Microsoft Corp. made a blooper this morning when it accidentally leaked the logo of its upcoming Windows 9 operating system, along with the ‘news’ that it’s “coming soon.”

While rumors of Windows 9 have been circulating for some time, Microsoft hasn’t made any official statements so far. But that didn’t stop one employee from Microsoft China jumping the gun, posting an image of the new Windows 9 logo on the social media site Weibo, along with the following question:

“Microsoft’s latest OS Windows 9 is coming soon, do you think the start menu at the left bottom will make a come back?”

The logo is a previously unseen design sporting a figure “9” made up of live tiles that dominate the metro style interface of Windows 8. The post was swiftly deleted, but not before China’s Cnbeta website spotted it and swiped a screenshot.

Image credit: Cnbeta.com

September launch date?

Microsoft is widely expected to release details of Windows 9 for the first time (officially) at a media event scheduled for September 30, just before it launches a “technology preview” of the OS for developers and early adopters to play with.

Codenamed “Threshold”, Windows 9 will then be launched for all consumers early next year (most likely in the spring). Microsoft is reportedly planning a major revamp to improve the Windows experience for those using non-touch devices, following major criticism of Windows 8 for being too touch-focused. Some of these concerns were addressed with the Windows 8.1 update last year, and we can expect more of the same for Windows 9.

Expected additions include a new mini-Start Menu on the desktop interface, plus “Windowed” metro-style apps, virtual desktops, no more charm bars (the horizontal bars that are accessed from the edge of the screen) and possible integration with Cortana – Microsoft’s Siri-like virtual assistant.

The release follows Microsoft’s decision to introduce a much more rapid update cycle for Windows, in line with what it already does for Windows Phone.

Main photo credit: jDevaun via photopin cc