Microsoft retracts Ballmer's Windows 8 in 2012 comments
After Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer appeared to confirm earlier this week that the next generation of Windows will arrive next year, a spokesperson has clarified the comments as "a misstatement."
At a developer forum in Tokyo, Japan on Monday, Ballmer used the name "Windows 8" in public for the first time.
"We're obviously hard at work on the next version of Windows. Windows 7 PCs will sell over 350 million units this year. We've done a lot in Windows 7 to improve customer satisfaction. We have a brand new user interface. We've added touch, and ink, and speech," the company's official transcript reported Ballmer as saying.
"And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming. As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors," he continued.
However, Ballmer may have said too much, as Microsoft has retracted the comments, as noted by Gregg Keizer of InfoWorld.
"It appears there was a misstatement," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement the company issued. "We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year. To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows." Microsoft's 2011 fiscal year ends on June 30.
According to the report, Microsoft has kept quiet about the names of previous Windows versions. Windows 7 wasn't officially labeled as such until "just weeks" before developers received an early build, Keizer noted.
However, analysts and developers appear to have already settled on calling the next version "Windows 8," though Microsoft's backpedaling has left some analysts wondering. "Was it the name, Windows 8?" analyst Michael Cherry of Directions on Microsoft asked. "Or was it [the release in] 2012? Sometimes this is like being a soothsayer, pulling apart the entrails of animals."
Developers report that builds of Windows 8 are still in the early stages. For example, the Ribbon UI feature is "only half-finished and, frankly, of dubious value," according to one report.
Windows 8 Ribbon UI | Source: Within Windows
If the next generation of Windows is indeed pushed past the next fiscal year, Microsoft could face stiff competition against the next version of Apple's flagship operating system, which would have over a year's head start when it arrives this summer. Apple will unveil Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
At a developer forum in Tokyo, Japan on Monday, Ballmer used the name "Windows 8" in public for the first time.
"We're obviously hard at work on the next version of Windows. Windows 7 PCs will sell over 350 million units this year. We've done a lot in Windows 7 to improve customer satisfaction. We have a brand new user interface. We've added touch, and ink, and speech," the company's official transcript reported Ballmer as saying.
"And yet, as we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming. As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors," he continued.
However, Ballmer may have said too much, as Microsoft has retracted the comments, as noted by Gregg Keizer of InfoWorld.
"It appears there was a misstatement," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement the company issued. "We are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Windows 7 hardware that will be available in the coming fiscal year. To date, we have yet to formally announce any timing or naming for the next version of Windows." Microsoft's 2011 fiscal year ends on June 30.
According to the report, Microsoft has kept quiet about the names of previous Windows versions. Windows 7 wasn't officially labeled as such until "just weeks" before developers received an early build, Keizer noted.
However, analysts and developers appear to have already settled on calling the next version "Windows 8," though Microsoft's backpedaling has left some analysts wondering. "Was it the name, Windows 8?" analyst Michael Cherry of Directions on Microsoft asked. "Or was it [the release in] 2012? Sometimes this is like being a soothsayer, pulling apart the entrails of animals."
Developers report that builds of Windows 8 are still in the early stages. For example, the Ribbon UI feature is "only half-finished and, frankly, of dubious value," according to one report.
Windows 8 Ribbon UI | Source: Within Windows
If the next generation of Windows is indeed pushed past the next fiscal year, Microsoft could face stiff competition against the next version of Apple's flagship operating system, which would have over a year's head start when it arrives this summer. Apple will unveil Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
Comments
How embarrassing. Could you imagine Apple retracting statements from Steve Jobs?
Ballmer... more and more the fool every day. It makes me wonder why they haven't canned his ass already.
Maybe they fear that he'll turn into a homicidal maniac and take out the board...
"We're obviously hard at work on the next version of Windows. Windows 7 PCs will sell over 350 million units this year.
"If we actually announce this year, that we will release Windows 8 next year, that number will drop to 17 units of Windows 7 sold in 20211.
So what Mr Ballmer stated was a misstatement and we're really sorry if we caused anyone undue stress or anxiety."
Maybe the release date is in 2011
SMH, get rid of this clown.
Can we please get over the use of "misspoke" or "misstatement".
Look. You said it, either own up to the mistake but don't try PR BS on us.
Please remain calm. It is quite common for the CEO of a company not to know the name and/or release date of their next major/minor operating/non-operating system. Instead, their attention is generally focused on the more important things...
Anyway, everybody knows that it will be called 'Windows Macrosoft OS VIII' and should be released not long after they've seen Lion.
- Oh nooo... he did it again!! We don't have it ready till next year.
- What is he nuts?!
- Somebody stop him!!"
( I know that MS do give lots of betas when ready to do so, and long before the release - but that probably does have an effect on buying decisions, particularly in the enterprise sector - they just dont want to see a fall in sales now).
Ballmer... more and more the fool every day. It makes me wonder why they haven't canned his ass already.
Maybe they fear that he'll turn into a homicidal maniac and take out the board...
MS's fiscal 2012 is 7/11-6/12.
But I'd already read in several sources that the various flavors - Win Phone 8, Win Tab 8, and Win 8 wouldn't start being released before mid-2012.....
....so something's a bit odd somewhere beyond this story.....
"If we actually announce this year, that we will release Windows 8 next year, that number will drop to 17 units of Windows 7 sold in 20211.
So what Mr Ballmer stated was a misstatement and we're really sorry if we caused anyone undue stress or anxiety."
Given their use of the word "so", they are saying this is a misstatement not because it is untrue, but because it would affect sales.
They invented a word to cover up the meaning of the statement.
Is this a form of unlying?
How embarrassing. Could you imagine Apple retracting statements from Steve Jobs?
If anything I can easily imagine Steve Jobs retracting statements from Apple, Ballmer or anyone else in the business
Maybe the release date is in 2011
SMH, get rid of this clown.
Why take the chance that he will get replaced by someone who actually knows what they are doing? Be careful what you wish for. Bill Gates might come back and then things would start to happen. Bill would start making we fanboys sweat bullets again.
God. Between companies and politicians.
Can we please get over the use of "misspoke" or "misstatement".
Look. You said it, either own up to the mistake but don't try PR BS on us.
Or the Roger Clemens defense: He "misheard," or he "misremembered."