Microsoft’s Upcoming Windows Codename “Threshold” hopes to win the hearts of Windows 7 users
As Windows 8.1 tries to win the hearts of Windows 7 users by releasing updates to the OS and with the impending come back of the Start Menu that was supposedly to be included with Window 8.1, Microsoft is on the track for the next major revision of the OS. Codenamed “Threshold”, Microsoft will be adding new features and bringing back the elements that made Windows 7 users hold unto from upgrading to Windows 8.
With Windows “Threshold”, Microsoft will continue to bring both the Desktop and Tablet elements to the OS by an improved mechanism to switch between environments more efficiently. Threshold will also intelligently select an appropriate environment for users depending on which device the OS has been installed. Example on this matter is that when users are using a Tablet PC, they will have to start the device with Metro/Modern UI, traditional Desktop users on the other hand will start off with the familiar Desktop environment on Windows. Users from these environments can then switch between modes on the fly giving them the flexibility to run apps on either environments without the need to purchase another set of device much like what we have in Windows 8/8.1 but a lot more improved.
According to Mary Jo Foley, there will be instances when one environment is more practical than the other. For the Phone/Tablet SKU of Threshold, they wont be sporting the desktop environment at all but will still be able to run apps side-by-side. This SKU will support ARM-based phones or tablets and Intel-atom based tablets as well.
For 2-in-1 devices like the Surface pro and other similar devices, these devices will support the Modern UI/ Desktop environment switching mode with automatic switching based on whether keyboard device is attached or not.
For Desktop and Laptop devices however, Windows threshold will feature a mini Start Menu that works similarly from Windows 7 Start menu. In addition to that, the Start Menu in Threshold as demoed during Build 2014 back in April for Windows 8.1 will also support Modern UI/ Metro tiles and will run apps with Metro-styled and Windows store app in Windows Desktop.
Windows Threshold will likely get released next year 2015. For those users that may want to test out the new OS, Microsoft is expected to hold a public preview of the OS before the holiday begins, according to sources close to Mary Jo.
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