Even if Windows 8 was only just officially released 2 months ago, whispers about its successor are already being heard. The project is being called “Windows Blue” and is expected to be launched in the summer of next year.

Microsoft appears to be moving away from its usual release cycle of a couple of years and instead opting for a quicker yearly cycle instead — if Windows Blue is indeed released on time. Besides starting a new update cycle for Microsoft’s OS, Windows Blue will bring a number of enhancements and new features to Windows 8. Unfortunately for those of you that loathe the direction that Windows 8 took, Windows Blue will not be making any huge changes. In fact, it may even retain the Windows 8 branding when it hits the market next year.

More new info has also been discovered by way of a poster on a Taiwanese forum. Members of the forum have identified this poster as a Microsoft official but as always, consider this a rumor unless it is officially announced by Microsoft.

He claims that is he running an Alpha version of the next Windows with build number 9622 (current Windows is at 9200). He is calling it Windows 9 and claims that the Metro visuals and Start Screen found in Windows 8 are here to stay, although users will be able to further customize their tiles by resizing them like in Windows Phone 8. He also says that the desktop environment will also remain, but will undergo more flattening its design aesthetic, making it look more consistent. Finally, he claims that there will be an update to the kernel, bringing it up to version 6.3.

There will obviously be many more changes to the operating system when it is revealed next year but while these improvements, if true, are definitely a step in the right direction — it might not be enough to appease though who feel burned by the direction Microsoft is taking its OS.

What changes do you think Microsoft needs to bring with Windows Blue? Let us know in the comments!

[via Neowin.net]