Microsoft to Preview Next Generation Windows on June 24
- Paul Thurrott
- Jun 02, 2021
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83
Microsoft has invited media, analysts, and enthusiasts to a virtual event on June 24 at which it will unveil the next Windows.
“Microsoft invites you to attend its What’s Next for Windows digital event on June 24, 2021, where the company will unveil the next generation of Windows,” the emailed invitation reads. “Save the date for June 24, where you will hear from Microsoft executives, including CEO Satya Nadella and Chief Product Officer Panos Panay. More details and specifics will be shared soon.”
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I first revealed Microsoft’s plans for a Windows event just ahead of the second Microsoft Ignite, which was held back in early March. And, honestly, I was expecting it to happen a lot sooner, perhaps at Build, which happened last week. But at least it’s finally happening and we can learn what Microsoft plans for Windows 10 version 21H2 and beyond. Including whether that brand continues, I guess.
“It’s an exciting time for Windows, and Microsoft looks forward to seeing you (virtually) on June 24,” the email concludes. Indeed.
Conversation 83 comments
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colin79666
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows 11. There, I said it here.</p>
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MutualCore
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 11 will be a free upgrade for all consumers, you heard it here first. It’ll just be a name change, not requiring a clean install.</p>
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ikjadoon
Log in to Reply<p>Do teaser image "Easter Eggs" ever pan out? Feel they get overly hyped then after the announcement, we immediately forget them and the pages & pages of comments.</p><p><br></p><p><em>But</em>, someone commented on the Verge article that the the light streaming inside the window…is missing the middle pane, aka |—| turns into || = 11?</p>
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bart
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Going by the massive jumps in Windows Feature Experience Pack builds in the latest Windows Devs builds, I highly, highly doubt it.</p>
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MutualCore
Log in to Reply<p>You doubt Windows 11 will be a easy free upgrade? That would be suicidal for Microsoft at this point to go through the Windows 7->10 fiasco again.</p>
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scovious
Log in to Reply<p>They would sooner call the reskin "New Windows Experience" and keep Windows 10 the actual name.</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>"Windows 10 is the LAST version of Windows" – Microsoft.</p><p>I knew it was a BS statement when they said it.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Well, it’s not that difficult.</p><p><br></p><p><em>How do you know when a MSFT marketing type is lying?</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>They’re talking.</em></p>
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ralfred
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Or a new name… same OS, just a new name.</p><p>Then it was the last version of Windows.</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<p>Maybe what they meant is ‘This is the last time we’re letting marketing do anything important.’</p>
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igor engelen
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 10 II (as in 2nd edition) :-)</p>
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safesax2002
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 10 SE </p>
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Omega Ra
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I wish they would just call it Windows: Sun Valley. </p>
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bart
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Good possibility.</p>
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johnlavey
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I wonder if the so-called NEW Windows 10 will be merely disappointing "lipstick on a pig"?</p>
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Christopher Spera
Log in to Reply<p>Nearly every version of Windows has been lipstick on a pig (though I am certain Paul may disagree…); but he and I are old co-workers going back to the WUGNET days (Windows 95). I think Windows will be rebranded; but not sure if it will be Windows 11 (too obvious…) or something else.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m going to call it here – MS won’t be able to successfully dump their current Desktop metaphor/ implementation and it will be a reincarnation of Windows 8 (in Tablet mode) and Windows RT (Win8/RT and Metro flopped because they couldn’t drop the Desktop from RT. People didn’t "get it" because it looked too much like regular, desktop Windows.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m betting that it may be much the same, here.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Part of the reason Windows RT flopped was because it finally provided unassailable, incontrovertible evidence that MSFT flagrantly lies to its customers. The lie? Windows RT can’t run desktop software, yet it ran Office, Notepad, Paint, etc.</p><p><br></p><p>OK, I exaggerate. MSFT only said Windows RT wasn’t meant for running desktop software beyond the basics MSFT generously bundled with RT. Thus, in order to take people’s minds off the lack of Metro app offerings in the Windows Store, to sell a device meant to move people <strong><em>away</em></strong> from the desktop, MSFT made a selling point of providing one and only piece of major <strong><em>desktop software</em></strong>. Fiction writers couldn’t have dreamed up a more absurd marketing approach.</p>
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igor engelen
Log in to Reply<p>Indeed, I really hope it’s a serious step foreward instead of a half hearted GUI revamp and a couple of ne w features nobody wants.</p>
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MutualCore
Log in to Reply<p>Who else is PUMPED?</p>
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boots
Log in to Reply<p>I was pumped before Window 8 was revealed. I don’t get pumped for Windows releases any more.</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was pumped before Window 8 was revealed. I don’t get pumped for Windows releases any more.</em></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Indeed. Windows 8 was actually the basis of something different. And nearly everyone took a daily dump all over it. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, the “most dedicated Microsoft fanbase” created the situation we are in now by discouraging MS to try new stuff. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:: shrug ::</span></p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>| <em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So, the “most dedicated Microsoft fanbase” created the situation we are in now by discouraging MS to try new stuff.</em></p><p><br></p><p>MSFT tried a completely new UI in Windows 95/NT4 but provided the previous UI (Program Manager and Filer) as an option for those who wanted to postpone change. MSFT made comprehensive changes to the desktop theme and menu in Windows XP, but provided options for Classic theme and Classic Start menu (and, IIRC, still provided Program Manager and Filer). Never used Vista, so I don’t know what level of postponement of UI change it provided, but Windows 7 was a clear break from the Windows past which, from my perspective, had the very valuable effect of inspiring the development of Classic Shell (nee)/Open Shell (now). Tangent: MSFT Excel 5 included an add-in to reproduce the Excel 4 menu.</p><p><br></p><p>Windows 7 and Office 2007 were radical departures from past MSFT practice. IMO, not a change for the better.</p>
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boots
Log in to Reply<p>I like seeing something different with each new Windows release, <em>different</em> is a good thing. The problem with Windows 8 wasn’t that it was different, the problem was it was just plain terrible.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Windows 8 deserves nothing more than everyone taking a daily dump all over it.</span></p><p>It could and should have been amazing, but instead it was full of nonsense hidden functions within two separate user interfaces jammed together into a giant ugly mess.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>FWIW, hot corners and hot edges in Windows 8 had been around for years in a number of LiteStep themes (dating back to Windows 98). Few people used them except those who really liked having no visual cues for UI components. Great for boosting such individuals’ sense of self-worth by believing they were superior to the hordes who needed visual cues, problematic for an OS presumably meant for over a billion to use.</p>
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boots
Log in to Reply<p>It wasn’t just hot corners "Metro" IE had its Back button hidden behind a right click, so was The All Apps button on the Start screen. There was no Search field on the Start screen or in the Store. It was just a mess.</p>
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sherlockholmes
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Im scared about that …..</p>
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the escalation
Log in to Reply<p>I’m confused. Is the "next generation of Windows" just going to be the Sun Valley UI overhaul and the usual gamut of bug fixes and security updates? Because if so, that’s kinda disappointing. I really hope that they have something bigger up their sleeves.</p>
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lvthunder
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Tune in and find out on June 24th. They wouldn’t need an event if everyone knew what they were announcing.</p>
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captain_proton
Log in to Reply<p>They need to replace creaky old NTFS with a modern file system like zfs or btrfs snapshot, rollback, compression.</p>
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jhambi
Log in to Reply<p>will this be New Technology ?</p>
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SvenJ
Log in to Reply<p>No, next generation, Windows NG.</p>
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Sir_Timbit
Log in to Reply<p>Hope this is actually more than just Windows 10 with rounded edges, new icons and emoji</p>
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Blessed are those who expect the worst, for they shall never be disappointed.</p>
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rm
Log in to Reply<p>My guess is they will announce a new branding, piecemeal Sun Valley into the OS for the next year, and start adding Windows X update and sandboxing to Windows 10 at various times in the next 2 years. What they should be doing in completely redoing the UX with Sun Valley this fall and adding all the other Windows X technical updates in the next year. Hopefully the UX includes a really way to use it as a tablet without changing the look and functionality too much.</p>
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chrishilton1
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows 2022. Yearly updates. Make it simple. </p>
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shark47
Log in to Reply<p>Wow! That’ll be a throwback to the days of Windows 95, 98, and 2000. Or they can go back to the XP and Vista days and call it Windows Sun Valley. I prefer Windows 11 – Sun Valley or something like that.</p>
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jwpear
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Paul, did you make the feature picture or did Microsoft provide it to press? If Microsoft’s, I wonder if this is suggestive of the future?</p><p><br></p><p>Back in the day of 3D controls in Windows, the light source used to paint the light and dark areas around 3D objects was positioned in the upper left corner of the screen. This feature picture suggests the light source is again in the upper left corner. Is that coincidence or suggestive of how future Windows UIs will look? Does this suggest greater consistency or the introduction of some 3D effects? </p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Am I reading entirely too much into this?</span></p><p><br></p>
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mikegalos
Log in to Reply<p>Upper left corner light has become a multi-industry standard. I wouldn’t read much into it.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyThis is a Microsoft image. Some see an "11" in the light reflection at the bottom.
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epsjrno
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Alan Bradley: Excuse me?</p><p><br></p><p>Richard Mackey: Yes… Alan?</p><p><br></p><p>Alan Bradley: Given the prices we charge to students and schools, what sort of improvements have been made in Flynn… I mean, um, ENCOM OS-12?</p><p><br></p><p>Richard Mackey: This year we put a "12" on the box.</p>
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lefrinj
Log in to Reply<p>You’re messing with my Zen thing, man. </p>
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waethorn
Log in to Reply<p>Microsoft Doors. Coming 202X.</p>
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SvenJ
Log in to Reply<p>DOORS is already a thing, but their trademark research guys have messed up before.</p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p><em>Microsoft Shutters</em>?</p>
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F4IL
Log in to Reply<p>Some genuine excitement at last!</p>
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ikjadoon
Log in to Reply<p>I’m going all-in on “Windows 11” in the name:</p><p><br></p><p>— light on the floor makes an “11”, even though it should be a “+”</p><p><br></p><p>— Sun Va<strong>ll</strong>ey -> ll -> 11</p><p><br></p><p>— Microsoft told us there won’t be a Windows 11, so naturally Microsoft meant “well, not yet.”</p><p><br></p><p>— it’s 2021, so there’s another 1 and I’m counting it.</p><p><br></p><p>— If you make the two lines in “X” parallel and unwrap the “0” into a flat string, Windows 10X becomes Windows <s>10</s> <strong>11</strong>. </p><p><br></p><p>— the event starts at <strong>11 </strong>am EST. </p>
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bart
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>(20)21 – 11 = (20)10.</p><p><br></p><p>I am calling it, it’s Windows 10!!! ;)</p>
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swish41
Log in to Reply<p>Anything for gaming? or too early to tell? </p>
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will
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows X</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 10 <span style="color: rgb(73, 73, 73);">Series X Ultimate</span></p>
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Usman
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Wait, does that graphic mean the windows logo is going to be the same as the microsoft logo? ?</p>
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randallcorn
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows 10 Dark Mode Gen 1 2021</p>
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winner
Log in to Reply<p>With inking and Bing Rewards.</p>
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themike
Log in to Reply<p>Well since they’ve driven Cortana underground, Bob with a healthy side of Clippy.</p>
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mebby
Log in to Reply<p>Actually, Cortana will marry Bob, with Clippy as the family pet. </p>
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Martin Sjöholm
Log in to Reply<p>They are going to tell us about yet another thing which will never become a thing? I am sooo excited … ?</p>
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glenn8878
Log in to Reply<p>It needs to have everything upgraded to the promises of the past. I’m not so sure. </p>
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drylander69
Log in to Reply<p>it will be renamed Microsoft 10.</p><p><br></p>
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red.radar
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Little nervous. I wonder how big the changes will be. I kind of like the way things are. Things seem stable. Nothing seems broken. NO need to go rocking the boat. </p>
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anderb
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>"Windows Forever". I bet it doesn’t ship this year.</p>
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ghostrider
Log in to Reply<p>Me thinks a lot more lipstick – but same pig underneath.</p>
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codymesh
Log in to Reply<p>hey i’ll take the lipstick!</p>
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L Gilles
Log in to Reply<p>Either it’s compatible with win32 and it’d be called Windows, or it’s loosing most of legacy stuff and It should be something else. </p><p>I can’t trust Microsoft to do something new and disruptive, their track record is not great and most is half baked.</p>
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spacein_vader
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The issue MS has with Win32 is they keep calling legacy before they’ve replaced it with something that has widespread adoption. </p><p><br></p><p>If they want to replace it, do that first and then call win32 legacy. </p><p><br></p><p>Just calling something legacy doesn’t make it true. </p>
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rycott
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>So, when are they dropping the 10 and just making it ‘Windows’.</p>
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ralfred
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The Windows.</p>
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red.radar
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>How many times does the word “experience” get used </p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<p>Windows: Sunset (Legacy Enterprise Edition)</p><p><br></p><p>The *actually* last version of Windows. </p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Regarding branding, I’m going to use Panos Panay’s history as a guide. The Surface Team usually brands their products with sequential numbers (excluding the initial version), which increases the chances in my mind that we could be seeing Windows 11. The one time I can recall Panos announcing a product with no number (Surface Pro), it went back to sequential numbers. He increments established products. Windows is established. It already has a version. His pattern indicates, incrementing the version from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Also, I don’t recall Panos announcing a product by its codename (not going to be Windows Sun Valley). He also doesn’t brand things by year. If I were to make a prediction, I think the branding decision has already been made and it will be Windows 11. We’ll see if I’m wrong again.</p>
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flying_maverick
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows Blackcomb? :)</p>
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jimchamplin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Windows. No number. </p>
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peterc
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Surely it’s gotta be….. Microsoft Windows.</p><p><br></p><p>But the adventurous side of me says…. they will drop the name Windows to prep for the next decade of Azure edge services… </p><p><br></p><p>the media graphic clearly shows the sun setting outside the window… </p>
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mr. fox
Log in to Reply<p>It is always interesting to see what they’re going to screw up next. How ’bout they just give us that new wallpaper and leave everything else alone. </p>
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Silverspark75
Log in to Reply<p><span style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54);">Windows 11 – code name: Sun Va ll ey</span></p>
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iantrem
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I think it’ll still be called Windows 10, but you’ll be able to install the new interface ("Windows eXperience"???) if you want it with the option for enterprise and IT Pros to block it. It’s still Windows underneath everything (so updates work everywhere), it’s just a new front end on top of it. A grander version of Windows 98’s "themes" if you like.</p><p><br></p><p>Wonder if the event will have enthusiasts there via Teams so they can have the applause and cheering that they’ve had at other events (that Panos seems oh so comfortable with)? I hope not.</p>
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MutualCore
Log in to Reply<p>I think Windows 11 as a rebrand would be great. Windows 10 is a mixed bag in terms of PR, still got 1.3 billion active devices. People will perceive W11 as the ‘new shiny’ and if it’s easy to upgrade they will. I think Sun Valley(especially if it means Fluent becomes consistent across everything) and some other major architectural changes justify the version update.</p>
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jeffrye
Log in to Reply<p>I’m thinking they’ll keep it simple and call it Microsoft Office 365 Windows Advanced Consumer Edition 2021.</p>
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MutualCore
Log in to Reply<p>For workgroups.</p>
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bluvg
Log in to Reply<p>Here’s hoping for inclusion of the faster updating tech they’ve teased. </p>
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sdboucher
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I’m thinking the new version will be called WindowsOS. Maybe with WindowsOS22. Maybe shorten to WINOS. </p>
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hrlngrv
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p><strong><em>AFWV</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p>Some could read that as <strong><em>A</em></strong>nother <strong><em>F</em></strong>antastic <strong><em>W</em></strong>indows <strong><em>V</em></strong>ersion, but that’s not quite what I meant.</p>
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Alastair Cooper
Log in to Reply<p>Clearly it will be Windows 9 . . . </p>
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sjldk
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 10.11</p><p><br></p><p>You know… for workgroups…</p>