Next Windows - 2009 and Low Level Improvements Coming

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Number 2 CPU AMD manufacturer noted in a slide presentation at Cutting Edge IT & Electronics Comprehensive Exhibition that the next version of Microsoft's client OS will be here in 2009 with low level technologies like DirectX 11 for improving the visual experience in games. The slide does not say much, but further strengthens past statements that have hit web from former Microsoft Chief Software Architect Bill Gates that Windows 7 would be here in the coming year. Another rumor also said that Windows 7 would be here by June 2009. The thing is, a lot of this information makes Windows 7 look like a 2009 deliverable and taking into account the OS not being a major deparature from Vista kernel wise, this will lead to a faster development time building on existing technologies resulting in a shorter beta cycle I believe.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Mary Jo Foley over at All About Microsoft, has some interesting info on low level changes coming in Windows 7 for processors. Apple has noted that they will be improving scalability with their next release of OS X code named Snow Leopard through a new technology called Grand Central. The slide also list OpenCL (Open Compute Library) which it seems will be supported by 7. Mary Jo notes:

 

 

 

This in my opinion would sound like a major undertaking for this release especially when you take into account the scope of the project being a evolutionary step. Mary Jo shares the same view:

 

Its still difficult to define Windows 7 at this early beginning, PDC is not even here yet, but with the rumors bubbling and more information coming out about the next release, in some ways it feels like a major release on the way, but when you see early previews like those leaked screenshots, Windows 7 seems to be following a more evolutionary path to store shelves. Either way you look at its, 7 is not too far away it seems.