Based on a new report, Microsoft is planning on releasing the follow-up to its Windows 8 operating system on Sept. 30.
The news is in line with an earlier leak that claimed the company is looking to launch a "technology preview" of its upcoming OS. The operating system, which has the code name "Threshold," is rumored to be named Windows 9 by the time it gets released in the spring of 2015.
According to a report, Microsoft has tentative plans for a Sept. 30 press event to detail changes to Windows 9. Sources with knowledge of the company's plans said that the schedule for the launch may change, with Windows Threshold still currently in development.
The report claims that the event will provide developers a preview of changes to the Windows operating system. The new OS is said to have a number of modifications such as a new mini Start Menu and the removal of the Charms bar. Earlier rumors pointed to the integration of Microsoft's personal digital tool Cortana into Windows 9. However, the new report claims that the feature may not make it to the version of the software for the preview. "Microsoft is currently compiling builds of Threshold ready for the preview that include an early version of Cortana, but it's not clear if this particular feature will be made available as part of the technology preview," the report reads.
While Microsoft's upcoming operating system is rumored to be named Windows 9, the company is unlikely to divulge the name of its new OS at the event. Microsoft may also detail its work on its upcoming version of Windows RT and Windows Phone.
Microsoft first previewed Windows Threshold during its Builder Developer Conference last April in San Francisco. According to an earlier leak, the technology preview will be available to anyone who's interested. However, the company would require people who sign up to agree to automatic monthly updates.
The new OS will reportedly be sold in three models- tablet, smartphone and desktop. The software is also rumored to have compatibility with apps from the Windows Store. For its part, Microsoft is keeping mum about Windows Threshold. In a statement, the company said that it has "nothing to share."
