Posts Tagged ‘GUI’

Though it has been implied by some behind the pearly gates of Redmond – and speculated by many more outside of them – I’ve run across a bit of confirmation regarding Windows 8 containing a next-generation GUI (Graphical User Interface). Meng Yang, a Software Development Engineer at Microsoft, has an updated LinkedIn profile describing her current work venture as:

“Designing and developing next-generation graphical user interface framework for Windows 8.”

While that’s just one tiny little sentence, it confirms just enough to leave even more room for speculation than before. Just what exactly does Microsoft consider, “next-generation” for Windows 8, anyway? Does it simply mean what’s to come in the next revision of Windows, or does it imply something much more grand and elaborate (the most radical rumor going around is that Microsoft may do away with Explorer in Windows 8; I don’t see that happening, personally)? A couple of months ago, I posted an internal brainstorming mock-up for Windows 7 effects – of which, the final product contains absolutely none of. Perhaps Windows 8 will revisit some of those ideas and have them implemented in some form or fashion. If you missed that video, catch it here:

Something else to ponder is the speculation of Windows 8 being strictly 64-bit. As many of you know, Microsoft planned for that to be the case with Windows 7 but decided to renege. I’m not so sure that 2012 will be any different, but maybe it will, considering how well 64-bit has finally caught on. There are still some issues to be ironed out, but for the most part, 2012 just might be a realistic goal for Microsoft to finally push the 64-bit-only initiative. Do you think Microsoft will do anything differently if they decide early on to nix 32-bit when developing this next-generation GUI?

We’re at the end of the post and even with Meng Yang’s insight, we’re right back where we started: Just having to wait and see.

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com