ALBAWABA – Microsoft’s Windows 11 has been released for over two years now, which brought significant changes to the User Interface (UI), much more improved support for multi-monitor setups, tightened security, as well as plenty of other features, but the word has already started going around regarding Windows’ next installment, and whether it will be shipped as Windows 12 or a major update for Windows 11, here’s what is known so far:
Release
Microsoft is yet to make any official announcements regarding Windows 12, according to XDA Developers, it is expected to be released in the second half of 2024, close to September.
However, Windows Central thinks otherwise, explained by a change in Windows leadership inside Microsoft, moving Windows’ development to be part of the web experience team, as well as big gaps ins amount of users stuck on Windows 10 (1 billion users) compared to those who upgraded to Windows 11 (400 million); which might cause Microsoft to go back to a live service strategy that means frequent updates to the operating system instead of major releases every few years.
Earlier this month, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon has hinted at a potential new Windows release coming, saying that their upcoming Snapdragon X Elite Arm-based chip is planned to release sometime mid 2024 alongside Microsoft’s “next version of Windows”, similar to what an Intel’s CFO said last year in an interview with Citi, according to PCGamer, he looked optimistically forward to 2024 in an earnings’ call due to a “Windows refresh”.
UI Design
Earlier during the Microsoft Ignite keynote, the tech giant appears to have made a mistake and showed an image of an unfamiliarly designed Windows in its presentation, which viewers speculated to be a screenshot of the upcoming Windows 12.
The updated desktop design includes a floating taskbar akin to the one on Apple’s MacOS, some icons like WiFi and Battery indicators are on the top border of the screen, and a weather widget on the Desktop.
A render that recreates potential Windows 12 look (Zac Bowden\ Windows Central)
Other anticipated Windows 12 features according to XDA Developers, are revamped lock and login screens that are more touchscreen-friendly, new notifications tab that combines alerts based on contact name instead of app, as well as dropping the Widget Panel to pinned widgets on the Desktop, similar to Windows 7, Start Menu changes are also expected, with a new ‘Creator’ area that will hold shortcuts to several Microsoft products.
AI and Copilot
Artificial Intelligence has been the word of the year for 2023, and 2024 does not seem to have any slow-downs regarding combining machine learning with regular device usage, especially with Microsoft’s release of Copilot, which morphs OpenAI’s ChatGPT into a Windows tool that allows users to execute a variety of options by typing their needs.
Windows 12 is expected to continue this trend with further integration, with reports suggesting there will be support to search files and documents using natural language, an example would be to ask windows to “show me the document I was working on last evening”, which is supported by an ‘Advanced Copilot’ that can remember the user’s actions.
3D render of a Microsoft 365 apps in a box with Copilot logo (Shutterstock)
Other Windows 12 AI additions might include the ability to live-translate content watched, as well as upscaling videos and games to a higher resolution, similar to Nvidia’s DLSS.
Energy and Storage Efficiency
Windows 12 is expected to have a more sustainable aim, with features that would suggest users to set their laptops to charge when the system detects renewable energy is used on the grid, as well as multiple battery saving upgrades that according to multiple reports might improve battery life by up to 50 percent.
Similar to what Microsoft tried with Windows 10X, which was a stripped-down version of the original OS, Windows 12 might have a modular core that might allow it to discard some unnecessary features on different devices to run on more light hardware, possibly in hopes to compete with ChromeOS.
Hardware
While Windows 11 had strict minimum requirements policy by not supporting system that run on processors made before 2018 and those without a TPM chip, it is believed Windows 12 would not change much if at all of the minimum hardware requirements, however it might ask for upgraded hardware to be able to run specific AI features, according to ZDNET.
