Second update for Windows 8.1 may release in August

Windows 8.1 Update Start screen context menu

Microsoft readying next update for Windows, according to a new report from Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet, the software giant is working on the second major update for Windows 8.1, which could be arriving some time in August. 

The news follows recent information from Russian leaker WZOR, who stated that Windows 8.1 Update 2 (or Windows 8.2) was scheduled to release in September time frame, however Mary Jo Foley’s report states that the next update could be released as soon as August. 

Perhaps the biggest piece of information is that the next update may also mark the return of the new Start menu for Windows — the one Microsoft demoed during the Build 2014 developer conference in San Francisco –, but the ability to float windows modern apps in the desktop it is unlikely to be included with the next August update for Windows 8.1 though. Microsoft may be leaving this feature for Windows 9, which is likely to appear some time in 2015. 

Also it appears that the software maker is working to unify the current set of Windows SKUs to deliver only one consumer SKU of the operating system that will work on Windows Phones and smaller tablets. According to Foley, this version of Windows won’t include the Desktop environment, which means that users won’t be able to run traditional applications. Apparently this new SKU won’t be a new version of Windows RT as we know today, but the company will keep offering an ARM-based version of the OS, which it looks like it will be free. 

No doubt Microsoft is trying to fix its operating system, Windows 8.1 Update was a major relief for users with keyboard and mouse. But now with the new updates coming it seems that part of Microsoft wants to separate desktop and mobile users, something many customers have complained since the original version of Windows 8 was released.  

Source ZDNet 

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.