Win32 programs with Metro shell are already possible but are available only to enterprises and can be sideloaded to developer devices. (Breaking sandbox via brokers) It is possible Microsoft will implement something like that for RT or tablet users because they would only need to make UI for most of system apps (starting from Speech Recognition, Device Manager, Help and Support, even cmd). There are some probable scenarios about vNext getting .NET Native support. Windows IoT is certainly getting one when released so it's plausible other SKUs will get it OOB. EDIT: Also, don't expect Win7-like Aero in WinTP, there are some limitations regardin Direct2D and DirectDraw that aren't efficient for battery operated devices (tablets, phones, laptops)... However, there are indications it will be available later next year.
Win32 programs with Metro shell are not possible at the moment for anyone. It's true, enterprises and developers are allowed to sideload apps and circumvent the current deployment restriction via the Windows Store, but nonetheless these are still Windows Store apps (means, based on the Windows Runtime) and not Win32 programs. Win32 programs (based on WPF/WinForms/MFC etc.) cannot make use of the native XAML stack (I think this is what you mean by "Metro shell") because the APIs are blocked and cannot be used outside of an app container. Just wanted to clarify the facts
lol ... we all know Zac B, the author of many articles there. he is a long time member of MDL edit: sorry, my bad, mixed the sites, Zac is with winbeta
What I would like to see in windows 9 is some intelligent software. Why does google chrome know what browser I am on and activate the mouse wheel for that window without me having to click on it? Why does thunderbird know what pane my mouse is on without me clicking that pane and activate the mouse wheel for that pane. hover and activate wheel mouse on that pane and not click. Why even after windows 8.1 does the windows file explorer NOT know what pane I am on and I have to repeatedly click on the pane to activate my wheel mouse. Try this, once you realize it, it is sure to bug you if you use file explorer a lot. Chrome and Thunderbird prove it is possible however M$ can not seem to get the basics right. I vote for no small touch screen interface and more work put in to streamline appz for business desktops. Please give us intelligent mouse hover. Regards
Although that would be great to have, MS has bigger fish to fry before they should be concerned with mouse movements.. They got roaches in their popcorn kernels that need cleaned out first.
Vista was 6000 Win7 was 7600 (6000 + 1600) Win8 was 9200 (7200 + 1600) Win8.1 was 9600 (9200 + 400 or like quarter... Win8.25 ) Win9 should be 10800 (or 11200) judging by NT 6.0 build naming... Therefore, IIRC, Windows 8 Milestone 1 (build 7850) was very early in development and didn't bring almost anything new (except those good looking "shhh, let's not leak our hard work" wallpapers and user account picture beside clock in taskbar) Build 6.2.8102.101 is the firs known build that had those new features that are present in Win8 (hybrid shutdown, Metro screen, File History etc.) so my expectation would be that Technical Preview will be build 101xx. Of course, this is just my speculation.
RTM build nos. has to be a multiple of 16 and 100, and therefore there's a jump of 400(LCM of 16 and 100). win8 should have been RTM'ed on 8800, but MS people made a stupid mistake of trying to use 8888, it caused a QFE f**k-up and was forced to jump the next no. 9200. 7850 had (primitive)metro, but it was a leaked build and didn't have the required "red-pill", shsxs.dll.