Microsoft announced this week in a blog post that its much-awaited Windows 8.1 update will be available in two months.
The update will be a free download to all Windows 8 users, available in the Windows Store Thursday, October 17, 2013 starting at 4:00 am PST, which of course is 7:00 am EST, noon GMT, and 10:00 pm in Sydney.
Microsoft has provided the Windows 8.1 Release to Manufacturing edition to PC and tablet vendors this month, and the operating system will be included on new Windows 8 devices out of the box, starting on Friday, October 18.
Microsoft has heeded user complaints and has re-included the Start button in Windows 8.1, but instead of quick access to the programs and settings, the new Start button launches your customized Start screen (pictured above).
Window 8.1 will come with numerous other changes including bundled Skype and Xbox Radio, Multi-Window Mode for improved split-screen applications, a new version of Internet Explorer (IE 11), combined local and Bing web search (also pictured here), automatic SkyDrive saving, and camera access from the lock screen.
A leaked build of Windows 8.1 also reveals further changes from the Preview edition, including new video tutorials, wallpapers, and a ‘power panel’ in the Mail app. PC Magazine recently tested Windows 8.1 preview edition and reviewed some of the new features.
Sales of Windows 8 touch PCs have so far been slow, and PC makers started cutting prices a few months ago, hoping for a boost in sales. Thanks to even better processors in new tablets and notebooks due out soon, we’ll see more affordable Windows 8 devices. Microsoft is expected to release a second-gen Surface tablet this fall with a new Nvidia graphics chip. The company is listening to its users about its operating system features, and hopefully the company has listened on Surface pricing as well.
