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Desktop Virtualization May be Part of Windows 'Threshold' Tech Preview

Microsoft is expected to release details of "enterprise" functionality on Sept. 30.

• By Kurt Mackie
• 09/16/2014

The next version of Windows, which may include desktop virtualization as a core piece of functionality, is coming at the end of this month.

Microsoft will hold a press event on Sept. 30 to describe its next Windows release, code-named "Threshold."

Threshold is sometimes described at the rumor level as "Windows 9," but Microsoft hasn't yet fully described its release plans. Threshold could be an interim OS release before a so-called Windows 9 release. In any case, journalists today received invitations to attend a San Francisco event on "what's next for Windows and the enterprise," which will feature talks by Microsoft executives Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, according to The Verge. A press spokesperson for Microsoft described the event as enterprise focused.

"This [event] is a discussion focused on what's next for Windows and includes information geared toward technical and enterprise customers."

Based on leaked screenshots that appeared late last week, the upcoming Windows release is being referred to as the "Windows Technical Preview." It's expected to bring back the Start Menu and permit Windows Store Apps to run in their own windows on the Desktop side of the operating system, which has all been confirmed by Microsoft officials.

The leaked screenshots are showing other features that may or may not get included into the final OS build. Examples of possible features that may be included in Threshold or Windows 9 include the elimination of the Charms Bar, Cortana integration, an Update button, a Notification Center showing alerts from apps or from the system, as well as a feature called "Virtual Desktops."

The Virtual Desktop feature supposedly lets users compose different screen views, which can be used to pull apps together, as shown in this video produced by the German-based WinFuture site. This screenshot illustrates the concept:

A new Windows Server is also expected to be unveiled at the Sept. 30 press event, according to sources informing veteran Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley. In her latest article, Foley summarizes some of the other expectations. For instance, the Threshold release may be the last formal OS release before Microsoft embarks on a more incremental release cycle that's similar to Office 365 software releases.

Foley also suggested that all of the features in this Windows Technical Preview won't be fully delivered until the spring of 2015. In addition, she claims that Threshold is also planned for ARM devices, such as tablets and smartphones, with the release expected sometime in January or February of 2015, according to her sources. Another rumor is that Microsoft might offer Windows Threshold as a free update to current Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

The table below summarizes what might be seen on Sept. 30: