HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Kicks off the Windows 11 Zinc Development Semester

Microsoft Kicks off the Windows 11 Zinc Development Semester

Following an unusually long semester in 2022 (Copper) Microsoft is moving Windows 11 development to the Zinc semester.

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is moving its development into a new semester as it reaches the Zinc cycle this month. This is the 23H2 development cycle for the next major update for Windows 11, which should arrive in the fall of next year. However, Microsoft's semesters are becoming confusing considering Copper ran from February to November this year.

In March 2018, Microsoft did a major reshuffle, combining half of its Windows division into Azure and the other into Experiences & Devices (E&D). This split essentially brought the core of the Windows platform to Azure and the front-facing elements such as the UX into E&D.

Microsoft Azure uses a “semester” development cycle, which means it has separate development sections with each semester using a codename from the periodic table. These semesters run from January to June and from July to December.

Back to the introduction of Zinc development for Windows 11, Microsoft has been teasing the shift since November. Nearly a month went by without a Windows preview landing in the Dev Channel on the Insider.

Changing Tactics

Windows 11 build 25247 has also dropped for clients, the first build that kicks off the Zinc semester. As for why the Copper cycles lasted so long, it seems this is to do with Microsoft's shift in how it delivers Windows updates.

Windows 11 will continue to receive one major update per year. However, Microsoft will also now roll out smaller feature updates once every three months. These are known as Windows 11 Moments updates and the platform has already received one.

Tip of the day: The Windows Clipboard history feature provides the functionality across device, space, and time, letting you copy on one computer and paste the text days later on a different PC. All of it is possible via the clipboard manager, which lets you view, delete, pin, and clear clipboard history at will.

In our tutorial we show you how to enable the feature, clear clipboard history, and enable/disable clipboard sync to meet your preferences. You can also create a clear clipboard shortcut for quick removal of stored content.

Last Updated on December 22, 2022 7:27 pm CET by Markus Kasanmascheff

Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.