Windows 8.1 AKA BLUE

[Guest reklawthgin]

Windows 8.1 release date and what you need to know to get ready

Windows 8 is about to be updated to Windows 8.1, bringing with it a host of new features, performance enhancements and much more, but what should you expect and what do you need to do to get ready?

The new features won't be fully revealed until Microsoft's annual Build conference in June in the US, but we do know that the company will be offering it as a free upgrade for Windows 8 customers already using the Windows 8 operating system.

Microsoft has confirmed there will be a Windows 8.1 preview version of the new update before the full release for those impatient to have a go ahead of schedule.

We plan to bring you a review of the new OS update when we get hands-on with it following Build.

What's Windows Blue then?

The Windows 8.1 update was previously called Windows Blue, it's not now.

When is the Windows 8.1 release date?

The Windows 8.1 preview release date has been confirmed by Microsoft as 26 June, following the Build developer conference in San Francisco.

The preview will be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT. As you would expect Windows 7 users will have to upgrade to Windows 8 before then trying out the Windows 8.1 update.

The final update is likely to be available later this year with the smart money being on around the first anniversary of Windows 8, or in other words Christmas 2013.

Where can I get Windows 8.1?

The Windows 8.1 update will be a free update to Windows 8 for consumers through the Windows Store. You won't need to leave the house to get it, but you will need an internet connection.

Will Windows 8.1 come pre-installed with my new PC?

Not to start with, but once it is finished and the final release version made available, then most likely. Microsoft says it plans to release regular updates in this way to the Windows 8 operating system, a trick it's already started using with its Windows Phone OS for smartphones. As it's free, any PC you buy now will be eligible for the update.

Do I need to do anything to get ready for Windows 8.1?

Not at the moment, sit back, and wait for 26 June.

Will the start button return?

Microsoft isn't confirming anything at present, but according to Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet, Julie Larson-Green, the head of Windows engineering, says bringing back the Start Button hasn't been ruled out.

"The Start Button might be helpful," Larson-Green acknowledged at a conference at the start of May, saying that it provides users with more of a "comfort level". She also noted that the team has had "meaningful discussions" about bringing back the Start Button, but users shouldn't interpret that as meaning the old Start Menu would be coming back.

Will the Windows 8 Start Screen vanish?

The Start Screen and lack of Start Button has certainly polarized Windows users. Unconfirmed rumours suggest that Microsoft might let you bypass the Start Screen and go straight to the desktop instead.

In an interview at the start of May with the FT in the UK, Tami Reller, head of marketing and finance for the Windows business, said that "key aspects" of how the software is used would be changed when Microsoft releases an updated version of the operating system this year. “The learning curve is definitely real," she added.

Will it support different screen sizes?

Rumors suggest that Windows 8.1 will introduce support for 7-inch and 8-inch screen devices, handy seeing as Microsoft is also rumored to be preparing to launch a 7-inch Surface tablet.

What new features will there be in Windows 8.1?

According to information pulled from a leaked version of Windows 8.1 (previously called Blue) their will be plenty of new features.

Tiles

Windows 8 supports two tile sizes at the moment, but if the leaked 9374 is anything to go by, Microsoft will be adding a further two sizes including a new thumbnail size tile that will be a quarter of the space of the existing smaller tile.

Settings charm

The setting charm is expected to gain a new Personalize option that should provide more control over the appearance of the start menu backgrounds and colours as well as the accent colour of the Start charm.

50/50 split screen apps

Windows 8.1 is expected to allow you to run two apps side by side rather than one thin and one large as is the case with Windows 8. On higher-resolution devices you will be able to run three or four app windows side by side for those who really want to embrace multitasking on the same screen at the same time.

Internet Explorer 11

Yep, a new OS update means a new version of Internet Explorer.

SkyDrive improvements

Windows 8.1 is likely to bring you even more control over your SkyDrive account. Expect features like auto picture uploads and being able to set the SkyDrive as the default location for your files. Like Apple's iCloud for the iPhone and iPad, there is also a suggestion (according to the leaked build) that you'll be able to backup your entire device to SkyDrive.

Better Syncing

Expect sync'ed tabs and greater sharing of details between the PCs you own. Microsoft has told Pocket-lint many times that in the future we will just be able to log in and get working straight away and Windows 8.1 could see the start of that becoming a reality. With more and more of our data saving to the cloud (See SkyDrive above) it's not a huge leap of faith to imagine a time in the not too distant future where you sign on to any computer and everything is there waiting for you.

New Microsoft apps

Expect new apps from Microsoft. So far details on the web suggest a new Sound Recorder app, a Calculator app (exciting), and some new Alarm features. There is also talk of something called Movie Moments, and features which, like Apple Mountain Lion, will let you turn on a Do Not Disturb feature so you don't get bothered by notifications when you are trying to focus on that all important presentation.

Kiosk mode

The idea here is that users will be able to lock down a device to a single application so the computer Windows 8.1 is running on can not be used in store or in an office where you don't want them messing around surfing the internet.

Swipe up for Apps

According to leaked build versions of Windows 8.1 you will be able to swipe up to reveal your apps list. Easy.

Picture frame and camera access on Lock Screen

Like the iPad you'll be able to turn your Windows 8.1 tablet into a picture frame when you aren't using it, and likewise also set whether you want access to the camera when the screen is locked. It's a feature already used in Windows Phone 8 so it makes sense to see it here too, especially for tablets.

New drivers

Yep, boring, but essential.

Greater touch support