It's barely been a couple of months since the release of Windows 8 and rumors of the next version of Microsoft's flagship operating system are running amok.

Nicknamed Windows Blue, the OS is said to feature Windows 8's Metro-style user interface which will be supposedly more customizable and will feature resizable tiles. The traditional desktop will still be there, but it has been visually updated to conform more to the Metro style, and the kernel is now version 6.3.

The latest rumors surfaced on Taiwanese PCBeta forums from a user claiming to be an alpha tester for Windows Blue, although no further details of the new OS were revealed.

Windows 8 was the most radically overhauled OS Microsoft has released since Windows 95, designed to be functional in the touchscreen world.

Its Metro interface, which features live updating tiles, has proved controversial with many users spending the majority of their time on the traditional desktop.

However, these rumors suggest that Microsoft is sticking to its guns when it comes to the new interface. Only a few weeks ago, the company's newly appointed head of product development, Julie Larson-Green, said that the feedback received from those who've opted in for Microsoft's "Customer Experience Improvement Program" has shown that users "get used to" the OS after a couple of weeks.

Nevertheless, Microsoft has struggled with the uptake of Windows 8, with PC manufacturers saying that sales of new machines featuring the new operating system have been slow.