According to Softpedia Windows 8.1 will now launch in just 6o days. This means we should see Windows 8.1 on October 18th 2013. The new OS is actually just a rather large core update for Windows 8 a bit like a Service Pack but not labelled as such. The Windows 8.1 update will reinstate the Start Button but maintains the current Start Screen with a bit of a UI redesign. Microsoft are really hoping that Windows 8.1 will give Windows 8 a boost in demand that it needs because most recent estimates suggested that Windows 8 had managed just 5-6% market share in its entire release period.
While Windows 8.1 goes live on October 18th the update can be downloaded a day earlier from the Microsoft store. Any users on Windows 8 are encouraged to get this update while anyone yet to buy Windows 8 will have to wait for standalone versions of Windows 8.1 to be sold or will have to purchase Windows 8 in advance of the new update.
Image courtesy of Microsoft
