Microsoft plans ‘Redstone’ updates for Windows 10 in 2016

Windows 10 Successor Carries Codename 'Redstone' And Will Splash Land In 2016

Windows 10 isn't even out the door yet, so what better time than now to talk about its successor? Believe it or not, there's a fair bit of information on it floating around already, with its codename being particularly interesting: Redstone.Following in the footsteps of 'Blue' and 'Threshold', Redstone is an obvious tie-in to Microsoft's purchase of Minecraft, which it snagged from Mojang last year. Redstone is an integral material in the game, used to create simple items like a map or compass as well as logic gates for building electronic devices, like a calculator or working doors.

That similarity is likely the only correlation Minecraft has with the upcoming Windows, and it's probably a good thing: a blocky Windows OS might not be too attractive.Here's the really important news: we could see Windows Redstone in 2016. Yes, next year. This isn't hugely surprising since Microsoft has made it known in the past that it's wanted to accelerate the roll out of its Windows successors, but it does highlight one of the reasons why I think Microsoft is so happy to make Windows 10 free for the first year: A new Windows version will be out as soon as that deal expires.At this point, it's hard to predict what Windows Redstone will look like, but given how fast Microsoft has acted during the preview of Windows 10, it seems likely that what the company even knows of Redstone today could differ greatly from what it becomes next year.


On account of Microsoft's insistence on "tiles" in lieu of a regular Start menu, I can't see that going anywhere. If anything, it might be tweaked further to look better, but it seems Microsoft is intent on making its desktop OSes have mobile-specific enhancements.Regardless of what Redstone looks like, what's important for now is to just get Windows 10 out the door. That's expected to happen this coming summer, and based on what I've experienced during the preview, it's already on the right track to releasing as a very stable, robust OS.
While Microsoft used the Windows Blue codename for Windows 8.1  and Threshold for Windows 10, the software giant is planning to use Redstone for its 2016 plans. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is planning two updates to the core of Windows in 2016, one in the summer and one in fall. These updates will largely be designed for new hardware and devices that run Windows, and will be targeted at the Xbox, Surface Hub, phones, HoloLens, Microsoft Band, Office, and other products that rely on the core of Windows. Redstone is the codename for the updates and a reference to Minecraft, the game Microsoft acquired last year. The Redstone name was first revealed by Neowin.

WINDOWS AS A SERVICE BEGINS, BUT REDSTONE FOR CORE UPDATES

Microsoft is currently planning to push regular monthly updates to Windows 10 in the meantime, and the company has already revealed its "Windows as a service" plans that accompany this. Windows 10 will ship this summer, but Microsoft will continue to update it and components that aren’t core to the operating system on a regular basis. As part of those plans, elements like Project Spartan, Microsoft’s new browser for Windows 10, will be updated through the Windows Store to ensure features can make their way to users at a more rapid pace. Microsoft moved a lot of the core features of Windows Phone to this model last year, and it’s something the company is increasingly doing across Windows as a whole.The Windows Redstone updates won’t be seen as a Windows 11 or Windows 12, but more of a Windows 10.1, with new features added to the core for all difference device types to take advantage of. Microsoft is currently planning to detail more of its HoloLens and Windows 10 development plans at Build later this month, and it’s possible the company may discuss Windows as a service and Redstone. We understand the Redstone name was first used around two months ago inside Microsoft, so it may still be a little early for the company to share its plans.