Rumor: Windows 8 may get 3D user interface

We won't vouch for the reliability of these kind of rumors but nevertheless it's interesting to learn that Microsoft may be developing a 3D user interface for the next Windows release. According to Windows 8 Italia, the project is known as Wind, it's a dynamic interface that intelligently adapts to the user's usage habits and creates shortcuts in logical places to speed up common tasks.

A non-3D user interface will still be available for low-power systems and those who prefer performance over fancy eye candy, and the site also claims Windows 7 will contain better SSD support and a faster hibernation mode that will take just three to six seconds to power down. Moreover, the site also writes that the cloud-based OS will be a different version of Windows, and not the consumer-focused edition.

More powerful desktops and notebooks with dedicated GPUs will be able to run the full interface, which will be completely rendered in 3D - although it isn't clear if this means stereoscopic 3D or not. However, this currently requires about 170MB video memory - although the plan is to decrease this number - so there will be a non-3D interface for lower-power systems.

Interestingly, the full Wind interface will only be available on computers running 64-bit versions of the OS, suggesting that Microsoft might finally be pushing this as the 'standard' edition. While there will reportedly be a 32-bit version, it seems like it might be reserved for low-power systems like tablets and netbooks in the same way that Windows 7 Starter is now.

Source: Hexus