<p>Back in August, citing unnamed sources, Mary Jo Foley talked about an update to Windows 8, code-named "Blue," that's due to be released next year. Last week, also citing unnamed sources, Tom Warren repeated the rumors, adding "yearly upgrades will be the norm for Windows soon." Given what we've seen of Windows 8, those predictions seem likely. Indeed, they have a precedent. It was called Windows Live.</p><p>Consider: Windows 8 presented few improvements to the legacy Windows 7-style desktop. Microsoft added a few new features to the desktop, lopped off a couple, and modified the interface on a handful of desktop programs, but by and large the plumbing stayed the same. It's highly unlikely Microsoft will invest much more time and effort in improving -- or even modifying -- the legacy desktop, although it's direly needed. Stick a fork in it.</p><p>The part of Windows that will get the lion's share of attention in the next version, of course, is Metro. You have to ask yourself exactly what Microsoft can or will do to Metro. It's likely we're looking at two major changes.</p><p>First, Windows RT (the programming API) will doubtless see extensions in Blue. One likely target: migrating Metro apps to Windows Phone 8, in many cases a highly nontrivial process (if you're stuck, you can take a Harvard Extension School course that covers the high points). Warren referred to this in a confusing way:</p><p><a href="http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/new-version-of-windows-8-coming-every-year-208278">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2012/12/03/msft-davenport-cuts-windows-estimates-target-to-35-from-40/">MSFT: Davenport Cuts Windows Estimates; Target to $ 35 from $ 40</a> (Barron's (blog))</p><p><a href="http://tech2.in.com/news/windows-mobile/windows-phone-store-expands-to-42-more-countries/615012">Windows Phone Store expands to 42 more countries</a> (Tech2)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dB7jrscyROxcbDMu_ZCywAZJ3ne3M&ned=us">122 additional articles.</a></p>