Microsoft has named the date for the Windows 8.1 "Blue" availability. The software and devices company said that the digital download version of Windows 8.1 will be available from 17th October at 4am in Redmond, USA (PDT - Pacific Daylight Time). This is 1pm on 17th October in the UK. However New Zealanders still have to basically wait until the 18th October as for them the release time equates to midnight on 17th October.
New larger Start Screen buttons and more personalisation colour options
Windows 8 users will be able to download an update to Windows 8.1 for free at the times mentioned above. Users should check for the update in the Windows Store. Meanwhile the full retail launch of Windows 8 will be on 18th October, in your region, from this date you will be able to pop to the shops and buy a boxed copy Windows 8.1 and devices with Windows 8.1 should also be available to buy.
As Microsoft's hardware partners have to ready devices for the launch date it is expected that they will receive the RTM version of Windows 8.1 by the end of this month.
The new 50:50 multi-tasking split screen option
If you really don't like Windows 8 then the major customer led tweaks coming in 8.1, the new Start Screen button and the boot straight-to-desktop options, might not change your position. The updated OS also brings along with it many new apps, more personalisation options, more screen split multitasking options and file system integration with 'SkyDrive' (will it still be called that on 17th October?). Also a Technet article wrote of a multitude of connectivity and mobility enhancements.
