14 DAY TRIAL // Figures released by market researcher IDC revealed that Windows 8 did little to boost PC sales in the first quarter of 2013, with analysts blaming the lack of a Start button and the UI changes introduced by Microsoft together with the new operating system.
IDC analyst Al Hilwa told the Wall Street Journal that Microsoft should already start focusing on the next Windows release, which, according to some leaked screenshots, is very likely to be called Windows 8.1.
“Windows 8 was about birthing a new model of applications, essentially a tablet model. Blue is the next milestone in this plan. It brings the phone and PC platform closer together and makes both more compelling,” Hilwa was quoted as saying.
Previous reports indicated that Windows 8.1, internally known as Windows Blue, could see daylight sometime this summer, while the first public beta is projected to be released in June at the BUILD developer conference.