Moving ahead, Microsoft officially made it clear that the new Windows 8 update, previously referred to as ‘Windows Blue’, will be called as Windows 8.1 and shall be made available as a free update to existing Windows 8 customers through the Windows 8 Store.
Speaking at the JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Boston, Tami Reller ( Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer & Chief Marketing Officer for Windows and Windows Live) expressed how Microsoft plans to move along towards their goal of delivering continual updates to ensure better and richer Windows experience. Microsoft also made it clear that Windows 8.1 should not be considered as a Service Pack, but an Update for Windows 8.
“Windows 8.1 is part of that and continues the journey we first began with Windows 8 last fall. Windows 8.1 will help us to deliver the next generation of PCs and tablets with our OEM partners and to deliver the experiences customers— both consumers and businesses alike —need and will just expect moving forward.” – Microsoft
Microsoft also announced that Windows 8.1 will be made available after a public preview on June 26, also the first day of the BUILD conference to be held in San Francisco this year. Windows 8.1 update will be available to all devices running Windows 8 and Windows RT (a skimmed-version of Windows 8 suitable for tablets/slates)
“Windows 8 was built for a world that blends our work and our personal lives, a world where we expect high quality touch experiences everywhere, and a world that is always on the go and always connected. Windows 8 redefines our market from PCs to mobile computing.”
The notion of pushing continual updates for Windows 8 in order to enrich the existing experience seems likeable but it depends on how far Microsoft intends to go along with it. Windows 8.2 next year? Maybe.
Meanwhile, in order to accommodate more folks at BUILD, Microsoft will be re-opening the registration on May 15, 2013 (Wednesday) at 9AM PDT. If you missed out on booking your seat at BUILD and so much want to be there, a limited number of additional tickets will go on sale Wednesday May 15.
