MICROSOFT WILL ANNOUNCE Windows 9 before the year is out, according to the latest leak from reliable Russian mole Wzor.
According to the rumour, Windows 8.1 Update 2 will be released in August, drawing a line under Windows 8, with Windows 9 - assuming that will be its moniker - to be announced within a couple of months. Beyond that, Windows 8 will be patched, but not enhanced.
The Wzor rumour echoes that of ZDNet analyst Mary Jo Foley, who made nearly identical claims last month, further fueling its credibility.
Wzor was among the first to confirm the return of the Start Menu and Microsoft climb downs over the Modern or Metro interface in Windows 8.
According to a translation on the My Digital Life forum, Wzor said, "Windows 9 will be announced this fall, Microsoft's advertising budget this time will be fantastic. The slogan of a promotional campaign will be "You want Start button and new menu and you will get that".
"On the advice of marketing experts, flaws of Windows 8 will be accepted and used as lessons for developers while releasing Windows 9."
This is the first major leak from Wzor after the closure of his website, following the reprimand of a Microsoft employee for being the source of such leaks, and shows that despite this, the well has not completely dried up.
Wzor also suggested that development has been delayed as Microsoft overhauls its product activation systems, primarily to stem the traffic in illicit versions of Windows in China.
The Chinese government has denounced Windows 8 as spyware and ordered its government departments not to use it.
