14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is already working on a major update for Windows 8.1 and according to a new report, this new release is very likely to see daylight in April next year.
The Verge reports that Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be shipped to users in April at the BUILD developer conference, which would also be the perfect timing for Microsoft to launch the new update aimed at desktops and tablets.
People familiar with the matter previously hinted that Microsoft is planning to launch Windows Phone 8.1 together with the Spring GDR Update for PCs, so this new rumor pretty much makes sense, especially because the BUILD developer conference is becoming a fairly important event for the company.
At the same time, BUILD will be the right moment for Microsoft to finalize the retirement of Windows XP, as the aging operating system is set to go dark on April 8, 2014, four days after the conference.
No details are available on the Spring GDR Update right now, but it's expected to pack performance improvements, bug fixes, and some new features that could boost adoption among PC users.
Rumor has it that Microsoft is also working to bring back the traditional Start Menu in Windows, a feature that has been missing ever since Windows 8 got to see daylight.
Even though the Start Menu's comeback could be delayed a little bit, some people believe that the Spring GDR update is the right moment to release it to users, as the early uptake of the modern operating systems seem to be dramatically affected by the lack of some features.
Microsoft already had a change of heart earlier this year when it decided to bring back the Start button in Windows 8.1, but users still call for a fully-working Start Menu that would provide them with almost the same functionality as Windows 7.