Win8china: Windows 8.1 2014 Update(Spring GDR) Expected in March, Release in BUILD


Recommended Posts

So, just to double check here, is WIMboot something OEMs can put off of the SSD, like say on a ROM on the device that you would then flash to update the OS in the future?   It did say it supports SSD and eMMC only,  are we looking at more of a LiveCD, USB Boot/Windows on the Go type option for OEMs to preload on hardware without doing the whole install process, just flash the image and done?  

 

If it's how I think, and how it sounds, then how much space are we actually saving here?

I dont think saving space is the reason.

I think its "less time = less money"

If they can do less, and all charges stay the same - the OEMs score a big one.

Is that what you were referring to, or did I completely take things out of text ?

If they [OEM] save 1 minute on imaging a new machine that equates to substantial time management benefits.

1 minute x 100,000 machines annually = 100,000 minutes/60 minutes = over a month.

I dont think saving space is the reason.

I think its "less time = less money"

If they can do less, and all charges stay the same - the OEMs score a big one.

Is that what you were referring to, or did I completely take things out of text ?

 

Saving time and money is part of it as well but they've talked about supporting smaller and cheaper devices that only have 16GB of storage and 1GB of ram.  So the OS footprint has to have shrunk, right now a default 8.1 install for the OS alone will take something like 8GB or more, not really good for a cheap tablet that's only got 16GB of space.

  • 2 weeks later...

Neowin News had reported about this win8.1 new version 9600.17042 displayed in the MS KB article

 

https://www.neowin.net/news/newer-version-number-for-windows-81-update-1-revealed-on-microsoft-support-page

 

Seems some guys didn't catch the point,The KB itself is trivial, and it properly won't change any build nos.; what it said in the "additional files" section means that it could be installed on a win8.1 build 9600.17042.

 

AFAIK, KB's usually refer to the "base version"(version displayed in DISM), currently in my win8.1Pro, msinfo32 reports 9600.16500, DISM reports the RTM 9600.16384 .  :)

 

 

i.e.: On Mar 9, KB294155 is eligible to be installed on an existing win8.1 build that reports a base version 9600.17042 ..... need I say more?

 

  • Like 2

A MDL member has posted an image "said to be" from OEM's (note: cannot verify if it's real or not), if it's real, then it means the leaked MSU's from WZOR might not be the final release; because if you look at the folder for the most important update KB2919355, if it only consist of the 3 MSU's, it is still larger than the WZOR leak X64+X86+RT combined. 

 

 

BN9bmCx.jpg

 

Note that, even so, it only means that the leaked update1 pack might not be final, but as WZOR has reported, and I have also said a few times before, build 9600.17031 is the RTM . And in the download request page of KB2941455, MS has actually unofficially confirmed it, because this KB has to be installed on a RTM platform, and has even called Update1(build 9600.17031) as "SP1".

 screen1596.jpg

This might be a dumb question - but is it possible that the updates that are delivered to OEMs are not "bundled" the same as the files that were leaked by WZOR?  What I mean is, how do we know that what is inside of each of those folders is not an uncompressed version of the files that were leaked by WZOR and on Windows Update?  This would be more convincing if we were looking at an actual MSU file for KB2919335 that was a different size than the leaked version.

This might be a dumb question - but is it possible that the updates that are delivered to OEMs are not "bundled" the same as the files that were leaked by WZOR?  What I mean is, how do we know that what is inside of each of those folders is not an uncompressed version of the files that were leaked by WZOR and on Windows Update?  This would be more convincing if we were looking at an actual MSU file for KB2919335 that was a different size than the leaked version.

We don't know, unless there would be more infos of the contents in these folders. :)

 

Update: Now we have the infos, it's because the servers MSU's are added:

 

a6119d3e5ddd1a233a09dd79d91067de7b826f85 *KB2919355\Windows8.1\ARM\Windows8.1-KB2919355-arm.msu
e6f4da4d33564419065a7370865faacf9b40ff72 *KB2919355\Windows8.1\X64\Windows8.1-KB2919355-x64.msu
de9df31e42fe034c9a763328326e5852c2b4963d *KB2919355\Windows8.1\X86\Windows8.1-KB2919355-x86.msu
e6f4da4d33564419065a7370865faacf9b40ff72 *KB2919355\WindowsServer2012R2\X64\Windows8.1-KB2919355-x64.msu
506ed7113697c597c2859d295d562fa4311834ec *KB2919442\Windows8.1\ARM\Windows8.1-KB2919442-arm.msu
f97d8290d9d75d96f163095c4cb05e1b9f6986e0 *KB2919442\Windows8.1\X64\Windows8.1-KB2919442-x64.msu
94ee3d715e732ed28c64b8096327375a35f5d211 *KB2919442\Windows8.1\X86\Windows8.1-KB2919442-x86.msu
f97d8290d9d75d96f163095c4cb05e1b9f6986e0 *KB2919442\WindowsServer2012R2\X64\Windows8.1-KB2919442-x64.msu
fe6acf558880d127aef1a759a8c2539afc67b5fb *KB2932046\Windows8.1\ARM\Windows8.1-KB2932046-arm.msu
6aee5fda6e2a6729d1fbae6eac08693acd70d985 *KB2932046\Windows8.1\X64\Windows8.1-KB2932046-x64.msu
bfd8ca4c683ccec26355afc1f2e677f3809cb3d6 *KB2932046\Windows8.1\X86\Windows8.1-KB2932046-x86.msu
6aee5fda6e2a6729d1fbae6eac08693acd70d985 *KB2932046\WindowsServer2012R2\X64\Windows8.1-KB2932046-x64.msu
860c83a0cccc0519111f57a679ae9f9d071315e5 *KB2937592\Windows8.1\ARM\Windows8.1-KB2937592-arm.msu
4abc0a39c9e500c0fbe9c41282169c92315cafc2 *KB2937592\Windows8.1\X64\Windows8.1-KB2937592-x64.msu
96a3416d480bd2b54803df26b8e76cd1d0008d43 *KB2937592\Windows8.1\X86\Windows8.1-KB2937592-x86.msu
4abc0a39c9e500c0fbe9c41282169c92315cafc2 *KB2937592\WindowsServer2012R2\X64\Windows8.1-KB2937592-x64.msu
d4004710f89d5b328e0f9e6446c2bc82b5fba9f6 *Readme.txt

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/52611-DISCUSSION-Windows-8-1-Spring-2014-Update-RTM/page189?p=888406&viewfull=1#post888406

 

Looks like the hashes are identical to those files leaked by WZOR and through WU.  This should confirm that the files leaked are the final 17031 RTM.

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/52611-DISCUSSION-Windows-8-1-Spring-2014-Update-RTM/page189?p=888406&viewfull=1#post888406

 

Looks like the hashes are identical to those files leaked by WZOR and through WU.  This should confirm that the files leaked are the final 17031 RTM.

Yup, Those msu's comes with manufacturing documents for OEM's, so, it's final.

 

What's interesting to know will be: If the public(MSDN) release include another rollup, like what they did in last Oct. for win8.1 GA. :)

 
MS has announced RTM of SQL Server 2014, and release on April 1.....

http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft...z&country=zUSz

Wondering ........ will they also release win8.1Update1 on this famous day too?  :rolleyes:

MS Direct download links to the 6 KB's :  :)

 

 
 
  • Like 3

I'm just going to wait for WU, besides I haven't updated anything other than defender since back in early February.  Last time I restarted was over 9 weeks ago!

 

 

MS has announced RTM of SQL Server 2014, and release on April 1.....

http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft...z&country=zUSz

Wondering ........ will they also release win8.1Update1 on this famous day too?  :rolleyes:

 

From the comments section in Neowin  News:

 

 

screen1616.jpg

 

....and tks @seeprime  :)

I was the one that liked that comment :p

Oh! Reminds me to like it too. :D

 

Actually I have caught some wind on this, but if I said it, people will flame me for "celebrating that special day".

  • 2 weeks later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • ...but you're Johnny, from Australia?    
    • Glow 26.9 by Razvan Serea Glow provides detailed reporting on every hardware component in your computer, saving you valuable time typically spent searching for CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and other stats. With Glow, all the information is conveniently presented in one clean interface, allowing you to easily access and review the comprehensive hardware details of your system. Glow provides detailed information on various system aspects, including OS, motherboard, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, network, battery, drivers, and services. The well-organized format ensures easy access to the required information. You can export all the gathered data to a plain text file, facilitating sharing with others for troubleshooting purposes. No installation needed. Just decompress the archive, launch the executable, and access computer-related information. Glow runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit versions. Glow 26.9 changelog: New Features The processor hardware detection engine has been significantly enhanced beyond traditional Intel and AMD architectures. Native support is now available for modern platforms such as Apple Silicon (M-Series) and the newly introduced NVIDIA Spark. In addition, all ARM-based processors can now be accurately distinguished between ARM32 and ARM64 architectures, providing precise hardware reporting. This marks a major milestone for Glow's hardware detection capabilities. The RAM manufacturer identification algorithm has been expanded. JEDEC vendor codes for popular brands such as Patriot, PNY, Team Group, GeIL, Lexar (Longsys), and Asgard/Gloway have been integrated into the database. This significantly reduces the likelihood of incorrect or "Unknown Manufacturer" results and improves overall hardware detection accuracy. New Public IP Address and Internet Service Provider (ISP) features have been added to the Network section. To ensure reliability, this information is retrieved from the trusted service ipwho.is. When Hiding Mode is enabled, no requests are sent and these features remain hidden, as they may expose sensitive information. The search engine used in the Installed Drivers, Installed Services, and Installed Applications sections has been enhanced. You can now perform more flexible and accurate searches using initials, partial matches, and loosely arranged character sequences. The TS Preloader loading bar has been rebuilt using our modern TS Custom Controls graphics library, developed entirely in-house. As a result of this infrastructure upgrade, the loading bar now features smooth rendering and rounded corners that align with the visual style of Windows 11. [TS Updater] A new validation algorithm has been added to check whether the target application is currently running before the update process begins. Bug Fixes Resolved a condition that could prevent TS Preloader from shutting down safely during rare application crash scenarios. Fixed a text alignment issue in the Network section affecting the display of DNS addresses. Alignment is now rendered correctly. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue that could prevent the updated application's executable "*.exe" file from being located after the update process. [TS Updater] Fixed a bug that could leave outdated "*.sha256" files in the application directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed a rare issue that could cause subfolders to be moved into the root directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue during the first launch that could cause flickering and a temporary white window appearance due to Windows Defender interactions. Changes A small improvement has been made to the internet connectivity detection algorithm. Connectivity checks are now performed in the background with minimal impact on the user interface thread. The keyboard shortcuts in the top menu have been reorganized and simplified to provide a consistent experience across all Türkaysoft applications and to avoid potential conflicts with standard Windows shortcuts. The TS Preloader splash image has been updated with a Türkiye-themed stadium design to celebrate Türkiye's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—its first appearance in 24 years. Congratulations, Türkiye! The TS Custom Controls module has been updated to version 26.6, delivering improved stability and a more polished visual appearance. [TS Updater] The application icon has been redesigned to provide a more modern and refined look. Note: Always unzip the program before using it. Otherwise you may get an error. Download: Glow 26.9 | 1.8 MB (Open Source) Links: Glow Homepage | Screenshot | Github Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • DWARF mini review: the world's smallest smart telescope for night and day sky captures by Steven Parker DWARFLAB reached out to me asking if I was interested in checking out the DWARF mini, which is a portable astronomy telescope designed for amateur astronomers. Why do I say it's for amateurs? Well, for starters, it's not what you'd call "high end"; it's more of a professional-grade starting point for amateurs serious about capturing what's up there in our night and day skies. A typical amateur astronomer is most likely thousands of dollars deep into the hobby, and I will make no claims that this DWARF mini (at a fraction of the cost) could replace it all, okay? Well, if you read on, it will be clearer what I am trying to convey. Disclosure: DWARFLAB provided a free sample without any editorial input or review pre-approval. I have always been interested in looking up and observing the night sky. I see satellites crossing the sky above my garden most nights, and I am always looking at the moon. Yeah, I have a 200MP camera on my phone, but at 200X zoom, AI takes over and makes the pretty moon pictures that I snap, the DWARF mini does not, you get an actual true picture of what you can barely see with the naked eye. Before we start, let's share the highlights of the DWARF mini in bite-sized format: Pocket-Sized & Ultra-Lightweight Weighing just 1.85 lbs (840g), the DWARF mini easily fits into a backpack or large pocket. Its all-in-one, compact design makes it the ultimate grab-and-go digital telescope for hiking, camping, or traveling to dark-sky locations. Intuitive App Control & Built-in Sky Atlas Go from unboxing to your first shot in just 3 minutes! The DWARFLAB App provides a seamless experience with an interactive star map. Simply select your target and start exploring without the steep learning curve of traditional setups. Auto GOTO & 360° Pivot Freedom Enjoy pinpoint automated tracking with full 360° rotation. Powered by a high-sensitivity Sony IMX662 sensor (1/2.8-inch, 2.9μm pixels), it captures amazing, low-noise astro details, bringing faint nebulas and star clusters to life with stunning clarity. Pro-Level EQ Mode & Long Exposure Unlock advanced deep-space imaging with Equatorial (EQ) Mode. Supporting impressive single-frame exposures up to 90 seconds and featuring built-in light pollution filters, it easily cuts through city glow to reveal intricate celestial structures. Smart Cloud Processing & All-Ages Fun Effortlessly enhance your raw data with integrated cloud processing for professional-grade results. Perfect for beginners, kids, and adults, this telescope makes exploring and sharing the wonders of the universe an exciting, family-friendly adventure. The packaging is a pretty minimal affair with the outer box opening like a flap to reveal the plastic mould of the DWARF mini sitting in it. Below, the Sun filter, charging cable, cleaning cloth, and documentation can be found. DWARFLAB also provided a Mini Hydraulic Tripod ($89.99), and I highly recommend getting it if you plan on purchasing the DWARF mini, as it fully supports the motorized tracking feature of the telescope; plus, at 840g, the weight of the telescope, you will need a tripod that supports more than the weight of a smartphone anyway. What's in the box DWARF Mini Smart Telescope × 1 Sun Filter x 1 Type-C to Type-C Cord x 1 Cleaning Cloth x 1 User Guide With that out of the way, here are the full specs: DWARF mini Dimensions (DWH): 60.70 mm x 100.38 × 183.61 (2.39" x 3.95" x 7.23") Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) Aperture diameter: 30 mm (telephoto), 3.4 mm (wide angle) Image Sensor: SONY IMX662 1/2.8" (Telephoto) OmniVision OS02K10 1/2.8" (Wide-angle) Focal length: 150 mm (telephoto), 6.7 mm (wide-angle) Equivalent focal length: 1016 mm (telephoto), 45 mm (wide-angle) Shutter Speed: Tele - 1/10000-90s, Wide - 1/10000-30s Maximum exposure time: 90s (telephoto & wide-angle), Both in EQ mode Rotation range: Lens: 225°, Base: 360° Effective Pixels: 2.07M Maximum Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Telephoto & Wide-angle) Built-in filters: Astro, Dark, Duo-Band (Telephoto), Astro (Wide-angle) Output: JPG, FITS, TIFF, MP4 Shooting Mode: Photos, Videos, Astronomy, Burst Shooting, Time-lapse Photography Storage: 64 GB Battery: Built-in 7000 mAh, supports external USB charging Charging Port: Type-C NPU: 1 TOPS Features: WiFi, NFC NFC One-Touch Connection Astronomy Post-Processing/Appointment Shooting/Astronomy Mosaic Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 15m (open environment) Color: Black Compatibility: iOS & Android smartphones/tablets Warranty: 2-years (24-months) MSRP: $399 Design Charge port On/off button Lens On the DWARF mini itself, it is a pretty minimal affair. On one side, there is a Type-C USB port to charge the non-removable 7000 mAh battery, and on the other side, a large button to power on or off the telescope. The button is flanked by an LED that is green when connected via the DWARFLAB app, or lights up red when being powered off. Below the button, there are four LEDs that indicate battery power. The DWARF mini does not have any sharp edges as all sides are rounded off; it has a good heft to it, but the weight of it feels quite balanced in the hand, so it isn't top or bottom-heavy. On the front there is the DWARFLAB logo which is quite small and there are no other markings on it. The tripod offers full 360° rotation of the motorized base, which allows for tracking for the time-lapse mode, but also for the 90-second captures of nearer objects in the sky, such as the Sun or the moon. Usage To get started, simply power on the DWARF mini and open the DWARFLAB app, tap on Connect, and it will scan for the DWARF mini over the Wi-Fi network. The device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth for discovery, so connection issues were minimal in my experience with it. As previously noted in the specs, the DWARF mini will stay connected with a phone or tablet up to 15 meters in an open environment, such as a backyard. Lighting status Powering on: The green circular light will rotate and breathe in turn Powering off: The red circular light is gradually extinguished Connecting: Green light strip rotating Connected: Green light strip solid/always on 4 lights 1= 0-25%, 2= 25-50%, 3= 50-75%, 4= 75-100% battery power To view the full lighting status, such as tracking mode and connection failure, you can check the user guide on the official DWARFLAB page. DWARFLAB app Above, you can see the steps undertaken to connect the DWARFLAB app to my Galaxy S26 Ultra. Weirdly, I got an alert that a firmware update failed to get uploaded to the DWARF mini the first time, but upon retrying, it worked. Then place the DWARF mini outside, make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to it, and then head back inside, because you can manage it from the comfort of your home. Simply enter the Atlas tab in the app and search for what you want to capture, and then tap on the camera icon; the DWARF mini will then attempt to track the object and give you a live view right on your connected device. Results I've had the DWARF mini since April, but even though my garden is south-facing, I had a lot of trouble trying to capture a good image of the moon. In the end, it was possible after I took it with me on a trip to my parents in Southend, UK, at the end of May. Here is a capture of the moon, resulting from 20 stacked images over a 90-second exposure. What you are seeing here is not AI-assisted. A good example of what I mean is the latest flagships with their 200MP cameras claiming to capture things like closeups of the moon, and while they are not as good as the above example on the DWARF mini, the resulting image on smartphones is actually AI-assisted above 30X zoom. Here is an example of a similar shot at the moon at 200X zoom using an HONOR Magic8 Pro. The difference is clear. Next, here we have a shot of the daytime moon. Here is a shot of Arcturus, the red giant star, which is the fourth brightest in the night sky. As previously mentioned, it could be a bit clearer, but clouds passing in front of it muddied the shot a bit. The Sun The DWARF mini also ships with a sun filter, meaning you can take great shots of the sun as well. Tracking Sun Resulting (stacked) shot Live zoom The pictures themselves are limited to Full HD, and some of the examples actually came out in HD (1280x720), but this is because the standard telescopic result is in 720p while "Wide" is in 1080p. Above you can see how in the app the Sun is tracked, the resulting capture, and Live zoom. I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this telescope; I found several examples online of shots of the Milky Way, among others, such as nebulae and galaxies. All of this requires patience and knowledge, although if you know what you are looking for, simply enter it in the Atlas tab in the DWARFLAB app, tap the camera icon, and the telescope will attempt to track it. Conclusion The good The DWARF mini definitely places itself in a price point that makes astrology accessible to anyone looking to get started in the hobby. Say you want to have a closer look at the moon, simply enter it in the Atlas, and the Live view also lets you zoom in and snap pictures. The bad Some issues I came across while operating the DWARF mini were that it sometimes failed to connect unless I held my smartphone right next to it, and finding and tracking sometimes took several attempts to get it calibrated. I discovered that it helped if I sort of positioned and pointed the telescope in the general area it was supposed to detect, but this obviously wouldn't work with objects you can't see with the naked eye; more testing is required for that. Another bit of advice is to ensure that the lens is clean. While making the examples of live zooming on the sun, I discovered that the telescope lens and sun filter were not completely clean, and only after cleaning with a microfiber cloth was I able to get a decent shot of the sun. Where to buy and a coupon Okay, $399 is not cheap for a side hobby, but nor is a $1,500 smartphone flagship that you'll most likely have for a couple of years. This is a one-time entrance into astrology, and it won't become obsolete in one year like a smartphone. It's a thumbs up from me. The DWARF mini is available to buy right now in the U.S. and U.K. at the links below. DWARF mini for $399 on the official site DWARF mini for $399 on Amazon U.S. Use the NEOWIN5OFF coupon code for an additional 5% off at checkout (expires June 21) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader Dis Continued
    • The name, you mean? If so, it's actually the objects common name. There's another one called NGC 7293 which is also known as Helix Nebula (because we're looking at a helix structure top down) but other times also known as the Eye of God. You'll understand when you see it
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      X-No-file earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      504
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      270
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      75
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      71
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      69
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!