Windows 8 has definitely not lived up to what Microsoft expected. And so after a number of updates, Windows 9 release date will soon arrive and is tipped next year. 

According to reports by PC Advisor, several leaked screenshots of Windows 9, a.k.a. Threshold have been making the rounds online. 

From the images, we can see that the upcoming Windows 9 version will bring back the Start Menu, which was absent in previous versions. 

There would also be a new Start Screen which looks similar to the traditional Windows desktop we have come to know. The entire Windows panel seems like a mix of Windows 7 and Windows 8, and while that may sound promising, we wouldn't know if it really works unless we use it. 

In the report, Windows Threshold should be announced early next year with a release date within the second or third quarter of 2015. That is still a long time, and we won't be surprised if there are other changes Microsoft would make for its PC platform. 

Like the early versions of Windows 8, Windows 9 could be running on a new device that Microsoft would announce, probably another version of the Surface Pro slate. The rumored Surface mini did not pan out this year, but we might finally see it next year. 

Windows 9 is certainly a promising and exciting upgrade to the disappointing Windows 8. We sure hope Microsoft has already learned its lesson that laptop and PC users just do not want to touch their screens. 

There have also been rumors that the upcoming version of Windows Phone, update 9 will be similar to the Windows 9 for the PC. This could be due to the alleged plan of Microsoft to unite all of its platforms for PC as well as the smartphone. Of course, nothing is official unless Microsoft announces it itself.