Next Windows officially named Windows 8.1 - free for Win8 users

by Mark Tyson on 15 May 2013, 10:00

Tags: Windows 8

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Microsoft has announced that an updated version of Windows 8, often previously referred to as Windows Blue, will be called Windows 8.1. The update will be made available for free for current Windows 8 users according to Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of Microsoft’s Windows division.

As a free upgrade offering, Microsoft hopes that Windows 8.1 will be adopted by a very large proportion of users. As we have reported previously, a public preview of the new version of Windows will be released in June (26th June, coinciding with the BUILD conference), the full and final version of the update will be available “before the holiday shopping season”. When the update is available and ready to install users will be prompted to download it via the Windows app store, said Reller.

Many reports hint that some of the key changes implemented in Windows 8.1 are the return of a Start Button and the ability to boot straight to the desktop. Depending in which camp you fall this is either the sign of a company listening to its customers or a humiliating U-turn. Additionally the Modern User Interface will be tweaked to include things such as even more tile sizes and customisation options.

Talking about its development, Tami Reller said that Windows “just keeps getting better and better every day”. Also answering questions about the naming she reasoned plainly “It is an update, which is why it’s called Windows 8.1”.

The update announcement comes as Microsoft tries to ready Windows to fit with tablets and convertibles with screen sizes in the region of 7 or 8-inches. For such devices MS has relaxed Windows certification rules regarding screen size and changed the way split screen multitasking works in the MUI (Modern User Interface). Also companies making smaller and cheaper Windows devices will get price breaks to help such devices be competitive against the Android horde. Meanwhile Microsoft continues to push and begin initiatives to encourage Windows MUI app development.

Windows RT will also get an update but Microsoft didn’t reply to questions about the naming scheme for the Windows on ARM operating system.

HEXUS Forums :: 77 Comments

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Posted by shaithis - Wed 15 May 2013 10:05
So, will Windows 8 even get a service pack?

Apple style updates incoming?
Posted by zap117 - Wed 15 May 2013 10:25
I don't know why they even used the term “service pack” in the first place. It's a lot easier to say Windows 8.1 instead of ‘Windows 8 with service pack 1’.
Posted by Scribe - Wed 15 May 2013 10:38
I think 8.1 can be assumed as a service pack, it's certainly a simpler naming approach.

I'm actually quite happy with Windows 8, there's a few niggles, there were bound to be, but overall it's won out over Windows 7 for me, especially on low-end systems like my dual-core 1.4GHz acer timeline, it has breathed new life into the device, it's booting and responding like a modern Ultrabook, something which Windows 7 never could make it do, even with a fresh install. It's just such an efficient OS.
Posted by jnutt - Wed 15 May 2013 10:41
Well I'll probably use it. I like “8”. I'm impressed by the startup and shutdown speeds. Performance is very good and after a few initial niggles I'm used to the new “Metro” layout.
Posted by Strider_BZ - Wed 15 May 2013 10:44
shaithis
So, will Windows 8 even get a service pack?

Apple style updates incoming?

This is similar to a service pack, but more a feature pack, as it brings new usability features to the OS.

Scribe
I think 8.1 can be assumed as a service pack, it's certainly a simpler naming approach.

I'm actually quite happy with Windows 8, there's a few niggles, there were bound to be, but overall it's won out over Windows 7 for me, especially on low-end systems like my dual-core 1.4GHz acer timeline, it has breathed new life into the device, it's booting and responding like a modern Ultrabook, something which Windows 7 never could make it do, even with a fresh install. It's just such an efficient OS.

Reason why it's more than a service pack is because Blue/8.1 increments the NT Kernel from 6.2 to 6.3 which isn't usually done with service packs.

It's a massive amount of features to be released and this update and other yearly updates have always been on the table long before Windows 8s launch. Just clarifying the last point up as no doubt many uninformed believe Windows 8 is awful (from a stability and developer standpoint, it can be awful from a usability point but that depends if the individual is accustomed to the new UI and understands the shortcuts) and believe MS forced the 8.1 update (well they did take feedback but 8.1 was always to be a released a year later).

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