Microsoft Announces Windows 9 Event on Sept. 30

Microsoft is preparing to detail its next major version
of Windows. We had been expecting the company to
hold a press event later this month, and now it’s
official. Microsoft will hold a “Windows event” in San
Francisco on Sept. 30. The software maker started
emailing out invites to the event today, and Joe
Belfiore and Terry Myerson will be leading a
discussion around the future of Windows. The event
will focus on enterprise and power users of Windows.
Microsoft is expected to deliver a “Windows
Technical Preview” at the event or soon after so that
developers and enterprise customers can evaluate a
number of changes the company is making.
Screenshots and videos of the Windows Technical
Preview have leaked over the past week, revealing
the addition of a new Start menu , a virtual desktops
feature, and a Notification Center . Microsoft also
appears to be tweaking its desktop user interface to
improve and flatten the traditional icons, alongside
some task bar changes for future Cortana integration
and virtual desktops.
Additional changes are expected to be pushed
regularly to Windows Technical Preview users until
the operating system is complete and ready for
release next year. We understand that Microsoft is
planning more UI changes to the desktop, and a
number of those improvements aren’t ready for the
preview just yet.