Microsoft has been referring to the next version of the Windows OS by its codename, "Windows 7", for some time now. Instead of coming up with a brand new official name (Vista ME, anyone?), Windows 7 has now been announced as the official name too.

According to a blog entry by Mike Nash, VP at Windows Product management, instead of using dates (always dangerous) or "aspiriational" names (like Windows Vista), they've decided to keep it simple. That said, consumers may be left wondering where versions 1-6 went!

For those still confused - this is the seventh release of Windows, based on the Windows NT line (NT 3.x, 4.x, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista), rather than it's Windows 3.x heritage. Perfectly simple.

I'm sure we can expect to hear a lot more about Windows 7 in the coming months.