Windows 8.1: Why the New Naming Convention is Important
I don’t usually do a lot of commenting on mainstream Windows stuff: I can’t keep up and there’s plenty of other people who can. But I do try and keep my ear in on what’s going on.
The big news recently is Windows Blue, the next version of the Windows 8 operating system. Its final name is going to Windows 8.1. You can read about this either from Mary Jo Foley or on The Verge, to just 2 of the better sources. This is unusual: not since Windows 3.1 have Microsoft used numerical points to iterate their operating system releases. People have been saying that the change to a point release name is more boring that calling it Blue, or that it makes it sound more like a Service Pack, or just that it’s usual crazy Microsoft naming conventions. I say this: the name change to 8.1 represents a huge change in the way Windows is developed & delivered.
How so?
Over the past couple of years, Microsoft have been trying to change how they ship software. From traditional 2 year product cycles, they’ve been trying to move to a model where they ship sooner, iterate faster, move in a more agile way. As a developer, I’ve definitely seen this happening in Visual Studio and its associated products. Apple (to some extent), Google (for sure) and the New World of small companies and individuals rapidly iterating software and apps is making them look slow and outdated, and they want to be part of the party, to be able to change pace and support the latest thing.
But Microsoft is a big company, a massive company, and Change takes time. This isn’t going to happen overnight. Lots of moving parts need to come together and align.
However, I believe the use of a numerical point system demonstrates their commitment to making this change. You can’t release lots of incremental updates clearly when your product name is ME, or XP, or Blue. It fragments the marketing story too much. 8.1 is a clear iteration on 8, and it promises a future of iterations.
More Than Just Bug Fixes
Back in 2010, I wrote a blog post titled “Why iOS4 Was The Most Exciting Service Pack Ever“, where I called out Microsoft for not shipping new features in their Service Packs, just bug fixes. I think, from Windows 8.1, we will finally see that change. I believe Microsoft have come to believe that they have to innovate their software, they have to shorten their release cycle, they have continue to add features, if they want to keep up with the competition. It’s what their customers demand these days, and I think Microsoft are gearing up to make it happen. 8.1 will be the first of a new generation of MS releases, and you heard it here first!
Written by Tom Morgan
Tom is a Microsoft Teams Platform developer and Microsoft MVP who has been blogging for over a decade. Find out more.
Related posts:
Developing Windows Phone 7 Applications using Silverlight
Why iOS4 was the most exciting Service Pack ever
Windows 2008: disabled by default
Vista, IE8, Windows Live, Thunderbird can’t open attachments
Lync 2010 on Windows XP Pro / Windows Server 2003: Lync client does not start (after installing March 2013 update)