There have been some rumors and screen shots for the upcoming release of Windows Blue (supposedly the newer version of Windows will not be Windows 9) that show a new kernel, using 6.3, which is ahead of Windows 7’s 6.1 and Windows 8 6.2. If this is true, then it will bring more improvements than previously thought. Some were saying the Windows Blue was more of a Service Pack than a real release.
The screenshots do not show what type of features Windows Blue will include, but the NT kernel change is notable. Windows Vista adopted NT kernel 6.0, while Windows 7 jumped to 6.1, and Windows 8 to 6.2. A switch to 6.3 with Windows Blue suggests this is a major revision to Windows, but one that will be delivered much sooner than a traditional Windows cycle. Sources tell us there is no "Windows 9" project inside Microsoft at the moment, and that Blue is the next major update to Windows.