A new clue emerged this week pointing out that the successor of Windows 7 is indeed planned for 2012.

According to Jason Heyes, Solution Architect, Microsoft, Windows Next will be offered in 2012+, with the information shared in a PowerPoint presentation titled “Desktop as a Service” and shared at the Microsoft Architect Insight Conference 2010 (via Mary-Jo Foley and MA-Config).

Windows Next, in case you were wondering is Microsoft’s way of referring to the next major iteration of Windows without using an actual codename. Another popular choice is Window vNext.

And of course, there’s always the Windows 8 moniker, which the software giant is currently extremely careful not to usher.

The “Desktop as a Service” presentation does provide some indirect confirmation that Windows 8 is planned for availability roughly three years after the release of Windows 7, but it also confirms one other detail that was included in documentation leaked earlier this year.

Windows 8 / vNext Leaked Info: 2012 Release with App Store and Desktop as a Service - Softpedia

Hoping win8 will be revolutionary change for Windows

Originally Posted by lordvader

Hoping win8 will be revolutionary change for Windows

I doubt it. Try to change direction of the Queen Mary II with a 3Hp outboard engine.

Originally Posted by whs

I doubt it. Try to change direction of the Queen Mary II with a 3Hp outboard engine.

Here's to hoping that Microsoft surprises us with their next offering. It's going to be a huge task raising the bar above 7.

I hope that the CES Day gonna be good for Microsoft .. Presentation Of Windows 8 Early stages..