A "technology preview" of Windows 9, a/k/a/ Windows Threshold, is rumored to be released either in late September or early October, according to a report from  ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley.

A preview is the technological equivalent of an hors d'oeurvres. However, the unconfirmed report suggests consumers could have their appetite wetted well before the platform's formal release in 2015. Those who obtain the preview will have to undergo periodic updates once the full release hits the general market. 

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"Threshold is expected to include a number of new features that are aimed at continuing to improve Windows' usability on non-touch devices and by those using mice and keyboards alongside touch," writes Foley, describing how the new iteration is expected to bind further several of Microsoft's operating systems, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 among them. 

It is said the OS is will be shipped in three versions, desktop, smartphone, and tablet, and will give users the ability to tailor their experience to fit whichever device they use.

Company representatives have declined to comment, but Gates & Co. are known for accidentally on purpose slipping out hints of future products. Before the debut of Windows 8 in October of 2012, Microsoft released three "milestones" beginning September 2011 to May 2012.

"These days," writes Foley, "Microsoft's operating system team is on a more rapid release schedule, so I'd think there won't be five or six months between any Threshold milestone builds Microsoft plans to make available externally." 

Forums and blogs are already buzzing about Threshold, hoping that Microsoft learned from the Window 8 debacle. While the platform was generally praised for its performance, it came under fire for being difficult to learn and creating confusion, as well as being too heavily reliant on touch-technology, alienating desktop users. Window 8.1 was released later to address the problems. 

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