Windows 9 (Threshold): What’s in a name?

We know a fair bit about Windows Threshold now, and Microsoft is yet to even comment on its existence. We’re always on step ahead of Microsoft when it comes to the PR of their own products, and so far the tech industry has uncovered a whole load of information and features that Threshold will include when it launches in 2015. One thing that isn’t so clear however is what Windows Threshold will be called, the majority believe Windows Threshold would be called Windows 9, however we do have a few people who believe it won’t be called that.

WinBeta has been in contact with some of its sources, and the mindset currently is that Threshold will ultimately be called Windows 9. Windows 9 hasn’t always been the name in plan for Threshold however, do keep in mind that Threshold was originally (and still technically is) another update for Windows 8. Windows Blue and Windows Threshold are very similar development wise, and if Windows 8.1 sold well and was popular amongst consumers, Windows Threshold would have ultimately been called Windows 8.2 or 8.5.

Now, the idea that Threshold will be called Windows 9 has stemmed from the repeated failure of Windows 8.x. With every update, the operating systems market share has stalled. Windows 8.x is considered by many as Vista 2.0, not because it isn’t stable, but because it has gained that reputation of being awful. Go and ask your average Joe about Windows 8, and I can guarantee you they’ll say something negative about it. You and I both know Windows 8.x isn’t a bad operating system, but because of what consumers have heard, they don’t want Windows 8.x.

As Windows Threshold is an update like Windows 8.1 was for Windows 8 and not an upgrade like Windows 8 was to Windows 7, what happened to the ‘real’ major version of Windows after Threshold? The next major version of Windows after Threshold could be called Windows 10, perhaps Windows X, or maybe even Windows 365. We’ll be talking about Windows after Threshold somewhat soon, so stay tuned for that.

So, if you’ve been confused as to what you’ve been hearing regarding Windows Threshold and it’s name, be confused no more. Windows Threshold will most likely launch as Windows 9 (or at the very least anything other than Windows 8.x). We’re currently unsure whether or not the upcoming preview of Threshold will include the new name, or perhaps it will stick to the more conventional “Windows Developer Preview” or “Windows Technical Preview”.

Considering Windows Threshold is a big change from what Windows 8.1 is, it’d be stupid for Microsoft to name Threshold “Windows 8.2”. Windows 9 is the most logical and sensible name for this specific release of Windows.