Windows Blue is apparently Microsoft’s successor to the Windows 8 platform which debuted only last month. Rumor has it that the OS will bring along an annual update schedule similar to what Apple practices with OS X.
ZDNet originally provided details about the next Windows iteration back in August and The Verge now reports based on information derived through multiple sources ‘familiar with Microsoft’s plans,’ that the platform will carry the codename Blue and it will be a standardized software covering Windows and Windows Phone platforms. The Redmond giant plans on offering updates for the OS every 12 months, delivering a major revision each year.
The OS will introduce various changes to the UI and even the platform as a whole. Apps designed for the current release will be fully supported. However, when the next iteration is launched, the SDK will be revised and developers will be prompted to turn their focus towards the latest software instead. New Windows 8 applications will not be accepted. It doesn’t end just yet – the company aims to make the software available for everyone. To do so, it is likely to offer the OS with an altered retail tag or possibly free, in certain locations.
Those running Windows 8 will need to have a legitimate copy to upgrade to Blue. And if the upcoming release is installed over a pirated version of the OS, the Store and all loaded applications could be blocked by the system and lose functionality. We aren’t sure whether the company will retain the current moniker for the next OS and there are no details on what improvements it will feature for Windows Phone.
Where the release date is concerned, Windows Blue is expected to arrive as early as mid-2013, states the report. What changes it will bring is still a mystery as Microsoft doesn’t seem to be officially commenting on the platform as of now. However, if this rumor holds true, the next Windows iteration will come bearing a cost-effective price. The update is likely to be free for existing Windows 8 customers.
Windows 8 requirements:
– Processor: PAE, NX and SSE2 supported CPU with 1GHz clock speed
– RAM: 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
– Minimum storage: 16GB for 32-bit or 20GB for 64-bit
– Graphics: Microsoft DirectX 9 compatible GPU with WDDM driver
– Optional components: Multi-touch display for touch input