshold" release in Spring 2015 along with Windows Phone 9 and a new update for Xbox One that will connect it even more to the two other operating systems. By then, Windows RT is expected to be merged with Windows Phone.
Sources have also claimed that Microsoft is trying to distance itself from Windows 8 much like it has done with Windows RT (notice Surface 2 doesn't sport the RT name). If that is indeed the case, Microsoft could very well be shooting for an October release, and will launch Windows 9.1 during Spring 2015 instead.
So what's in store for the Windows 8.1 GDR1 update in mere months? That's unknown for now save for insider reports of performance and feature improvements. There seems to be no additional details regarding a possible October launch for Windows 9 either, but it certainly isn't out of the question. That said, take all of this with a grain of salt, as it's speculation and rumor until Microsoft takes the stage at BUILD 2014 this April.