14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has reportedly completed development of the RTM version of Windows 8.1, but the tech giant might wait until mid-October for the public launch.
Citing unnamed insiders, Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet writes that Microsoft is indeed on track to finalize Windows 8.1 RTM by the end of the month, but the company is planning to make it available only two months after that.
What’s more, it turns out that MSDN and TechNet subscribers won’t get the build sooner, as Microsoft is planning to provide both consumers and developers with the final build of Windows 8.1 at about the same time.
The strategy seems to be a bit different now than one year ago.
Microsoft launched Windows 8 RTM on August 1, while both MSDN and TechNet subscribers got their hands on the “modern” operating system approximately two weeks after that. Consumers, on the other hand, had to wait until October 26 for the stable build of the OS.
This time, the company wants to continue work on Windows 8.1 even if it goes RTM this month. And the decision pretty much makes sense.
In addition to preventing any other leaks from reaching the web (even though that’s pretty much impossible), the Redmond-based software vendor is planning to fix more bugs in the operating system before it hits the market.
The company has implemented lots of changes in Windows 8.1, so it’s essential for its short-term strategy to make it a stable and reliable platform.
Analysts believe that Windows 8.1 is Microsoft’s last chance to continue its domination in the PC market, especially because competition is getting fiercer and several manufacturers have already decided to go separate ways and embrace various other operating systems.
We’re still waiting for an official confirmation on this story, so take it as a rumor until we hear back from Microsoft.