Microsoft Windows 11 debuted at the end of 2021. The Redmond giant is now preparing to release the next generation of operating systems, Windows 12, in the fall of 2024, followed by a broader rollout planned for 2025.
Windows 12 Could Have A New Floating Taskbar Design
According to a report by Windows Latest, Microsoft is internally testing various new design ideas for the upcoming Windows 12 operating system, including a potential new “floating” taskbar with rounded edges. This taskbar separates from the screen’s sides and floats above the desktop to create a floating effect.
Not just this, Windows 12 will also be exclusively optimized for ARM processors and will include “deeply integrated AI features,” states the report, citing anonymous sources familiar with the development.
While Microsoft has not officially confirmed Windows 12’s existence, there have been reports of the tech giant working on the next version of the operating system for over a year now.
For instance, Windows Latest recently noticed one of the video screenshots from the Build 2023 developer conference that showed “Next-gen of Windows” in the session title, likely referring to Windows 12. Microsoft also mentioned a codename called “Next Valley Prototype Design,” which is believed to be associated with the forthcoming Windows 12.
The last operating system released by Microsoft was Windows 11 in October 2021. If the Redmond giant returns to its traditional three-year release cycle for major versions of the Windows client, we could see the upcoming Windows 12 release in the third quarter of 2024.
Having said this, we expect you to take the recent rumors surrounding Windows 12 with a pinch of salt. Keep watching this space for more updates!