win8 Windows 8.1 Preview to be released June 26th

[Ice_Blue]

Today at the JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Boston, Tami Reller shared with the audience that the update previously referred to as ?Windows Blue? will be called Windows 8.1and will be a free update to Windows 8 for consumers through the Windows Store.

During her remarks today, Tami reiterated our goal of delivering continual updates to create a richer experience for Windows customers. 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.

Today, there are more devices ? and choice ? allowing you to pick the right Windows 8 device that meets your needs. Windows 8 provides a great experience for consuming and creating content, for both work and play and on the go. And you?ll immediately benefit from continual updates ? whether it?s from app updates through the Windows Store, performance updates through Windows Update or the Windows 8.1 update later this year.

We have much more to share about Windows 8.1 in the coming weeks. We will also be making a public preview of Windows 8.1 available starting on June 26, timed with the Build developer conference in San Francisco. The preview will be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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[Growled Member]

I hate how they just leaving you hanging. I want some real information.

[Ice_Blue]

^ Yeah. I wonder if Win 7 users will be able to try it out too, that is, will you be able to install it on any computer like the release/consumer/dev previews.

[notuptome2004]

^ Yeah. I wonder if Win 7 users will be able to try it out too, that is, will you be able to install it on any computer like the release/consumer/dev previews.

No cause the update which will be huge is only via the Windows store on windows 8 this is only for windows 8 users if you want to try out windows 8.1 it be a retail DVD or something when it is released and it cost ya . i am on windows 8 so it is a no issue for me

[Ice_Blue]

No cause the update which will be huge is only via the Windows store on windows 8 this is only for windows 8 users if you want to try out windows 8.1 it be a retail DVD or something when it is released and it cost ya . i am on windows 8 so it is a no issue for me

So, no .iso directly from Microsoft, then. :/

[Azies]

So, no .iso directly from Microsoft, then. :/

Continued terrible mistakes by Microsoft, defended by all their fanboys with Microsoft Avatars in their display picture...

[Quillz]

We don't know for sure yet there won't be some kind of ISO provided.

[Ice_Blue]

We don't know for sure yet there won't be some kind of ISO provided.

This is why Microsoft's reluctance to divulge information of this type is so baffling.

I guess all will be known on the 26th of June.

[Quillz]

In the past, service packs and releases like Win3.1 saw physical medium releases, right? Even OS X Lion, which is supposedly "App Store only" can still be acquired in a physical form. I'd be very surprised if 8.1 had no way to be installed as a base OS.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

In the past, service packs and releases like Win3.1 saw physical medium releases, right? Even OS X Lion, which is supposedly "App Store only" can still be acquired in a physical form. I'd be very surprised if 8.1 had no way to be installed as a base OS.

You will just be able to purchase it like you can with Windows 8 at the moment, I would be amazed if that didn't happen!

When Windows 7 SP1 was released, retail copies of Windows 7 were sold with SP1 integrated. I see the exact same happening here. The only difference is Windows 8.1 will add features to the OS.

[HawkMan]

Continued terrible mistakes by Microsoft, defended by all their fanboys with Microsoft Avatars in their display picture...

What... Why would MS release a windows 8 update for everyone.... It makes no sense... Windows 8 haters are getting more desperate in things to hate it seems. Or was that not the point you where trying to get across, cause it seemed like it.

As for Windows 8.1, I wouldn't expect anything major. Basically something akin to xp SP2. A service pack but with a few extra feature enhancements bundled in. Which does not officially include a redundant start button according to MS.

[NEVER85]

Today at the JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Boston, Tami Reller shared with the audience that the update previously referred to as ?Windows Blue? will be called Windows 8.1and will be a free update to Windows 8 for consumers through the Windows Store.

Sooooo....not through Windows Update? Kinda weird.

[Quillz]

Sooooo....not through Windows Update? Kinda weird.

Windows Update is for smaller hotfixes, a few third-party updates and minor updates like that. Even service packs are just collections of previous hotfixes. Win8.1 is far more significant than anything like that, so it make sense they're using the App Store.

[notuptome2004]

Windows 8.1 is not a service pack it is a update to the whole system adding in many new features and enhancements to windows 8

Here is a small list run down of currently known features or improvements to windows 8.1 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8#Windows_8.1_update

• Windows shell:
  
  • Additional Metro apps: a calculator,^[86] alarm clock,^[86] sound recorder,^[86] video editing app^[86] and a file manager^[160]
    
  • Updated PC Settings component: Includes more options that were previously exclusive to Control Panel^[161][162]
    
  • Improved multi-tasking in Metro-style environment: The size of the columns that snapped apps occupy can be changed, although the minimum remains Windows 8's 320 pixels.^[162] Snapped apps may occupy half of the screen.^[86] Large screens allow up to four apps to be snapped.^[86] Upon launching an app, Windows allows the user to pick which snapped view the app should open into.^[160]
    
  • A kiosk mode to lock down the device to a single Metro-style app for an embedded-like terminal experience.^[163][164]
    
  • "Take screenshot" option in the Share charm^[165]
    
  • "Play" option in the Devices charm for playing content to another device^[166]
    

  [*]Start screen:

  • The "All Apps" section, now accessed with a hidden downward arrow or upward touch gesture, features a visible search bar. It is dismissed by similar button with an upward arrow.^[167]
    
  • Start screen tiles can now be locked in place to prevent accidental shifting of tiles that results in frustrating loss of organization.^[165]
    
  • More size options for live tiles on Start screen: small, medium and large plus an extra large size for Desktop tile^[86] The "small" size is one fourth of default size in Windows 8.^[161][162]
    
  • Expanded color options on the Start screen, which now allows users to customize a color and a shade of one's own choice instead of choosing from limited colors^[86]
    
  • Start screen's uninstall command allows Metro-style apps to be uninstalled from multiple computers.^[168]
    

  [*]Internet Explorer 11^[161][162] which includes WebGL and SPDY support^[169] and redesigned developer tools.^[170]

  [*]Windows PowerShell v4.0: Features a host of new commands for managing the Start screen, Windows Defender, Windows components, hardware and network.^[171]

  [*]Increased SkyDrive integration, including automatic device backups^[86]

  [*]Support for:

  • ReFS^[160]
    
  • Miracast
    
  • Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface
    
  • Universal Flash Storage
    

[Azies]

What... Why would MS release a windows 8 update for everyone.... It makes no sense... Windows 8 haters are getting more desperate in things to hate it seems. Or was that not the point you where trying to get across, cause it seemed like it.

As for Windows 8.1, I wouldn't expect anything major. Basically something akin to xp SP2. A service pack but with a few extra feature enhancements bundled in. Which does not officially include a redundant start button according to MS.

....lol wow did I totally call that one.

Anyway, I guess I need to address the reply seriously, in the past we had the ability to get disks, for instance, Windows XP, with a service pack pre-installed. Not having the ability to get a copy of Windows 8.1 on a disk, and having to buy Windows 8, then get Windows Blue on it, is frustrating. It is nice that they're giving the update away for free, but if they're trying to get people to upgrade to Windows 8, wouldn't it be easier if their copies of Windows 8 had 8.1 included?

Also, wouldn't it make sense to have it distributed via Windows Update rather than the Store?

[notuptome2004]

....lol wow did I totally call that one.

Anyway, I guess I need to address the reply seriously, in the past we had the ability to get disks, for instance, Windows XP, with a service pack pre-installed. Not having the ability to get a copy of Windows 8.1 on a disk, and having to buy Windows 8, then get Windows Blue on it, is frustrating. It is nice that they're giving the update away for free, but if they're trying to get people to upgrade to Windows 8, wouldn't it be easier if their copies of Windows 8 had 8.1 included?

Also, wouldn't it make sense to have it distributed via Windows Update rather than the Store?

would you buy a copy of Microsoft office or other software via windows update No i dont think you would . Windows 8.1 is not just a small simple update i would assume with all the features we know it has now and what we dont know it could be 1gig or greater and so the windows store is the perfect place to deliver such a huge update that is not a security hole fix or driver update or other big fixes or stability updates grant you in windows XP SP2 the features that came along with SP2 were needed and was the only way for users to get new features but this day and age somthing like 8.1 the app store is the best way to get it.

[HawkMan]

....lol wow did I totally call that one.

Anyway, I guess I need to address the reply seriously, in the past we had the ability to get disks, for instance, Windows XP, with a service pack pre-installed. Not having the ability to get a copy of Windows 8.1 on a disk, and having to buy Windows 8, then get Windows Blue on it, is frustrating. It is nice that they're giving the update away for free, but if they're trying to get people to upgrade to Windows 8, wouldn't it be easier if their copies of Windows 8 had 8.1 included?

Also, wouldn't it make sense to have it distributed via Windows Update rather than the Store?

what does any of that have to do with your previous post that anyone should be able to download and and install the 8.1 preview.

8.1 will be released on disks, just like any windows 7 you buy today is actually windows 7 sp1.

As far as the distribution, I dunno, so far I've only read this vague mention that it'll be on the windows store. it all depends on how they do it. it's also a bit weird since today Windows store only allows you to buy and install Modern apps, and it isn't. It might be a bad quote and he meant you can buy 8.1 directly from Microsoft Store online, but you can already do that with Windows 8 to.

[Studio384]

^ Yeah. I wonder if Win 7 users will be able to try it out too, that is, will you be able to install it on any computer like the release/consumer/dev previews.

I think everyone can try Windows 8.1 beta out. It will probably just be like the Developer, Consumer and Release Preview of Windows 8. An .iso. However, the full version will probably only been launched in de Windows Store and in shops near you to replace the Windows 8 boxes.

what does any of that have to do with your previous post that anyone should be able to download and and install the 8.1 preview.

8.1 will be released on disks, just like any windows 7 you buy today is actually windows 7 sp1.

As far as the distribution, I dunno, so far I've only read this vague mention that it'll be on the windows store. it all depends on how they do it. it's also a bit weird since today Windows store only allows you to buy and install Modern apps, and it isn't. It might be a bad quote and he meant you can buy 8.1 directly from Microsoft Store online, but you can already do that with Windows 8 to.

Who said that the Windows 8.1 installation is not an Modern UI app? Beside, you can also download 86x/64x apps from the Windows Store. Won't be a big problem.

[Dot Matrix]

Continued terrible mistakes by Microsoft, defended by all their fanboys with Microsoft Avatars in their display picture...

....lol wow did I totally call that one.

Anyway, I guess I need to address the reply seriously, in the past we had the ability to get disks, for instance, Windows XP, with a service pack pre-installed. Not having the ability to get a copy of Windows 8.1 on a disk, and having to buy Windows 8, then get Windows Blue on it, is frustrating. It is nice that they're giving the update away for free, but if they're trying to get people to upgrade to Windows 8, wouldn't it be easier if their copies of Windows 8 had 8.1 included?

Also, wouldn't it make sense to have it distributed via Windows Update rather than the Store?

We don't know if it'll be on disk at all, most likely not, or limited to certain markets. Also I never remember being able to download and install an update from one OS and run it on another. If you want to give 8.1 a go, you should have gone for Windows 8 before now.

[ingramator]

So, no .iso directly from Microsoft, then. :/

Doubt that, they always release an ISO for previews!! Will probably just have the same trial limitation like there was with Win8 Previews.

[George P Global Moderator]

People on both sides are jumping to conclusions. They say a preview will be made available and that means it'll be a full OS ISO you can get and test just like with Win8 itself. The only thing different here is that the final version will be FREE for current 8 users while anyone still on Vista/7 will have to buy a full copy of 8.1 to install it.

Why either side think this will be different is beyond me, the fact that they talk about you being able to "get it" from the Windows Store and not from Windows Update means it's not a simple service pack, we knew that already. No, the fact that it comes through the Store means it'll be more of a full OS d/l and upgrade. I bet what you get through the store itself when you click "install" will be a download of the web installer that Windows 8 also used if you got it online.