Microsoft is
unveiling the name for the next release of Windows on June
24 and
reports have suggested that the next-gen desktop OS will be
called “Windows 11”.
While the company had referred to its next-generation OS as
codename Sun Valley and Cobalt internally, it’s simply going to
be known as Windows 11 or Windows + something when it becomes
official on June 24. It would be a free and optional upgrade to
those already running Windows 10, and it’ll be released to the
mainstream audience this fall.
Little is known about the unannounced Windows 11 or
Windows Sun Valley, however, it’s said to feature a brand
new Start Menu, Action Center, Taskbar, and visual makeover of
other core components, such as the flyouts, context-menu, app
menus, etc. In addition to UI changes, the next generation
Windows will also ship with massive scheduling updates.
Windows comes with a system scheduler that controls
multitasking and improves the overall performance of the
platform by determining the threads that should receive the
next processor time slice. The scheduler has been designed to
determine the thread that should run next using scheduling
priorities, but it’s currently not properly optimized for
hybrid CPUs.
The upcoming version of Windows will reportedly feature
“massive scheduling updates” to support Intel’s upcoming CPUs.
This is according to leaker and YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead, who
also claimed that Intel’s long-awaited 12th generation lineup
“Alder Lake chips” will be launching alongside Microsoft’s next
generation of Windows in October.
Intel’s Alder Lake chips will reportedly introduce a whole new
socket and it’ll be using both normal CPU cores and highly
efficient/low power cores to offer better performance and long
battery life on laptops. Some reports have
suggested that Alder Lake CPUs will offer a major
performance upgrade over Rocket Lake.
Microsoft is also working with Intel on performance
optimization for “Alder Lake-S” desktop processors. According
to reports, Windows 11 or Sun Valley will update the scheduler
with better support for hybrid processors (CPU cores designed
for different tasks).
The operating system will be announced on June 24, but won’t
become available for the mainstream audience in the production
channels until Q4 2021. However, testers in the Windows Insider
program will be able to try the preview builds of the next-gen
Windows after the event.
Microsoft teases massive improvements
Microsoft’s executives Satya Nadella and Panos Panay have
already confirmed that the company will soon share “one
of the most significant updates to Windows” and they’re
incredibly excited about the next generation of Windows.
In late April,
Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi also dropped hints at the exciting
future of both Windows and Surface products.
With Windows 10X now cancelled, Microsoft’s focus has shifted
to Windows 10 desktop and the next-gen update will be aimed at
mainstream customers only.
