Traditionally, Microsoft has developed Windows releases using codenames so that secrecy about product features is kept, and unofficial information doesn't get leaked. Each release of Windows 10 also has its own code name. The initial release was internally named 'Threshold', which was followed by 'Threshold 2'. New information has come to our attention that confirms that the next major version of Windows 10 will be codenamed 'Vibranium'.
For reference, here are the previous codenames for Windows 10 releases:
- Threshold 1: Windows 10/1507
- Threshold 2: Windows 10 November Update/1511
- Redstone 1: Windows 10 Anniversary Update/1607
- Redstone 2: Windows 10 Creators Update/1703
- Redstone 3: Windows 10 Fall Creators Update/1709
- Redstone 4: Windows 10 April 2018 Update/1803
- Redstone 5: Windows 10 October 2018 Update/1809
- 19H1: Windows 10 April 2019 Update/1903
In November 2018, it was already known internally at Microsoft that Windows releases were going to use real and fictitious names of elements from the periodic table as codenames.
So, instead of '19H2' which everyone expected to see as the codename for Windows 10 version 1909, it will be internally called 'Vanadium', and 20H1 is 'Vibranium'. (For those of you who are not aware, Vanadium is a chemical element with atomic number 23).
The Vibranium code name is confirmed by the released SDK for Windows 10 build 18950. It contains references to the upcoming version of the OS as WIN10_VB and WIN10_VIBRANIUM.
For those who are curious about past codenames, here they are for notable releases starting with Windows 3.1.
- Windows 3.1: Janus
- Windows for Workgroups 3.x family: Sparta, Winball, Snowball
- Windows NT 3.1: NT OS/2
- Windows NT 3.5: Daytona
- Windows 95: Chicago
- Windows 95 OSR2: Detroit
- Windows NT 4.0: Shell Update Release
- Windows 98: Memphis
- Windows 2000: No codename
- Windows Me: Millennium
- Windows XP: Whistler
- Windows XP Service Pack 2: Springboard
- Windows Vista: Longhorn
- Windows 7:
Blackcomb, ViennaWindows 7 - Windows 8: Metro/Jupiter
- Windows 8.1: Blue
Here are the changes in 20H1 you might be interested to know about.
- New Options for Notification Toasts in Windows 10
- Optional Features Page Improvements in Windows 10 20H1
- Windows 10 Receives a new Start Menu (again)
- Windows 10 Hidden Feature: Search Box on the Lock Screen
- Windows 10 Will Allow Renaming Virtual Desktops, Getting New Cortana UI, and more
- New Start Menu Search Options in Windows 10
- New delivery optimization options and updated Calendar flyout
- Predicative text input in all apps
Thanks to Tero!
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I bet they feel so proud and creative about this. Making fancy names for their super-secret product the whole world knows about. There won’t be any good features in the new version. They’ll probably make a new Ninja Cat emoji or something, to make it special. Instead of, you know, fixing the glaring design issues that have been plaguing the OS for 5 YEARS, or firing the incompetent “developers” behind the monstrosities such as UWP, the Settings “app”, the Live Tiles, the Store etc.
Yeah UWP, in particular, has been a glaring mess.
Build 18956 is out.
Whatever.
This just in: The major update following ‘Vibranium’ has also been codenamed. It’s called ‘Catastrophe’. Batteries not included.
А следующий релиз будет называться Марганец (Manganese).
По таблице Менделеева идут по порядку, Хром переименован специально в силу очевидных причин.
And the next release will be called Manganese.
According to the periodic table, they go in order, Chrome was renamed specifically for obvious reasons.