Microsoft's 'Blue' not just for Windows

(Credit: CNET)

As we've known for a few months, the Windows client team at Microsoft is working on its first "feature pack" update for Windows 8, supposedly due this summer/fall, which is code-named Blue.

But it turns out Blue isn't a Windows thing only, according to one very accurate tipster of mine who doesn't want to be identified.

Blue also is the way Microsoft is referring to the next substantial platform update for Windows Phone, the Windows Services (like SkyDrive, Hotmail, etc.), and Windows Server, according to my source. In other words, Blue is a wave of product refreshes which are not expected to arrive exactly all on the same day, but which are meant to be released more or less around the same time.

Before these various Blues come to market, there will continue to be minor fixes, firmware updates, and new features added to Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows Services, and Windows Phone. On the phone side of the house, for example, the first minor update, code-named Portico, already has made its way out to a number of Windows Phone users.

Blue represents a major change in how Microsoft builds, deploys, and markets software and services. To date, many Microsoft teams like Windows, Windows Live, and W... [Read more]





by Mary Jo Foley via CNET