The blogosphere is reporting that Microsoft's early version of the "Threshold" -- the code name for the next version of its Windows operating system -- could be presented at the BUILD developers conference (April 2-4, 2014 in San Francisco). indows 9 could be launched commercially one year later, in April 2015, according to the rumors.

Do not expect to read any further details about the new OS. But plans likely exist to converge all of Microsoft's current operating systems -- for PC, smartphone, tablets and gaming consoles -- into a single platform.

Windows 8 was released on October 26, 2012.