"Right now we’re releasing Windows 10, and because Windows 10 is the last version of Windows, we’re all still working on Windows 10." That was the message from Microsoft employee Jerry Nixon, a developer evangelist speaking at the company's Ignite conference this week. Nixon was explaining how Microsoft was launching Windows 8.1 last year, but in the background it was developing Windows 10. Now, Microsoft employees can talk freely about future updates to Windows 10 because there's no secret update in the works coming next. It's all just Windows 10. While it immediately sounds like Microsoft is killing off Windows and not doing future versions, the reality is a little more complex. The future is "Windows as a service."
Microsoft has been discussing the idea of Windows as a service, but the company hasn't really explained exactly how that will play out with future versions of Windows. That might be because there won't really be any future major versions of Windows in the foreseeable future. Microsoft has altered the way it engineers and delivers Windows, and the initial result is Windows 10. Instead of big releases, there will be regular improvements and updates. Part of this is achieved by splitting up operating system components like the Start Menu and built-in apps to be separate parts that can be updated independently to the entire Windows core operating system. It's a big undertaking, but it's something Microsoft has been actively working on for Windows 10 to ensure it spans across multiple device types.
While we'll witness the results in the coming months, Microsoft is already in launch mode for a number of its apps and services that power Windows 10. The software company is testing preview builds of Window 10 with willing participants, and apps like Xbox and Mail have been engineered for regularly monthly updates. Even Office for Windows 10 will also get regular updates, much like a mobile version, instead of the big bang release every few years.
When I reached out to Microsoft about Nixon's comments, the company didn't dismiss them at all. "Recent comments at Ignite about Windows 10 are reflective of the way Windows will be delivered as a service bringing new innovations and updates in an ongoing manner, with continuous value for our consumer and business customers," says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. "We aren’t speaking to future branding at this time, but customers can be confident Windows 10 will remain up-to-date and power a variety of devices from PCs to phones to Surface Hub to HoloLens and Xbox. We look forward to a long future of Windows innovations."
With Windows 10, it's time to start thinking of Windows as something that won't see a big launch or major upgrade every few years anymore. Much like how Google's Chrome browser gets updated regularly with version numbers nobody really pays attention to, Microsoft's approach will likely result in a similar outcome. This is really the idea of Windows as a service, and the notion that Windows 10 could be the last major version of Windows. Microsoft could opt for Windows 11 or Windows 12 in future, but if people upgrade to Windows 10 and the regular updates do the trick then everyone will just settle for just "Windows" without even worrying about the version number.
Verge Video: Hands-on with Windows 10
Comments
So 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and so on….
I wonder if anyone else has ever thought of that?
By Mafoo on 05.07.15 3:31pm
There’s no version number. It’s just Windows 10
By Andrew Davidson126 on 05.07.15 3:33pm
There is no Windows, only Zuul.
By Elranzer on 05.07.15 3:40pm
There is no spoon….
By mikeheel on 05.07.15 5:26pm
aah, this really cracked me up
By georgebobois on 05.07.15 7:03pm
Ceci n’est pas -une pipe- Windows.
By Dr_Spaceman on 05.08.15 11:04am
How can I give this more love?
Are you the Keymaster?
By ShawkandAwe on 05.14.15 11:51pm
That might be how they wish to start it… but there will always be a need to know what version someone is on.
new software will always need a collection of components as a prerequisite. You will need an easy way to identify those to your customers.
Even devices with free software updates that are always connected, like Android phones, have version numbers.
By Mafoo on 05.07.15 3:49pm
In the case of Android it helps for knowing which version you’re eternally stuck on.
By Pandora's boss on 05.07.15 4:45pm
Lol!
By miserabilism on 05.07.15 5:45pm
Android actually separated the OS into components like Windows is doing now. If you were actually an Android user, you’d know that Android version numbers haven’t really mattered since Ice Cream Sandwich.
By backwithan808 on 05.07.15 6:35pm
Because stuff like Material Design, Bluetooth Low Energy, a smooth UI and working Bluetooth audio don’t really matter to Android users? Or the just buy a new device when they need fixes and improvements?
By NetMage on 05.07.15 8:32pm
Well, backwithan808 isn’t completely wrong… Several core parts of Android have been relocated into Play Services, but there’s still quite a bit of stuff that can’t (or hasn’t been) removed from the core.
By jt122333221 on 05.07.15 9:07pm
I use KitKat and I have a bunch of Material Designed Apps.
BLE is hardware dependant. And "working bluetooth audio" is subjective. I’ve had working Bluetooth audio since my Nexus S.
By jonshipman on 05.14.15 4:13pm
Sometimes it is hardware related like MHL 2 or 3 standard. Same on Bluetooth or usb port or video standard supported by device you own.
By Cotobatura on 05.17.15 11:56am
And yet the last report showed the lollipop was install on like 10% of android phones. Unless there is no improvement to go from KitKat to Lollipop, I would say versions still matter.
By ymcpa1 on 05.07.15 8:36pm
Versions do still matter, this guy is just trying to play it down. I’m an Android fan myself, and while I don’t think it’s as big of a deal now as it has been in the past, the newer versions bring more than just security updates and minor fixes. They’re still very important even though some of Google’s version of Android is housed within Play Services.
By jt122333221 on 05.07.15 9:08pm
Yes sequences of updates will still matter but they aren’t versions.
By orlbuckeye on 05.28.15 9:25am
Hey, they might hit 15% by the time Android 6.0 comes out, maybe,…
By JBDragon on 05.11.15 3:39pm
Oh really? Then how come I do not have Bluetooth 4.0 support on my 9 months old phone and probably I will never have it??? And just to make sure you get it, it is not a hardware issue, it is a software issue.
By Havohej on 05.18.15 3:47am
How about the fact that their Highly vaunted Android TV platform came out of the gate without support for lossless HD audio codecs such as Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA. It’s not just phones that will be stuck with subpar software going forward.
By ttringle on 05.18.15 4:15pm
That’s what build numbers are for. As far as the EndUser is concerned, it’s just Windows10
By laethyn on 05.07.15 4:51pm
Which is copying Apple! MAC OSX has been that way for what seems like forever. Now it’s Windows 10 is what will be forever also!! I mean really? First Skip a number and then be forever 10. That’s pretty lame. That just seems like what Samscum would do. Why not just call it Windows 11. That would you could make people think it was ahead of MacOSX and so be better that way? 11 looks better then 10. I’m actually surprised Microsoft just didn’t take the final step and clal it Windows X!!! They could tie that into the XBox. See, X here, X there, X everywhere.
By JBDragon on 05.11.15 3:43pm
Microsoft copied the number 10 from Apple? Either you’re joking or you need to switch to decaf.
By Hamaki on 05.11.15 4:14pm
Well they skipped 9 to get to 10 and are planning on running with 10 forever.
They could have easily gone with Windows Next or Windows Neu and that would have been a better name.
By jonshipman on 05.14.15 4:15pm