No take-backs
Microsoft has issued a hasty retraction of the statement made by CEO Steve Ballmer at a developer conference in Japan that: "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."
Contrary to Ballmer's comments, Microsoft insists that neither the release date, nor the moniker of the next version of Windows are official, yet.
A spokesperson said "It appears there was a misstatement. 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."
The question, therefore, is raised of just what Microsoft means when it says misstatement; was Ballmer incorrect in saying that the next Microsoft will be called Windows 8, or just not supposed to reveal that information; was Ballmer supposed to tell us that "the next generation of Windows systems ... will come out next year" or not? And although not yet formally announced, was the timing and naming of the next Windows informally declared by Ballmer?
One thing is for sure: we're unlikely to get any clarification from Microsoft.
