Microsoft's Next Operating System Getting Drafted

[btarunr]

Less than a year into the launch of Windows 7, and a few months in the making for its first service pack update, Microsoft has already taken large strides into outlining the key areas the company's next consumer operating system would focus on. Aimed to be released within the year 2012 time-frame (when Windows 7 will have become 3 years and 2 service packs old), Microsoft's next operating system is referred to as "Windows 8" (tada). The company had recently released to its industry partners a set of presentations, all covering different departments of the product's development, to outline the ideas in store for the developers. These confidential presentations were leaked to the public domain.

Among these presentations, some of the most interesting ones give us an insight on what interfacing with the PC will be like in a few years from now. To begin with, the average PC is poised to get a few mandatory updates to its hardware capabilities (just as how having a sound controller became mandatory for consumer PCs through the late 1990s). The PC will have a few sensors, cameras and accelerometers that will serve dual-purpose of user authentication and utility (use by software).



Devices such as infrared proximity sensors, accelerometers, ambient-light and web-cameras will let PCs detect its user nearby, verify the user's identity by face-recognition, and load-up (or unlock) the user's account on the PC. Later, the user can just walk away from the PC, and it will standby, hibernate, shut-down, or simply lock the PC and turn-off the display, to save power.

The operating system will be even more cloud-oriented, letting users access their profiles from any other cloud-enabled PC or device. Another major development would be the adoption of a major software and content delivery platform along the lines of Apple Store or Valve Steam, where users will be able to buy content and proprietary software. For now the medium is referred to as the "Windows Store". The same service will also handle software updates and the product service. These and more will form the key changes that are relevant to the consumer in Microsoft's next OS. Once the brainstorming is complete, Redmond will sit down to develop, test, fix, and release the operating system.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[TIGR]

....Microsoft's next operating system is refereed to as "Windows 8" (tada).

I loled.

Anyway, even if I'm not sure I like the sound of all their ideas, it's good to see Microsoft getting right on this and looking to really innovate—while communicating enough in the industry to make sure the infrastructure to support these innovations will be there.

 

[v12dock]

Come on new file system

 

[theubersmurf]

So, it's going to function with Natal/Kinect as an input device presumably.

 

[Hayder_Master]

welcome to mars

 

[SetsunaFZero]

nothing new to me
Most MSI Net-/Notebooks already support face-recognition for Win7 via 3rd party software from MSI :/

 

[inferKNOX]

Nice to see M$ starting to take some time away from wallowing in money to give us more of what we're paying for.
Before now it's been like going to the M$ take-away, buying oily chips and washing them down with greasy water, then paying for the equivalent of a 5-star meal; the experience has been bloated, featureless and overpriced.:shadedshu

 

[95Viper]

Wunnerful Wunnerful...

Can't wait, I like new things.

Joke: Why does Apple fear MS's upcoming new Windows?

Spoiler

Cause Windows 8 da Snow Leopard!

Disclaimer: Did not say funny joke.

 

[Fourstaff]

OMG wtf DX12! I am sooo going to wait for DX12 before upgrading my graphics card. DX11 is obsolete before it even become mainstream!

 

[Mandown]

No No No NO!! This should have been windows 7, instead of a supercharged vista.

 

[Agility]

Once the Brainstorming is complete? More like brainwashing. Now every crap monitor In Da fuTurE will come with webcam "Windows 8 FACE RECOGNITION" Ready. Nice M$!!!

 

[rampage]

the next big thing is always around the corner, oh wow we have win 7 and dx 11, now its oh double wow look here comes win 8 and dx 12, and wait for it . holy bat shit its win 9 and dx13.


unless the general population of consumers can keep up with the software and then the hardware to go with it all this new wiz bang stuff dosnt mean alot .. look at all the ppl holding on for dear life to win xp 32bit os's and dx9. not saying they should upgrade, heck i think of my grandmother or my GF and the crap heaps they are running, but it dose what they need it to do so i can understand them not upgrading.

it just a big catch 22 to me. one step forward, stone wall, and two steps back ..

//END RANT

 

[Easy Rhino]

OMG wtf DX12! I am sooo going to wait for DX12 before upgrading my graphics card. DX11 is obsolete before it even become mainstream!

 

[Steevo]

Facial recognition via cloud? No thanks, too much like Minority report, we scan your face on entering the mall and you start getting ads in store windows for you.


They already are using the phone GPS to detect location and serve up crap we don't ask for from that. Give me in home multiple audio multiple input/output terminals that act like a normal PC and we have a go. As it is right now I am trying to determine the best way to setup a 6 zone receiver system for music in my house and outside by the pool and later by a hot tub/deck. Why the F can't I buy/build a PC that has the ability to drive a display in a couple rooms, and multi-zone sound out of my media library? As it is now I have to fiddlefuck with my PC to get it to do what I want in small scale, and at this rate I will end up owning a main server with a few TB of storage, and about 6 PC's to run everything like my theater, gaming, music, wife's pc, living room, etc....


I would drop some cash on a OS that allows me to build a dual processor 16GB RAM 5970 watercooled beast with multiple sound devices that all work and drives 6 displays for use simultaneously.

 

[Zubasa]

OMG wtf DX12! I am sooo going to wait for DX12 before upgrading my graphics card. DX11 is obsolete before it even become mainstream!

LOL for thinking DirectX 12 is coming anytime soon

Year 2012 is still a good while away, and it takes a while for a new OS to become mainstream.
There is nothing about DX12 in the article.

 

[wahdangun]

Facial recognition via cloud? No thanks, too much like Minority report, we scan your face on entering the mall and you start getting ads in store windows for you.


They already are using the phone GPS to detect location and serve up crap we don't ask for from that. Give me in home multiple audio multiple input/output terminals that act like a normal PC and we have a go. As it is right now I am trying to determine the best way to setup a 6 zone receiver system for music in my house and outside by the pool and later by a hot tub/deck. Why the F can't I buy/build a PC that has the ability to drive a display in a couple rooms, and multi-zone sound out of my media library? As it is now I have to fiddlefuck with my PC to get it to do what I want in small scale, and at this rate I will end up owning a main server with a few TB of storage, and about 6 PC's to run everything like my theater, gaming, music, wife's pc, living room, etc....


I would drop some cash on a OS that allows me to build a dual processor 16GB RAM 5970 watercooled beast with multiple sound devices that all work and drives 6 displays for use simultaneously.

if you want to, you can use N-computing but you can't use it for game tough (but it can play HD movie very easy), and the VT software was superb, it even have it own usb (model L300), and only consume just 1 watt + it was PoE, so it want clutter your house with power cord.

 

[DanTheMan]

I guess big brother will be watching over us all with the face recognition

 

[WhiteLotus]

I guess big brother will be watching over us all with the face recognition

Even while we watch porn?!?!


Hmmmm


I don't like the thought of that... ... or do I?

 

[Easy Rhino]

i honestly think windows 7 will be my last microsoft OS. video games simply is not a big enough reason to subject myself to this crap.

edit: windows 7 ABWAUAHAJWUAJAJA

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

i honestly think windows 7 will be my last microsoft OS. video games simply is not a big enough reason to subject myself to this crap.

I feel the same way. I am switching all my computer over to Linux. In addition, I have finally gotten this thing my university requires up to have on our computer to run with major modification on Linux. I am however, a gamer, but it seems Steam will have a Linux client out soon anyway!

On topic, I have tried the facial recognition thing, well problem is I held up my ID to the camera. Instant access. I disabled that feature on the spot.

 

[DanTheMan]

On topic, I have tried the facial recognition thing, well problem is I held up my ID to the camera. Instant access. I disabled that feature on the spot.[/QUOTE]

However, BIG BROTHER will choose for you to have it on and remotely reactive it "for your own protection"

 

[timta2]

Another major development would be the adoption of a major software and content delivery platform along the lines of Apple Store or Valve Steam, where users will be able to buy content and proprietary software.

Hopefully they will have a better selection than the Zune Video Marketplace on the XBox 360. Whoever decided to have 10 movies in each category should be fired for being a moron. Hopefully with this Microsoft will realize that they should offer something when customers want to give them money!

 

[lemonadesoda]

So can I hold up a photograph of my boss and log-in as him, access the HR files, and give myself a raise and more holidays? LOL

Watchout skype! I think MS is after your business.

 

[Bundy]

Another major development would be the adoption of a major software and content delivery platform along the lines of Apple Store or Valve Steam, where users will be able to buy content and proprietary software. For now the medium is referred to as the "Windows Store". The same service will also handle software updates and the product service. These and more will form the key changes that are relevant to the consumer in Microsoft's next OS.

I agree that this has potential benefits for general users but does it mean MS is thinking about restricting apps that are not supplied via this means? i.e. iphone, Win mobile 7.

 

[Phxprovost]

Even while we watch porn?!?!


Hmmmm


I don't like the thought of that... ... or do I?

if i can get windows 8 for free they can watch me watch porn all they want