Microsoft is mostly known for the Windows operating system and Xbox 360 gaming console, two of their mainstream products. However, they have a variety of other software based products that you may use also. Programs like MS Office and Exchange are quite popular, but they also offer some lesser known products such as SharePoint. Here is the update schedule for several of Microsoft’s products.
Windows 8
Windows 8, currently in Consumer Preview, is pretty much finished. Microsoft is currently in the process of refining the next generation operating system, testing for bugs, etc… Although no official Microsoft statement has been made regarding an official release date for Windows 8, the majority of tech enthusiasts and rumor websites are predicting an October 2012 release date for the OS. This makes sense, as an October release date would set Windows 8 for an approximate three year interval since Windows 7’s release.
Xbox 720
Like Windows 8, Microsoft has not yet made an official announcement regarding the next generation Xbox gaming console, or Xbox 720. Rather, they have continued to hype their Kinect technology which is currently Xbox 360 exclusive. Once Windows 8 is released, Microsoft will likely release an official version of the Kinect sensor for PCs also.
Even so, the next gen Xbox is definitely in development and will likely be released in 2013. For more information, jump to our article Should You Buy an Xbox 360 in 2012.
Other Microsoft Products
For other popular Microsoft products such as Microsoft Office and Exchange, you can use this just leaked MS roadmap as a guide:
Using the map’s key, you may notice that Microsoft has planned quite a bit into the future regarding products such as Office, Windows and Windows Phone, even detailing specific update types such as Historical Release Cadence, Service Updates, Betas, General Availability Stage, and Release to Manufacturing Stage.
Other technology companies use similar roadmaps for their products in order to plan incremental releases also. This roadmap by Microsoft, of course, is subject to change. However, it does give a cool look at the planning by a company like MS, and gives a good general clue to when certain products will be updated.
Thank you for stopping by the site for today’s post. Although more of a news/informational post, today’s article can be used as a rough guide to help you decide when to purchase a Microsoft product. For example, if you were considering updating to a newer version of Microsoft Office anytime soon, you may want to hold off, as it seems that Microsoft has some new updates that will be arriving in 2012.
