14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has reportedly completed work on Windows 8.1 Update 1, so RTM is very close according to some people close to the matter.
The company confirmed that an update for Windows 8.1 would indeed be unveiled in spring, but executives refused to provide details on the launch date.
And still, recent reports have hinted that Windows 8.1 Update1 could launch in early April at the BUILD developer conference, while all users could get it on April 8 when Microsoft is also scheduled to roll out its Patch Tuesday fixes for the fourth month of the year.
Now a report published WZor claims that Windows 8.1 Update 1 is very likely to be released for download on April 1, just before the BUILD 2014 developer conference kicks off in San Francisco, so some of users could actually get the update bits earlier than initially believed.
There are a few unknown details though and until Microsoft reveals more information about Windows 8.1 Update 1 nobody can tell for sure whether it’s indeed planning to release it in April or bring it to the market even earlier in order to collect feedback until BUILD 2014.
At the same time, the upcoming developer conference is also going to witness the unveiling of the first Windows 9 details, as Microsoft is believed to be ready to start work on a new Windows version that could see daylight in approximately one year.
Windows 8.1 Update 1, on the other hand, is very likely to focus on improvements for the existing platform rather than bringing significant changes to the platform. Leaks have confirmed that Windows 8.1 Update 1 would most likely make the Modern UI a bit more useful for desktop users by adding context menu-like options on the Start screen, power controls and a search box at just one click distance.
At the same time, it will also include features to pin Metro apps to the taskbar and launch them without the need for accessing the Modern UI and the Start screen.
This is actually the first step towards a much more important change that’s going to take place in Windows 9 when Microsoft officially brings metro apps on the desktop and allows users to run them without the need for getting to the Start screen first.
More information will, however, be provided in the coming weeks, as we’re getting closer to the public launch of the Windows 8.1 update.