Posts Tagged ‘Windows Midori’

(Follow me on Twitter: msftkitchen)

Mary Jo Foley is really getting a great scoop from people within Microsoft who are slowly but surely letting the cat out of the bag in regards to their new experimental OS, “Midori”. In her latest write-up, she gives us a couple of new codenames regarding technology to ultimately be found within Midori:

RedHawk: The codename for new managed code work being done by the Developer division.

MinSafe: The codename for the complementary managed code initiative on the Windows division.

I could be completely wrong here but it sounds to me as though Microsoft is gearing up for a wave potentially as grand as the Longhorn wave was once planned to be. Not only are we talking about an experimental OS being created in managed code, but now we’re getting into elements of the .NET Framework in relation to developers in general. What does that imply? Hello, Visual Studio!

Is Microsoft looking to phase-in completely new elements piece by piece until the base of their future technologies eventually turns into one whole completely new can of worms? (i.e. A new kernel, completely new codebase for all OS/Development technology, etc.) At that, are we going to be able to set our sights on these efforts a little closer than initially perceived?

Getting back to her article, Mary Jo goes on to mention a good number of specifics which I recommend you check out (a link to the story is at the bottom of this post) but something I find particularly interesting is that she’s heard some of the eventualities of the RedHawk/MinSafe teams could be incorporated into Windows 8. Yes, Windows 8 – the same Windows 8 Microsoft has already started posting job links for on their site. Of course an OS is to come after Windows 7 (which will be Windows 8, as we now know) but Midori already feels to be building a huge realm of mysticism around it much like the once-fabled “Blackcomb” (now Windows 7) did back when Longhorn was first being developed.

And so the cycle goes on. What are your thoughts?

Reference: On the road to Midori: RedHawk, MinSafe and Sapphire

-Stephen

(Follow me on Twitter: msftkitchen)

Today, Mary Jo Foley posted a follow-up to her initial exclusive of Microsoft’s Midori OS. In addition to her follow-up, I would like to contribute to the confirmation of Midori by linking to yet another presentation I found on Microsoft’s Research site. It is a presentation given by Shaz Qadeer of the Microsoft Research “Software Reliability Research” group at Princeton University in December of 2007. (How on earth had Midori not been mentioned by someone a part of that lecture???) In a section of the presentation, Shaz discusses CHESS, which not-so-coincidentally happens to be exactly the same thing discussed for the previously noted mention of Midori by Shaz in this presentation, first noted in an article by softpedia.com. There’s nothing special in this latest presentation unless you understand its contents from the technical perspectives in which it was written (I don’t… I’m not even gonna lie. lol). For the purpose of this post, slide 38 says “Midori OS”. There’s nothing like multiple confirmations on something of such apparent importance to Microsoft.

Windows 8 planning confirmation and more Midori OS confirmation. Not a bad day! =)

Presentation Link: Taming concurrency: A program verification perspective

Reference: Shaz Qadeer, Microsoft Research

-Stephen

No, not as codename “Midori.”

With Windows 7 well underway, there are plenty of teams within Microsoft who are looking to the future. Yes, Windows 8 is not only confirmed as existing as its own entity but Microsoft is currently looking for people to fill the proverbial shoes of planning. Perhaps the codename for Windows 8 is just that; Windows 8, and not “Orient” or “Mystic,” as previously rumored. With Windows 7 being the current codename of Microsoft’s upcoming OS, “Windows 8″ as a codename makes perfect sense, though ultimately an assumption on my behalf at the moment.

says: “To Windows 8… and beyond!”
(Okay, okay… so that’s not exactly how Buzz Lightyear said it but close enough)

Adding to my previous mentions of Windows 8, confirmation of Windows 8 comes to us via job postings on Microsoft’s site (which I originally stumbled upon via a search on Computer Job’s website and decided to see if the same job postings existed on Microsoft’s site as well). So, just what are the confirmations of Windows 8′s planned existence? Follow my nose!

“This collaboration will also generate input for Windows 8 planning which we will drive back into the planning team as part of the regular planning process.”

Proof: microsoft.com | computerjobs.com

“Establishing a strong partnership with the Windows 8 planning organization [and] participating in the Windows 8 planning process.”

Proof: microsoft.com | computerjobs.com

“Working with the Windows 8 planning organization [and] participating in the Windows 8 planning process.”

Proof: microsoft.com | computerjobs.com

“Team with senior leaders across Windows to define the technical roadmap for the next generation of Windows engineering system for Windows 8 and beyond.”

Proof: microsoft.com | computerjobs.com

“The WTT team is looking to make significant changes to it’s infrastructure for Windows 8.”

Proof: microsoft.com | computerjobs.com

So what do we ascertain from this? NOT that Microsoft doesn’t care about the latest version of Windows they’re working on! Those of you who think Microsoft is committing some cardinal sin by planning for the future need to come to realize that it’s no different than a sports team studying and planning to beat teams that are 2 or more games ahead of them. You have what you currently have, you work with it, develop upon it and plan ahead. Simple as that. No, you don’t go jumping the gun and banking on immediate success! It’s still work, it takes effort and no one knows just what is going to happen until you get there but how on earth can you fault a company for planning ahead? No one is perfect and Microsoft certainly had a lesson or two to learn from Longhorn but as ever-growing as any person or company is, things don’t come to fruition without planning. If Microsoft didn’t have their planning phase in the time frame of development that they do, you would be waiting for advancements in their products much longer than you currently have to.

Remember: PLANNING does not equal DEVELOPMENT. Don’t misconstrue Microsoft’s PLANNERS as being Microsoft’s DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS. The people hard at work writing code for Windows 7 will be the same people (figuratively speaking) hard at work writing code for Windows 8 but not until Windows 7 is finished. One thing at a time, folks. Don’t freak out that you’re hearing of Windows 8 with Windows 7 still being the current focus. I say, “Microsoft, plan away!”

Resources:

- Windows 8 search on computerjobs.com
- Windows 8 search on microsoft.com

-Stephen

Weeee: DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS (The Remix)

(Follow me on Twitter: msftkitchen)

So, the latest buzz I’ve picked up on lately is this craze going around about an OS secretly being developed within Microsoft with the codename “Midori.” Unfortunately, there are people getting the facts (of which there only exists a couple of at the moment) confused with fiction and such a reaction has prompted me to go ahead and straighten out the myths/rumors/facts about this new OS before this perpetuates into something ridiculous and just plain wrong.

The Great Misconception: Codename “Midori” is Windows 8 and ultimately the new code base for each subsequent Windows release thereafter.

The Facts:

- Codename Midori has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Windows at this time. Yes, that means Windows 8 (which has actually been *rumored* to have the codenames “Orient” or “Mystic,” which I first mentioned here) and 9.

- Codename Midori IS tied heavily to Singularity, in that it is an OS written in managed code.

Q: So, where has Microsoft mentioned this supposed OS that you’re obtaining your facts from, Stephen?

A: At the time of this writing, you can download the following document straight from Microsoft’s servers: Download Search for the word “Midori” to see where it is located in the document.

Now, what started this whole “Midori” fiasco is Mary Jo Foley originally writing that “Midori” will supposedly supersede Windows and is in some sort of “incubation state,” meaning it’s supposedly closer to being marketed than other Microsoft Research projects typically are. Now, regardless of what the plans are internally for “Midori” NOW, history should denote the fact that plans change… and sometimes drastically. Basically, to assume Midori to be ANY version of Windows at this time is to jump the gun in a MAJOR way. Now, don’t confuse assumption for theorizing.

“Midori” may very well end up superseding Windows but lets not get all up in arms about it yet! I’ve seen everything from people blaming Microsoft and assuming that “Midori’s” existence means that Windows 7 efforts are going to be lazy to the aforementioned assumption that “Midori” is indeed the codename for Windows 8; nevermind the ridiculous and completely unmerited mention of Windows 9! (Someone trying to generate website traffic much, hmm?) lol.

Codename “Midori”: Windows 8? Not at this time. The future Windows? Perhaps.

-Stephen