Thursday, 17th October – Microsoft has announced about the availability of Windows 8.1
Customers of Windows 8 device can now download the free update to Windows 8.1 online through the Windows Store.
And, Microsoft has announced that the Windows Store is now open for submitting apps targeting Windows 8.1.
This page on Windows.com will detect the OS and provide all the information needed to get Windows 8.1 on a device running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, or the Windows 8.1
Starting tomorrow October 18th, Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as packaged DVD product at retail locations around the world.
Microsoft has announced that to celebrate the new Windows, starting today for the next 8 days – it will pick 810 random winners per day who tweet and share their new Start screen after updating their Windows 8 device to Windows 8.1 with the #MyStart hashtag.
Winners will receive a $10 promotional Windows Store gift card to get started with great Windows apps and games.
Microsoft is hosting an IAmA chat on the social media site reddit.com today to answer the questions about Windows 8.1 from 10:30am to 12:00pm (PST).
Read below the highlights of Windows8.1 improvements.
- Overall platform performance improvements to our supported programming languages (C#, C++, JavaScript, or VB) and presentation technologies (XAML, HTML, or DirectX)
- Improvements to the XAML and HTML controls, and new Hub and WebView controls
- Tiles on the Start screen now support two additional sizes, bringing the total up to four
- More powerful multitasking capabilities, with more than two apps onscreen at the same time; a single app can also use multiple windows
- Improvements to DirectX.
And, below improvements are made to Windows Store.
- All new Store layout providing better discovery and richer experience
- Integration of Bing technologies to make recommendations more relevant
- App packages can now be up to 8 gigabytes (great for visually rich apps and games)
- App bundles optimize the distribution of Windows Store app resource packages to global customers
- Windows Store support for in-app consumables and larger catalogs on in-app offers
- Windows Store gift cards will launch this holiday to support purchases without credit cards
- Windows Store apps now auto-update by default.
