Celebrating six months of Windows 8, Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows Blue update will be arriving sometime “later this year”.
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 users will definitely receive the Windows Blue or Windows 8.1 update in 2013.
In a Q&A session on the official Windows blog, Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller said Windows Blue “will be available later this year” and will “provide more options” for business and personal Windows 8 use.
“Windows Blue is a codename for an update that will be available later this year, building on the bold vision set forward with Windows 8 to deliver the next generation of tablets and PCs,” said Reller. “It will deliver the latest new innovations across an increasingly broad array of form factors of all sizes, display, battery life and performance, while creating new opportunities for our eco system.”
Although Reller gave little details on the actual Windows Blue features, she did outline that Microsoft has incorporated details provided by consumer feedback.
“It will provide more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play. The Windows Blue update is also an opportunity for us to respond to the customer feedback that we’ve been closely listening to since the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT.”
Microsoft also announced that in the sixth months since the launch of Windows 8, the new OS has reached a huge milestone.
“We recently surpassed the 100 million licenses sold mark for Windows 8. This number includes Windows licenses that ship on a new tablet or PC, as well as upgrades to Windows 8. This is up from the 60 million license number we provided in January.”
The American company also revealed that over 250 million Windows Store apps have been downloaded in the first six months, with the number of apps now present in the store six times more than at launch.
Windows Blue is bound to be showcased in a little more detail at the Microsoft Build Developer’s Conference in June.
We think Microsoft realises it made a mistake with Windows 8. Read why in our opinion piece: Why Microsoft is backtracking with Windows 8.1 Blue.
