Less than a year ago we were preparing to launch Windows 8, which introduced our vision of highly personalized mobile computing. And here we are today announcing the global availability of Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving the product to create a richer customer experience. We are excited to have customers start updating their devices today and getting to experience new Windows devices this holiday season.     Windows 8.1 brings a variety of new

Microsoft is making Windows 8.1 commercially available over the next day-plus (depending on your time zone). Unsurprisingly, this milestone leads many Microsoft watchers, partners and customers to wonder what will be coming next. Again, unsurprisingly, Microsoft officials aren't talking about what will be the follow-on to Windows 8.1, codenamed "Blue." But that doesn't mean things are at a standstill. Here's what I'm hearing from my sources.   As I've blogged before, I've heard the Windows

Today Microsoft took the wraps off its holiday hardware lineup, unveiling two new tablets, and a number of new and updated accessories. It’s a lot of information to process, so let’s go through each piece in order.     I spent time in Redmond last week with the new hardware, and the team behind the Surface project itself. Hands on notes regarding the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will be published following this piece, along with an extensive interview with Brian Hall, current general manager

THE WINDOWS 8.1 release to manufacturers (RTM) build has seen over two million downloads since Microsoft distributed it to Technet and MSDN subscribers on Tuesday, the firm's EVP of marketing Tami Reller has claimed.   Announcing the news in a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) on Wednesday, Microsoft's Reller claimed that the firm had seen an "incredible uptake" of the Windows 8.1 build since its release.     On 27 August, Microsoft announced that its RTM build of Windows 8.1 wa

Microsoft listened and posted the RTM bits of Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2 on Technet and MSDN today.     chances are though that by GA (General Availability to the public) in October 18th that some updates for both operating systems will be present and ready for download if the below is a hint...     The Windows 8.1 Enterprise version will be available to MSDN/TechNet and volume licensees before the end of September, apparently, so for now you can download the Professional and Retail

Microsoft have just announced officially the date when Windows 8.1 is coming out and it's October the 18th.     so now we know !   if you'd like to start test deploying it then make sure to checkout windows-noob's guide right here.   more info > http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/08/14/mark-your-calendars-for-windows-8-1.aspx

Whether you love or loathe Windows 8, there’s no doubt that Microsoft’s attempt to reimagine Windows has gotten off to a slow start. The confirmation this week that Surface tablets have not sold well only serves to put an exclamation point on this. Later this month Microsoft will take a mulligan with the release of Windows 8.1.   By John Morris     Microsoft released the public consumer preview on June 26 at its Build developer conference, and in the the last few days it rolled out a prev

the Build conference is underway in San Francisco and developers there are getting access to a preview release of Windows 8.1,     if reports floating around on Twitter are to be believed and if we are lucky we will be able to download the preview also via the following link   http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/download-preview   let me know if the ISOs appear there soon will you   it seems it's already available, hint: check MSDN     while it's downloading you can loo