With Microsoft having vowed that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows, many of us were surprised when it eventually announced Windows 11 six years later. Well, we could be set to see Microsoft spend only half that time before releasing yet another version, according to the latest Windows 12 release date speculation.
Speculation really is the word with this one, though, as several conclusions have been jumped to by the source of the story, PCGamer. The news comes originally via Intel, with a representative at a recent chat at the Citi 2023 global technology conference suggesting that next year could be big for Intel sales because of a significant Microsoft Windows update.
‘We actually think ’24 is going to be a pretty good year for client [hardware, as opposed to business hardware], in particular, because of the Windows refresh. And we still think that the installed base is pretty old and does require a refresh and we think next year may be the start of that, given the Windows catalyst. So we’re optimistic about how things will play out beginning in ’24.’
Clearly the reference to a ‘Windows catalyst’ and that the install base ‘does require a refresh’ is hardly the strongest of hints that we’re definitely due Windows 12 next year. However, even if we don’t get a number change, we could still be in line for a significant interface or feature change.
What those changes might be are entirely speculation at this point. However, with both AMD and Intel set to support hybrid core architectures by this time next year, major optimisation of thread usage could be one feature. All the recent talk of AI in the likes of Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Microsoft Bing, we could see even more AI integration.
It’s also possible we’ll see Microsoft take even further steps towards ditching legacy features, as it has hinted at with recent dropping of Windows 11 upgrade support and the steady hiding away of legacy features such as the old right-click menu.
On the flipside, we could see Microsoft pare back Windows 12 to run faster and simpler with a renewed focus on a simple desktop interface. After all, Windows 11 had very slow uptake after the success of Windows 10, due largely to the company’s focus on touchscreen optimization – a mistake and lesson you might’ve thought Microsoft would’ve learned after the debacle of Windows 8.
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