Microsoft's upcoming Threshold update (expected to be released as Windows 9) has been leaked again in screenshots on Thursday. Two German websites posted 20 purported screenshots of the anticipated Windows 9, said to be an early build given to Microsoft partners as "Windows Technical Preview", and is expected to be made available later this month or in early October. Earlier there was a report that the company is planning to hold an event on September 30 to provide a look at the next version of Windows.
According to Verge, the purported screenshots leaked by ComputerBase andWinFuture are legitimate, but of an early build of Windows 9, clarifying that final version could be quite different when it is released early next year.
The leaked screenshots for Windows Threshold shows a new search icon on the left of the taskbar (next to the Start Menu button) along with what appears to be an icon for the previously-leaked virtual desktop feature, as well as the earlier-tipped notification center.
The virtual desktop feature is also seen in action some screenshots and it appears to be with a pane at the bottom of the Windows desktop that should allow users to switch between the virtualized desktop areas.
The Start Menu button also opens up to reveal Modern UI apps with Live Tiles listed in a mini-Start Screen on the right, another feature that was previously leaked.
The Verge report also suggests that Microsoft seems to have flattened the UI slightly to match its Modern UI look and feel of the Windows 8, and it seems to be making 'slight adjustments to the jump list menus in the taskbar (available when you right-click) to flatten out the UI.' Some of the icons like File Explorer, Desktop, and more, also appear to be new. The desktop screenshots also show Modern UI apps running in windowed-mode (again, a feature that was previously leaked) along with commands for search, share, play, and settings available in context menu.
Last week, the Redmond giant teased the anticipated Windows 9 a.k.a Threshold update on Weibo, the China-equivalent of Twitter.
Microsoft China in a Weibo post teased the upcoming Windows version as "coming soon". The post said (in Chinese), "Microsoft's latest OS Windows 9 is coming soon, do you think the start menu at the left bottom will make a comeback?" Interestingly, the post was accompanied by a Windows 9 mock-up logo. While the Weibo post did not reveal any new feature of the next Windows version or even its official logo, it certainly did indicate the company was planning on revealing it soon.
Update: On Thursday, a 2-minute video has been leaked to the Web purportedly showcasing the Start Menu in action, running on an alleged early build of Threshold. The video was posted to YouTube by German site WinFuture. The video showcases how Modern UI apps and Live Tiles are listed alongside regular Windows desktop apps.
The Verge notes that sign-in and lock account options have been listed on the top of the Start Menu, while the shutdown and restart options are adjacent. Users can notably pin their desired Modern UI apps to the right pane of the Start Menu, and these tiles can be resized. An option to 'use the Start menu instead of the Start screen' was also spotted, in-line with the rumoured default Windows 9 setting for desktop form factors. Also showcased was the windowed-mode or floating mode for Modern UI apps.
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