Windows 8.1 Release Date: October 18, 2013

Microsoft has announced the official launch date of Windows 8.1, the next Windows version. Windows 8.1 is all set to be launched on October 18. All Windows 8 users will be allowed to update to Windows 8.1 as free update from the Windows Store.

Making the announcement on Microsoft’s official Blogging Windows website, the company’s Brandon LeBlanc confirms that Windows 8.1 will be available in mid-October, and that Windows 8.1 RTM is set to be reached this month, as it was initially planned.

Windows 8.1

“I know a lot of folks are eager to find out when they will be able to get Windows 8.1. I am excited to share that starting at 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand (that’s 4:00am October 17th in Redmond), Windows 8.1 will begin rolling out worldwide as a free update for consumers on Windows 8 through the Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available at retail and on new devices starting on October 18th by market. So mark your calendars!” he says.

“Windows 8.1 continues the vision we began with Windows 8 and is an example of our commitment to continuous innovation and improvement for our customers. And Windows 8.1 brings many improvements in areas like personalization, Internet Explorer 11, search which is powered by Bing, built-in apps including a few new ones, an improved Windows Store experience, and cloud connectivity with SkyDrive (and much more) that people will enjoy. If you haven’t already, you can give many of the new features and improvements in Windows 8.1 a try with the Windows 8.1 Preview. Business customers can begin testing Windows 8.1 for deployment in their environments with the Windows 8.1 Enterprise Preview.” he continues.

Windows 8.1 is set to be released just before Windows 8’s 1st anniversary. The next Windows version is set to address most user complaints about Windows 8. Through that announcement, Microsoft also emphasizes that this new Windows OS update is actually the proof that it’s listening to its users.

When Windows 8 was launched without the Start button, most users complaint. Even third-party Start button replacements started appearing. With Windows 8.1, Microsoft brings back the traditional Start button. But instead of launching the traditional Start Menu, it will actually jump straight to the Start screen. In addition, Microsoft has implemented an option to boot directly to the desktop and skip the Start screen, mainly for desktop users who rarely uses the Start Screen.

Soon after the launch of Windows 8.1 on October 18, retail boxed copies of Windows 8.1 are also expected to hit the stores.

More information about Windows 8.1 will be revealed soon, so keep an eye here for updates!

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