Microsoft to announce Windows 9 on September 30th

Microsoft will present the successor to Windows 8 during a press meeting on September 30, The Verge reports based on anonymous sources. A technology preview of Windows 9 is expected to be available shortly afterwards.

There have been rumors of an announcement of Windows 9 in September for some time, but The Verge cites the likely September 30 date for a Microsoft press meeting. There, the software giant is expected to present Windows 9, also known under codename Threshold. Microsoft will probably also release a technology preview of Windows 9 shortly after the announcement.

Windows 9 should focus more on desktop users. Thus the start menu returns. Microsoft would also like to remove the charms bar from the desktop environment in Threshold. Other changes to the user interface would also be part of the new Windows version, while Microsoft also wants to include the digital assistant Cortana in the operating system.

Microsoft may also provide insights into the status of Windows RT merging with Windows Phone at its scheduled press conference. The software giant already indicated in July that Windows and Windows Phone should eventually form one unified operating system.