Threshold (aka Windows 9) preview to be available soon

[blankslate]

http://winsupersite.com/windows/coming-soon-threshold-public-preview

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-to-d...ech-preview-around-late-september-7000032668/

Microsoft is aiming to deliver a "technology preview" of its Windows "Threshold" operating system by late September or early October, according to multiple sources of mine who asked not to be named.
thresholdtechpreview

And in a move that signals where Microsoft is heading on the "servicability" front, those who install the tech preview will need to agree to have subsequent monthly updates to it pushed to them automatically, sources added.

Threshold is the next major version of Windows that is expected to be christened "Windows 9" when it is made available in the spring of 2015. Threshold is expected to include a number of new features that are aimed at continuing to improve Windows' usability on non-touch devices and by those using mice and keyboards alongside touch.

Among those features — according to previous leaks — are a new "mini" Start Menu; windowed Metro-Style applications that can run on the Desktop; virtual desktops; and the elimination of the Charms bar that debuted as part of Windows 8. Cortana integration with Windows Threshold is looking like it could make it into the OS, as well.

Update: One of my contacts who has provided accurate information on Windows in the past said the Threshold tech preview will be public and available to all those interested.

I regularly watch a streamcast called Windows Weekly on twit.tv (which for fans of of the old channel tech tv was started by Leo Laporte and has a number of old TechTv hosts doing shows) with the above bloggers/windows reporters

They seem to have cultivated reliable source on MS info.


....

 

[ninaholic37]

I'm curious, how do public previews work? Can you install them or dual-boot them with Linux? Can I just keep the preview as a backup OS forever, or does it time out after a few months?

 

[Jodell88]

I'm curious, how do public previews work? Can you install them or dual-boot them with Linux? Can I just keep the preview as a backup OS forever, or does it time out after a few months?

It times out after a few months I believe.

 

[ArisVer]

I'm curious, how do public previews work? Can you install them or dual-boot them with Linux? Can I just keep the preview as a backup OS forever, or does it time out after a few months?

Windows8-ReleasePreview-64bit-English.iso
"Windows 8 Release Preview 64bit. I think it expires on the 20130115.
The installation requires a 25 character Product Key, which I could not find.
From a Microsoft forums post, try this key: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"
http://iso.esd.microsoft.com/WRPDL/D29D6C5B1D8AF956B5DA9DF738CFD92DFD4F6C8FB/Windows8-ReleasePreview-64bit-English.iso

These are the notes I have taken at the time. I have installed it only in a VM to see how W8 is. It has most of the features disabled and the updates are also disabled. Otherwise it runs fine. I have also installed a few programs and they seem okay.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Windows8-ReleasePreview-64bit-English.iso
"Windows 8 Release Preview 64bit. I think it expires on the 20130115.
The installation requires a 25 character Product Key, which I could not find.
From a Microsoft forums post, try this key: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"
http://iso.esd.microsoft.com/WRPDL/D29D6C5B1D8AF956B5DA9DF738CFD92DFD4F6C8FB/Windows8-ReleasePreview-64bit-English.iso

These are the notes I have taken at the time. I have installed it only in a VM to see how W8 is. It has most of the features disabled and the updates are also disabled. Otherwise it runs fine. I have also installed a few programs and they seem okay.

In case anyone is wondering, that's not Threshold, but the Windows 8 release, I think. Surely, they wouldn't have named Threshold's preview file the same as Windows 8's.

 

[zokudu]

In case anyone is wondering, that's not Threshold, but the Windows 8 release, I think. Surely, they wouldn't have named Threshold's preview file the same as Windows 8's.

He's trying to show ninaholic that while the Windows 8 release preview was set to expire on Jan 15th, 2013 he can still get it running in a VM.

 

[lifeblood]

Something Paul said has me a little worried.

Threshold will include a new Start menu that replaces the current Start screen

Notice the word replace. Does this mean that you will not be able to use the Start Screen in desktop mode?

I don't like the start screen in desktop mode, but there are many of you who do. Therefore, it should be an available option that you can decide which one you want to use. Unfortunately, I bet they don't give you an option. Because its MS, they will force the start menu menu on those with a mouse and keyboard attached, and force the start screen on those with touchscreens. (How will they handle those with both?)

 

[hoorah]

My understanding, from a different podcast, is that during install, it will guess the type of hardware you are using it on with the option to override it and force whatever interface is available (touch, desktop, in-between). I heard this on a gaming podcast so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the statement, nor do I know if the option is changeable after installation.

Myself, I haven't been too worked up about the start screen but I don't use it too much. From others, there has been much hate I've heard spewed about the decision to force the start screen and all the ranting that its garbage on a non-touch device.

If desktop users complain that they want the start screen back after Windows 9 removes it, I think there will be a few project managers at Microsoft locking themselves in conference rooms, pulling their hair out, and scribbling nonsense all over the walls with red marker.

 

[hoorah]

I regularly watch a streamcast called Windows Weekly on twit.tv (which for fans of of the old channel tech tv was started by Leo Laporte and has a number of old TechTv hosts doing shows) with the above bloggers/windows reporters
....

I was a watcher of TechTV back in the day and do occasionally listen to Windows Weekly to get caught up on MS happenings. I don't see what they get out of the Foley woman though - geez she is bland and boring. Gee, I've probably listened to 20 episodes and all I get out of her each time is that she hates xbox and writes in notepad-fantastic insight from a power user.....

 

[Iron Woode]

I'm curious, how do public previews work? Can you install them or dual-boot them with Linux? Can I just keep the preview as a backup OS forever, or does it time out after a few months?

It times out after a given length of time.

Windows 7 was like that. Mine stopped working after 6 months or something like that.

 

[blankslate]

I don't see what they get out of the Foley woman though - geez she is bland and boring. Gee, I've probably listened to 20 episodes and all I get out of her each time is that she hates xbox and writes in notepad-fantastic insight from a power user.....

She is the source for a large number of their stories and when two reporters get the same information from their, most likely, different sources then it gives the information a bit more weight.



.....

 

[Dahak]

ArsTechnica has posted some video of the new start menu in action here

The first one shows off the live tiles and the 2nd shows that you can remove all the live tiles and make it look like classic win7 start menu