Windows 22

## About

Windows 22, codenamed **Styx**, is the twenty second major release in the Microsoft Windows lineup and the third operating system to use the Quantum X kernel. It was the biggest update to Windows, ever, with over 20 features added from previous Windows versions. Windows 22 has a new kind of menu, known as the Windows Menu, a revamped Iris System, known as Iris Neo, and the new Windows Television app.

Windows 22 was another one of Microsoft's best selling operating systems since Windows 16. Its update rate was the highest since Windows 16, with over 90% of devices upgrading in the first month after it got released. The average bootup speed had been increased to 1 second or less.

Windows 22 was also one of Microsoft's most famous and successful operating systems for the first time in 71 years, its update rate was the highest ever of all Windows operating systems.

## New features and changes

* Iris Neo: The Iris System has been revamped and rewritten in Windows 22, allowing the computer to be unlocked with retina scan and fingerprint input. The Iris Neo had been optimized for the Quantum X kernel since Windows 21.
* Passwords are now no longer used as of Windows 22. The Iris Neo and Passkeys were now used to log into Windows. Apple, Google and various Linux operating systems implemented the same feature.
* The menu bar that had been added in Windows 15 had been removed due to a lawsuit with Apple in late 2069, due to copying the design of their software unauthorized, Microsoft was going to remove the menu bar in Windows 21, but was pushed to Windows 22.
* Neutron 8.0: The Neutron video editor, originally introduced in Windows 13, has been updated and revamped with a new UI and support for 128K video editing. Rendering 128K was risky because trying to render 128K photos in development builds would cause the system to crash.
* Live Tiles: Live Tiles makes a return to Windows 22, a feature not seen since Windows 11. Live Tiles has been rewritten to support up to 160 items in the menu.
* Windows Menu: The new and rewritten version of the former Start Menu. Live Tiles 2.0 has been supported in the new Windows Menu, it now can support up to 80 tiles.
* Full Screen Windows Menu: A feature not seen since Windows 11. The full screen start menu now has a redesigned animation.
* Redesigned Desktop: The desktop now has a sleek and modern style to it, the desktop has not received a redesign or a major overhaul since Windows 15.
* WTV: The new Windows Television (or WTV) app replaces the Windows Media Player. The new TV app already has a built-in media player, and has around 1500000 shows and more than 750000 movies.
* Windows Neo: The new user interface design engine designed for Windows Quantum X versions, succeeded by the aging Fluent and Aero interfaces.
* Legacy Themes: All Windows themes starting from the revolutionary Windows XP had been redesigned and modernized in this version to support the new Neo user interface design engine.

## History and development

### Development

Since the year 2064, Microsoft wanted to build a Windows version with nostalgic features from previous operating systems. The reason why Windows 22 instantly became successful and famous was because of its nostalgic features from very old Windows operating systems. Microsoft was also thinking about replacing the aging Edge browser in this version, but that idea was scrapped and would not return until Windows 25. The third installment of the Quantum X kernel was added, making the system to be able to boot in 1 second or less.

Windows 22 was the worlds first operating system to allow 128K screen support since 128K displays became very common in the late 2050s. OLED or 32K support is now required to start up Windows, since 32K (30720 x 17280) was the default resolution of Windows since Windows 21.

### Build [[1]] (05-24-2069)

This was the first build to be released as a Windows Preview. Windows Previews have replaced Insider Previews in this version. The green screen of death in Windows Insider Previews has been replaced to black screen of death in this version. Previous builds were in alpha or pre alpha, but are not listed. This operating system started development in 2063.

### Build [[2]] (12-10-2069)

This was the second Windows Preview for Windows 22. The Windows Television Canary (beta) app was provided to Windows Testers, that replaced Windows Insiders, in this version. The Windows Television app at the time was unstable, since it was not finished at the time. The Windows Television app gave the user the ability to watch movies and shows in 32K and 64K XHD resolution. 64K XHD support was not finished at this time, as trying to watch shows and movies in 64K XHD would result in a crash.

### Build [[3]] (03-26-2070)

This was the third Windows Preview build for Windows 22. Legacy themes and a preview of the rewritten Live Tiles were added in this build. Before opening the Windows Menu, show a warning message stating:

> "The rewritten live tiles are currently under preview. Some features of Live Tiles may not be present."
>
>

### Build [[4]] esc\_milestone1 (06-07-2070)

This was the fourth Windows Preview build for Windows 22. Themes for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10, 11, 12, 12.1 and Windows 13 were added in Legacy Themes, redesigned and modernized to support the new Windows Neo interface. Transparency effects were also added in this version, a feature removed in Windows 20, returning in Windows 22.

### Build [[5]] esc\_finalpreview (01-26-2071)

This was the fifth and final Windows Preview build for Windows 22. Support for 64K XHD in Windows Television has been finished. In this build, rendering 64K XHD would no longer result in a BSOD. The term "BSOD" would just be referenced as a "stop error" starting in Windows 25. The blue screen of death would be changed to black screen of death in later builds. This was the final Windows Preview build before going into public beta.

### Build [[6]] (07-24-2071)

Styx was revealed on Microsoft's website and on official social media accounts. It was Microsoft's first operating system that included 'nostalgic' features since Windows Infinity, released in 2020. This was also the first public beta build and the iso was released on the Microsoft Website.

### Build [[7]] (10-11-2071)

This was the first build that no longer allowed 64 and 128 bit apps to run on this version. Trying to load a 64/128 bit app would result in a crash with the new stop code ERROR\_64\_128\_NO\_LONGER\_SUPPORTED (appname.exe). All stop codes now start with "ERROR" beginning in this build. The revamped Live Tiles were finished.

### Build [[8]] (02-13-2072)

This was the third public beta of Windows 22. The Iris Neo recognition system was finally finished and many bugs that caused the system to crash on Intel and AMD quantum processors were fixed. A system requirement check will now be ran before Windows Setup and Installation to make sure if the device meets the system requirements before installing Windows, in order to prevent the user bypassing the system requirements like in older Windows versions.

### Build [[9]] (05-28-2072)

This was the fourth public beta of Windows 22. Windows will no longer boot with 16K displays. A good 32K monitor or display is now required to start up windows. Attempting to boot up Windows on a 16K display would cause the system to crash and display the stop code, ERROR\_16K\_NO\_LONGER\_SUPPORTED (the name the monitor you attempted to boot with).

### Build [[10]] (08-30-2072)

This was the fifth and final public beta of Windows 22. Cumulative updates that included performance and stability improvements were made in order to prepare the system for general availability.

### Build [[11]] (11-15-2072)

The general availability build of Windows 22. If a device met the system requirements, a free upgrade would be offered to devices that met from the system requirements that would be delivered to those devices from late 2072 to mid 2074. In the first month, 90% of devices already got updated to Windows 22. This was the first build that consumers would get to have a hands on preview of the build itself.