Windows 11 24H2 is coming so we can all shut up about Windows 12 for another year
- Reference: 1706884208
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/02/02/windows_12_windows_11_24h2/
- Source link:
2024 is set to be a big 12 months for Microsoft's flagship OS. By the end of it, Windows 10 will have less than a year before support is pulled for all but those able to pay. Windows 11 has yet to surpass its predecessor in terms of [1]market share and Microsoft is packing it with AI tools.
The arrival of Windows 12 has been expected by some, given the length of service that has passed for Windows 11. However, judging by technical documents unearthed by [2]WindowsLatest , it looks like there will be at least one more hurrah for Windows 11 before the operating system moves to maintenance, and something with a less toxic brand takes center stage.
[3]
Lurking within a [4]support document for the Process Status API header is a reference to the [5]EnumDeviceDrivers function. Venture into documentation, and a paragraph tells developers what to expect from Windows 11 Version 24H2.
[6]Microsoft posts another set of bumper results. Market's response? Meh
[7]Microsoft confirms Windows Server 2025 is on the way
[8]Microsoft hits $3 trillion as investors drink AI Kool-Aid
[9]Microsoft touts migration to Windows 11 as painless, though wallets may disagree
Unless Microsoft opts to change the wording, it appears that Windows 11 24H2 is happening, although there is no indication of what form the branding might take. We've seen some OEMs starting to use nomenclature along the lines of "Windows 11 2024 Update."
While there was a period prior to the release of Windows 11 when the operating system identified itself as Windows 10, the discovery of 24H2 makes the release of Windows 12 in 2024 look less likely.
[10]
Windows 10 will continue to be supported until 2025, after which extended support can be purchased for a relatively hefty fee.
Once Windows 10 has left the building and Windows 11 24H2 has demonstrated why users should buy new hardware to take advantage of all that AI wizardry, the path will be clear for Windows 12. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/23/windows_12_analysis/
[2] https://www.windowslatest.com/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Zb0fuREIf6kVi0iAxoMMdAAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/win32/api/psapi/
[5] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/win32/api/psapi/nf-psapi-enumdevicedrivers
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/31/microsoft_results/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/29/microsoft_confirms_windows_server_2025/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/25/microsoft_valuation_3_trillion/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/17/windows_11_migration_easy/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Zb0fuREIf6kVi0iAxoMMdAAAAAU&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Meh
Windows 10, 11, 12... It's just a name at the end of the day. Doesn't really mean anything. They could call it Windows ThisIsReallyTheFinalVersionEverWePinkyPromiseForRealsiesThisTime for all I care. While I hope to be some day pleasantly surprised with the whole AI thing, I'm guessing it'll just be one more thing I ignore because it has no real relevance to anything I do.
ha!
"one more hurrah for Windows 11 before the operating system moves to maintenance, and something with a less toxic brand takes center stage"
Judging by the talk of integrating Artificial Ignorance 'AI' into windows 12, it looks like it may be two in a row for high toxicity...
Lifetime
I confidentlty expect Win 10 to be the most-used version well into 2026
Re: Lifetime
For sure, for my next desktop PC rebuild I'm currently planning to obtain (most likely on the high seas -hence icon- since MICROS~1 doesn't sell it to end users) a copy of Windows 10 IOT LTSC 2021 that is supported until 2027 (mainstream, 2032 extended), since I cannot stand the modifications they've done to the taskbar in Windows 11.
Sadly I doubt I will be switching to Linux soon, I have tried twice already but each time I've come back to Windows because file searching tools in the land of the penguin have no concept of opening a file with anything but its associated application. Whereas there are times I need to edit a picture, but most times I just want it to open in a much-quicker-to-start image viewer for example...
Re: Lifetime
"file searching tools in the land of the penguin have no concept of opening a file with anything but its associated application"
You right click on it, same as in Windows.
Reviewed our 30 user estate earlier this month
Of whom 6 already use Macs.
23 could all be moved to Mint or just Ubuntu Jammy on their existing kit.
One person claims they *have* to use Excel. I can live with that.
Re: Reviewed our 30 user estate earlier this month
That's OK. Excel works as well as it ever does on W10.
Not sure that this demonstrates anything - there was a W10 21H2 which arrived shortly after the original release of W11, then a W10 22H2 a year later.
TPM 3.0 standard
Time for the rise of the all knowing nuclear powered clippy.