• • • Windows 8.1 is a that was produced by and released as part of the family of operating systems. It was on August 27, 2013, and reached on October 17, 2013, about a year after the retail release of its predecessor. Windows 8.1 was made available as a free upgrade for retail copies of and users via the. Windows 8.1 aimed to address complaints of Windows 8 users and reviewers on launch. Visible enhancements include an improved, additional snap views, additional bundled apps, tighter (formerly SkyDrive) integration,, a -powered unified search system, restoration of a visible on the, and the ability to restore the previous behavior of opening the user's desktop on login instead of the Start screen. Windows 8.1 also added support for such emerging technologies as high-resolution displays,,, and streaming, as well as the file system.

Windows 8.1 received better positive reception than Windows 8, with critics praising the expanded functionality available to apps in comparison to 8, its OneDrive integration, along with its user interface tweaks and the addition of expanded tutorials for operating the Windows 8 interface. Despite these improvements, Windows 8.1 was still criticized for not addressing all digressions of Windows 8 (such as a poor level of integration between -style apps and the desktop interface), and the potential privacy implications of the expanded use of online services. As of January 2019, 6.67% of Windows computers are running Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 was revealed at, held at San Francisco's Moscone Center.

In February 2013, writer disclosed potential rumors about 'Blue', the codename for a wave of planned updates across several Microsoft products and services, including,,,. In particular, the report detailed that Microsoft was planning to shift to a more 'continuous' development model, which would see major revisions to its main software platforms released on a consistent yearly cycle to keep up with market demands. Lending credibility to the reports, Foley noted that a Microsoft staff member had listed experience with 'Windows Blue' on his profile, and listed it as a separate operating system from 8. A post- build of Windows 8, build 9364, was leaked in March 2013. The build, which was believed to be of 'Windows Blue', revealed a number of enhancements across Windows 8's interface, including additional size options for tiles, expanded color options on the Start screen, the expansion of PC Settings to include more options that were previously exclusive to the desktop, the ability for apps to snap to half of the screen, the ability to take screenshots from the Share charm, additional stock apps, increased integration (such as automatic device backups) and Internet Explorer 11. Shortly afterward on March 26, 2013, corporate vice president of corporate communications Frank X. Shaw officially acknowledged the 'Blue' project, stating that continuous development would be 'the new normal' at Microsoft, and that 'our product groups are also taking a unified planning approach so people get what they want—all of their devices, apps and services working together wherever they are and for whatever they are doing.'

In early May, press reports announcing the upcoming version in and negatively compared Windows 8 to. The theme was then echoed and debated in the computer press.

Shaw rejected this criticism as 'extreme', adding that he saw a comparison with as more appropriate. On May 14, 2013, Microsoft officially announced that 'Blue' would be named Windows 8.1. Utorrent turbo booster free download full version with crack windows. Following a keynote presentation focusing on this version, the public beta of Windows 8.1 was released on June 26, 2013 during. Build 9600 of Windows 8.1 was released to on August 27, 2013, and became generally available on October 17, 2013. Unlike past releases of Windows and its service packs, volume license customers and subscribers to Plus and Plus were unable to obtain the RTM version upon its release; a spokesperson stated that the change in policy was to allow Microsoft to work with OEMs 'to ensure a quality experience at general availability.' However, after criticism, Microsoft reversed its decision and released the RTM build on MSDN and TechNet on September 9, 2013. Prior to the release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft premiered a new television commercial in late-September 2013 that focused on its changes as part of the 'Windows Everywhere' campaign.