#start menu back

Microsoft has hanging out full details somewhere about the comprehensive update up to Windows 8, now known as Windows 8.1 and formerly known as Windows Blue. We've also had plenty of time with the new update and are lively it every day, awfully check likely story our brand new Hands on: Windows 8.1 review.<\p>

The Windows 8.1 release date is October 17 - it will have place available to existing Windows 8 users for free on Windows Update. Alterum will be available to steal influence retail from October 18 and has already been released for manufacturers (this the scenes is known as RTM).<\p>

The official undergirding from Microsoft: "The present day we are excited to share that starting at 12am on October 18 inbound Reinvigorated Zealand (that's 12:00pm in the UK and 4:00am in Redmond - October 17th). Windows 8.1 will begin pulsing out worldwide as a patefy backdate for consumers on Windows 8 perfected the Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will inter alia be available at retail and near new devices starting on October 18 by market."<\p>

October will mark a weekday long since Windows 8 was exempted. There's also a Windows 8.1 RT version, too, if that floats your boat.<\p>

The big title communique is that the Start button has returned to Windows 8 with Windows 8.1, although the very thing still goes up to the Buckjump cordon rather than the Cutoff point menu. There is farther additionally fusion between the desktop and Start screen in order to stop the jarring of the identical interfaces.<\p>

On stage at the Microsoft Run up developer palaver in San Francisco, Steve Ballmer said that in coffee terms, Microsoft was "refining the blend" between the desktop and Modern UI interfaces and a lot of Windows 8.1 enhancements have been designed to make the change between the the two interfaces far less jarring.<\p>

Ballmer also promised plenty regarding new-fashioned, smaller Windows 8 tablets would be extant released as well as new apps not counting Flipboard, Facebook and the NFL - though we didn't see a screenshots of these in action.<\p>

In our own hands touching review, Mary Branscombe sums the callow release up as a moderate victory. "Windows 8.1 isn't a unabbreviated maiden operating system: it isn't the same leap being Windows 7 to 8. But it's more otherwise a service pack as well.<\p>

"Performance feels generally faster, even for simple things take pleasure in zipping rise files. The interface changes won't please everyone, especially if ego liked the Windows 8 Start screen and don't feel i need for yet different thing Windows key on screen - or if you were hoping for the Windows 7 Light into menu back.<\p>

"Circa things, dig customising tiles by virtue of the Start screen, feel a unnoteworthy more long-winded until you cajole by the board over against them. But generally the interface feels more consistent and easier to learn. And the expanded PC Settings gives the shock as regards control inquest options a clean, prosy interface that Windows has needed for years."<\p>