Windows 8.1 To Be Released To Partners ‘Late August’

Windows 8.1 will be made available to manufacturers in ‘late August’, Microsoft confirmed at its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Houston.

The preview version of Windows 8.1 was released barely two weeks ago, offering users their first glimpse at the latest version of the troubled operating system. But Windows CMO and CFO Tami Reller said that by releasing the Ready to Market (RTM) version of the update by the end of the summer, partners would have plenty of time to prepare new devices for the Christmas period.

In addition to showing off some of the features of Windows 8.1 at the event, Microsoft also announced a new incentive programme for channel partners who sell featured Windows 8 PCs and tablets, as it seeks to push certain devices into the market.

Windows 8.1 RTM release

Windows 8 has endured a difficult start to its life, having seemingly been unable to revive flagging PC sales, nor significantly expand Microsoft’s share of the lucrative tablet market. Early adopters have complained of usability options, while enterprises are seemingly uninterested in migrating to the platform, preferring to move to the older Windows 7.

However, Reller talked up Windows 8, boasting about the previously announced 100 million licenses it has sold and said that it could count on more than 20 million customer evaluations.

She claimed new customer activations were continuing at a “consistent pace” and Windows 8 has logged more than 60 billion hours of use already.

Microsoft says Windows 8.1 “refines the vision of Windows 8,” but critics have argued it fails to address many of the criticisms levelled at the platform. The Start button will be re-introduced, although not the start menu, and it is promised that Windows 8.1 will be more mouse friendly.

There was one piece of good news for Microsoft last week though, as the market share of Windows 8 exceeded that of Windows Vista for the first time, accounting for 5.1 percent of the PC market.

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