Windows 9 news recap: Insider Program, Windows TH, logo teasers and more

Zac Bowden

Windows 9

Once again, we’ve had lots of Windows 9 news for you this week. Starting off at the beginning of the week, one of Microsoft’s France employees confirmed that “Windows 9” would be arriving in preview form this week, only for that statement to be retracted by another Microsoft employee. The slip-up raised questions as to whether or not Windows Threshold would be called Windows 9. Internally, it is known that Microsoft reference the next major-version of Windows as Windows 9, Windows Threshold and sometimes Windows X, but that doesn’t mean any of those names will end up being the final name.

Later in the week, Terry Myerson – Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Operating Systems teased a new logo and product name for “Windows 9”. In an response to Tom Warren from The Verge and Mary Jo Foley from ZDNet, Myerson claimed that the company was yet to decide on a name for the new operating system, however according to Foley, a small team within the walls of Microsoft already have its name down on paper.

It was later reported that Microsoft may be planning to launch the Windows Insider Program as early as this coming week, meaning the public may get their hands on the Windows Technical Preview earlier than expected. The Windows Technical Preview website was published early which is what revealed the Insider Program, along with “Windows TH” being referenced as the Windows Technical Preview. Perhaps “Windows TH” is a placeholder name, or the ‘actual’ name?

Finally, it was revealed that the Windows Technical Preview would weigh in at around 4GB for x64 and 3GB for x86 processors. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it’s good to know that file-sizes for the official ISO’s are out there.

Rumors claim Microsoft will release the Windows Technical Preview to the public in early October, however we’ve got our fingers crossed for sometime at the beginning of this week. Considering the Windows Technical Preview build has been compiled, it’s only a matter of time.