Windows 8.1 (Blue) Confirmed as a Free Update

Published on May 14, 2013 By Island Dog In WinCustomize News

Win8Blue_Web

Many rumors have been going around as to the price, if any, of the upcoming Windows 8.1 (aka “Blue”) update. Today we get a confirmation that “Blue” will be officially named Windows 8.1, and will be a free update to Windows 8 users.

Source: Mary Jo Foley/ZDnet

“Microsoft's Windows Chief Financial Officer Tami Reller, during an appearance at the May 14 JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, shared the pricing news. She noted that pricing for non-Windows 8 users will be in line with what Microsoft is currently charging for Windows 8, which is $120 for the upgrade and $200 for the full product (estimated retail prices, not including any kind of discounts). “

Another item of note is that they announced there are over 70,000 modern apps in the Windows Store now available. That’s a lot of apps and don’t forget you can run them in a Window on the desktop with ModernMix.

Comments

benmanns

on May 14, 2013

Damn the conspiracy guys were wrong again windows is not jumping onto the pay train for point releases...

LightStar

on May 14, 2013

Now if we can only get Windowblinds 8 and SKS 8.....

TechNoWeb

on May 14, 2013

I figured it was going to be a service pack. I can't wait to install it and see if their are some goodies that is going to come with it. I know IE11 is going to be there.

I guess I will just have to wait and see

Daiwa

on May 14, 2013

Wonder if all you need is a license for 8 to get 8.1, or if you need an installed OS. Should be interesting - I suspect there are many like me who have 1 or more licenses (got 'em while they were only $40) but have yet to install them on anything.

EDIT: Then again, don't need it till I 'need' it.

delve-miller

on May 15, 2013

Was wondering since the start button is used with WB than were we waiting on this upgrade (that hopefully includes a start button) to finish WB8? Was just asking. I don't know much about programming. In fact, its like a car for me.. I got the steering wheel down pact..but not much else!!

delve-miller

on May 15, 2013

sorry about double post

Island Dog

on May 15, 2013

delve-miller

reply 5

There's no relation between 8.1 and WindowBlinds. We already have a start button/menu - Start8.

Daiwa

on May 15, 2013

Island Dog

reply 7

There's no relation between 8.1 and WindowBlinds.

That is sadly true. Hint, hint.

delve-miller

on May 19, 2013

Thanks Island Dog. The 1st part of your answer is what I was wondering about.. (Have Start8, got it when it 1st came out.)

Anthony R

on May 19, 2013

Does Blue revert 8 back to Win7? It might actually be useful then.

Icero

on May 19, 2013

Anthony R

reply 10

Does Blue revert 8 back to Win7? It might actually be useful then.

But then, how is Stardock supposed to sell their popular Start8 product if Blue does come with the start menu that was forcibly taken out to test people and gather customer feedback as if we were all guinea pigs part of a science experiment gone wrong?

No seriously though, so if it is a Service pack update (I thought Microsoft pulled away from this??????), then does that mean Windows 8 is here to stay???

What?? No! I want the next version of Windows in an .iso format!

Neil Banfield

on May 20, 2013

LightStar

reply 2

Now if we can only get Windowblinds 8 and SKS 8.....

Perhaps we will call it WB 8.1 and SKS 8.1

Daiwa

on May 20, 2013

Oh, you are cruel, Neil.

EDIT - Then again, maybe not - Thanks for WB 7.90.

Uvah

on May 21, 2013

I just had a terrible thought. What if Microstuff looks at SD's devs and tries to spirit them away? Oh no! MS might learn something.

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