Brandon LeBlanc from Microsoft wrote on the Windows Blog that Windows 8.1 (codenamed Windows Blue) will be available as a free update to all Windows 8 users. The update is expected to become available... Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade
I wonder how they're going to handle the update, will it be like a service pack (simply being able to just update a standard Windows 8 install), or will it be a complete OS type (meaning all Windows 8 users would require a complete OS install to get it). God I hope we can just update to get it and not require a full re-install of the OS.
I will await preview material before I make any judgements this came kinda outta place from previous MS info regarding Windows 8.1 before
8.1 will have a start button, it won't, etc... I keep hearing different things. The fact that Windows has to notify users that it will be a free upgrade when they've admitted that 8 was a FAILURE bothers me.
Charms bar updated in what way? I honestly love that thing in Windows 8, can't really think of anything that should be added or removed to or from it. Also, very nice to see Windows 8.1 will be a free update to those who own Windows 8.
They would be charging money if Windows 8 had been a success. It's not out of the goodness of their heart!
Wonder if they'll bring back the ability change your account picture within the legacy UI, instead of having to go into metro, as sometimes browsing folders via metro doesn't work as well as it should.
Just what the doctor ordered. Good . Allowing a bit of tweaking of Metro will give us more "choice",so to speak.
The Charms Bar and the other sidebar features of Windows 8 are indeed the parts that I like about it. That's the one thing I left enabled when installing Start 8
They've never said anything about bringing back the menu, just the start orb/button. If only they'd release a more final version so that we can see what they're really bringing. As it is now all the leaks only show what they've updated and changed with the start screen.
I'm not really surprised this is free. MS knows they would piss off too many customers if they told them to pay after the short lifespan of 8, and they probably want to use 8.1 as a way to get people more inclined to try the Modern interface again. The way I see it, 8.1 is basically a service pack.