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Microsoft unveiled a bounty of upgrades for Windows 11 lately, which has been positioned as the operating system of the hybrid working era. The additions included a new-look File Explorer, improved video conferencing facilities and various security upgrades. However, implicit in some of the announcements were also clues as to how the company might shape its future operating systems. And if the rumors are to be believed, Microsoft has already started work on Windows 12. The focus of the Windows 11 roadmap on enhanced mobility and the renewed emphasis on Windows 365, the company’s PC-as-a-Service offering, suggest the future of Windows lies firmly in the cloud, particularly in a business context.

Head in the clouds
In a world in which connectivity is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that Windows 12 could become Microsoft’s first ever cloud-only operating system, hosted off-device and bundled with compute and storage as part of a subscription package. The system would be similar in many ways to traditional virtual desktop setups, which have been deployed by businesses for years to support BYOD scenarios, but offer simplified pricing and configuration structures and extend out to a wider audience that includes the consumer. Certainly, Microsoft is already interested in shifting towards a hybrid arrangement. Speaking at the event earlier this week, CEO Satya Nadella announced that “the boundaries between the PC and the cloud are fading away”. At the moment, the idea is to streamline the transition between local and Windows 365 desktops, such that users are unable to tell whether their apps, compute and storage are coming from the cloud or their machine. But the logical next step might be to take the whole lot into the cloud, à la Chrome OS. Microsoft has already announced it will allow Windows 365 customers to boot directly into their cloud desktop, bypassing the local OS, which feels only one step short of the cloud-only vision. In a business setting, moving to a cloud-only system would give IT administrators tighter control over security configuration and identity management, and full oversight of how devices are being used. But in a broader context, shifting to a cloud setup is more about enabling new models of consumption. Windows 365 is marketed as a service that provides professionals with unrivaled flexibility, in terms of the location and device they work from, but also the resources available to them. There are currently twelve separate Cloud PC configurations, each of which offers a different amount of resources, and customers can switch between the tiers at any time.

Read a lot more on our special dedicated Windows 12 Board here

Foldables are big right now, but the word is currently associated with smartphones. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold are a big reason for this, although the likes of Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei have all made devices of their own. Even Microsoft got in on the act with the Surface Duo, albeit with a dual-screen design instead of a single screen that folds in half. It was first announced back in October 2019 alongside the Surface Neo, a larger version running Windows 10X. The latter has since been cancelled, but Microsoft is surely still considering a foldable Surface device that can be both a tablet and a laptop. With Windows 12 rumoured to be released in 2024, it could be the perfect opportunity. Here are four big reasons why.

1. Windows 12 is probably two years away…
Given Windows 11 was only released last October, it’s no surprise that its successor isn’t expected anytime soon. However, it probably won’t be anything like the six-year gap between Windows 10 and 11. Last month, a Windows Central report claimed that Microsoft was shifting to a three-year update cycle for major versions of Windows. If true, it would mean a potential Windows 12 arrives at some point in 2024. Given the current state of the hybrid market, releasing a new foldable device would be a huge risk for Microsoft. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold and Asus’ Zenbook 17 Fold OLED are extremely expensive and don’t yet make a compelling enough case to replace your laptop and tablet. Two years from now, the situation may have changed significantly.
Read a lot more on our special dedicated Windows 12 Board here

Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 last year which is already available for most of the supported systems. Now, it is being said that the company has already started working on the launch of Windows 12. The Windows has been possibly named Next Valley. In a parallel piece of information, the Windows 11 23H2 version has been stopped and all the focus has been shifted to Windows 12. According to the leaks, Microsoft will first roll out Windows 11 22H2 in September or October 2022. Microsoft will be following a 3-year release cycle for the Windows operating system. So, considering that Windows 11 was launched in 2021, we can expect to see Windows 12 in 2022’s fourth quarter.

Expected features in Windows 12?
Microsoft has not confirmed anything regarding the features of the upcoming Windows. Still, the company can be seen testing different features in the Dev channel. We can get to see a different kind of taskbar in Windows 12. On top of that, Microsoft is also testing the notification badges for the weather widget. Not only this, but the latest version will also have the ability to copy a phone number, time, and date. We can also get to see some of the mentioned features in the upcoming Windows 11 update too.

Well, we can’t comment on the fact whether Windows 12 will be available for free or not. We can expect that all the PCs that are eligible for Windows 12 will get the option to install it, similar to the way we got to see in the case of Windows 11. On the other hand, you would be supposed to pay for the retail license if you want to run on Windows 12 on a custom-built PC.
Read a lot more on our special dedicated Windows 12 Board here

  

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