How much truth is there behind Windows 12 launch?
Windows 12 is reportedly in development by Microsoft and will be released sometime in 2024. In this article, let's take a look at everything we know so far about this major version of Windows by Microsoft.
Great anticipation can be seen among tech enthusiasts eagerly waiting for the launch of Windows 12 which is under development according to several reports doing the rounds on the internet. However, Microsoft appears in no mood to spill the beans about its upcoming product as there is no official version of the company yet on the same. Still, it's presumed that Microsoft is trying to discontinue its regular major updates as it has been just two years since Windows 11 was launched on 5 October 2021.
However, they are officially dedicated to regular updates and it's not been so long since the latest update of Windows 11 was released by Microsoft. The gap between the release of Windows 11 and 10 is six years. Almost after a decade since Windows 10 was released and also dubbed the last version reports of this new 'Operating System in Making' are also surfacing. So, there are good chances of speculating about the successor of Windows 11 shortly. Let's try to examine what's happening behind the doors of tech giant Redmond. Windows 12 Release Date
There is not much information available about it yet. But, if the reports and rumors are to be believed the successor of Windows 11 is likely to be released sometime in 2024. The reports also suggest that a few inside the company have been calling it 'Hudson Valley' in conversation but it's not certain if that is the final codename since the project is in its early planning and engineering stages. It almost started in July 2022 with a Windows Central article by Zac Bowden, a Windows news expert with a strong track record. His article gave a spark to all the reports or rumors while supporting the release of a new Operating System by the tech giant. The article claims that a Windows 12 release in 2024 seems likely as Microsoft is changing how it releases major versions of Windows. Zac Bowden has quoted many sources in his article to give ground to the launch of the new OS.
Similarly, a post from Deskmodder confirmed that Windows 12 is under process from March 2022. It was also reported that Windows 12 will be released by the end of 2024 in another article from the same source a year later. So, based on these reports it appears that Windows 12 may arrive sooner than we originally expected. What Does Windows 12 May Have to Offer?
Microsoft is mulling many changes with its new OS from having a pellucid menu bar just like the one macOS has to redesigning its other parts as well. The notification center and login screen among others may be part of these changes. An early design prototype of the much-expected Windows 12 is also available which indicates that some of the system icons including the weather widgets are now displayed on the top of the screen. In all likelihood, the fans will enjoy such a dramatic shift in the UI so far although it is a clear step forward for the OS and its UI principles.
Other than this we can also expect some other interesting changes like the company is trying to make it better in terms of aligning it with traditional PC, foldable and tablets, etc. There may be a change in how Windows 12 is designed at the core. With Windows 12, Microsoft intends to make certain components of the OS accessible to specific devices in a modular way. CorePc is one such idea that aims to provide a more customized experience for devices with varying form factors and capabilities.
As we know that AI is creating so much buzz out there, and Microsoft also wants to be benefited from this new technology. After Windows 11, its successor may also have some AI features incorporated into it. It can easily suggest more actions based on the content it identifies on your screen. This new version will also identify objects in a photo making copying and pasting easier than ever.
In Windows 12, ReFS support will likely be built in which means the new operating system will be installed on a ReFS partition instead of the New Technology File Systems. Although ReFS was also used in the previous versions of Windows as well, it was only available on secondary drives on desktops. As an alternative to NTFS, ReFS can help in meeting storage needs and overcoming NTFS limitations.
In the same manner, as Windows 11, its successor will get a minimum of one new update in a year with a support of 2 years. Also, if support for the current version is drawing to a close, devices will eventually upgrade automatically. But the upgrade won't be compulsory at all. Will Windows 12 Upgrade be Available for Free?
The answer may of course be a yes. Microsoft has already provided free upgrades to Windows 10 and it is more than likely that the organization will do the same thing with Windows 12 as well. Currently, Microsoft does not have plans to force devices to upgrade to the new version, which should become available via Windows updates for compatible configurations. But, it will be necessary to buy a Windows 12 product key for devices that have never been installed with Windows.
We must, however, wait for Microsoft's official announcement and also hold off on getting excited since the company has not uttered a single word on the same. Will it Require Additional Hardware?
Windows 12 may probably require additional hardware because a lot of changes can be seen in the specs since the launch of Windows 11. However, the core design has remained the same for almost a decade now. As of now, the only change appears to be the memory requirement which is going to increase from 4GB to 8 GB. The new version may also need the Secure Boot and TPM chips. You may also require a chip with AI capabilities as you can't deny the major role of the technology in the present scenario. Microsoft's current investment in OpenAI followed by the release of Bing Chat can be seen as a significant reason behind this.Final Verdict
We are not even sure how many of these features will be finally able to make it to the final version. They are of course based on an early design and there may be several changes when the final OS is delivered. Therefore, don't get your hopes too much based on the prototype since this is not the final version of Microsoft's upcoming major project.