Windows Threshold. That’s the big update we are expecting for Windows. Before this update arrives, we are also expecting “Update 1” for Windows 8.1, which is now rumored to be around the third quarter of 2014.
While there isn’t much information on what Update 1 will feature, there are new details on what Windows Threshold might be. For those that didn’t know, Windows Threshold is expected to be a re-imagining of Windows, featuring an updated wave of operating systems across Windows-based phones, devices and gaming consoles.
In fact, Windows Threshold is rumored to feature a common core for touch, voice, and mouse/keyboard devices. Here is a breakdown of what Threshold is rumored to feature:
- A common core for touch/voice-first devices & mouse-first devices. The cloud services core moves independently.
- A common UX for touch/voice-first devices. A separate UX for mouse-first devices. The cloud team will create separate front-ends for both.
- A common app runtime for touch/voice/mouse-first devices. A legacy games runtime for voice-first devices. Legacy app runtimes for touch-first & mouse-first devices. The cloud team does its own thing with IAAS & PAAS offerings, within which apps using these or other runtimes may be executed.
- The touch-first SKU will work on 4” to 8” displays, on devices produced by Microsoft & select partners.
- The mouse-first SKU will work on 10” to 30” displays, and will be sold at retail, to all partners & through volume licensing.
- The voice-first SKU will work on 40” to 80” displays, on Microsoft devices.
- The cloud team will deliver various SKUs customized for independent app developers, businesses & government.
These details come from a Microsoft insider known as MSFTNerd. According to him, these details are “based on a heavy dose of speculative information by Microsoft employees who are not directly involved in program management on these products and the boatload of semi-accurate rumors that are out there already.”
This rumor also states that Microsoft is working to make it so you can purchase apps via the Windows Store and run those apps on your Windows Phone, Windows 8/RT, and Xbox One without having to pay twice.
Again, we are looking at a 2015 timeframe for Windows Threshold, so things can change until that time approaches. How do you feel about having a common core, especially between Windows Phone and Windows RT?
Keep in mind that this is all speculation for now, no matter how credible it may sound. Hopefully we hear more about Windows Threshold and Update 1 in the near future.
