Earlier today, we learned about the upcoming 'Threshold' update for Windows 8.1 being called 'Windows 9', which is reportedly arriving in April of 2015. However, before we go that far ahead, we are expecting Windows 8.1 Update 1 (also known as the Spring 2014 update for Windows 8.1).
According to details from WZOR, a Microsoft leaker, and corroborated by long-time Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott, the company will be rolling out Windows 8.1 Update 1 RTM in March of this year. General availability of the update will be in April, just in time for the BUILD Developer conference taking place between April 2nd and April 4th.
However, one of the most important tidbits revealed by WZOR include the idea that Microsoft will roll out this update not via the Windows Store, rather, via the old-fashioned Windows Update. Available to current Windows 8.1 users as a free update, the means of acquiring said update will be improved compared to Windows 8.1's initial roll out.
Microsoft rolled out Windows 8.1 as a free update to Windows 8 users back in October of last year via the Windows Store, creating quite a bit of a mess for numerous users, as evident from Microsoft's support forums and our comment sections on various Windows 8.1 related news content. The bottom line was simple - having a large update, nearly 4GB in size, being available via the Windows Store only created problems such as slow downloads, Windows Store errors, not being able to acquire the update, and more.
If Microsoft does plan on rolling out Update 1 for Windows 8.1 via Windows Update, we can at least expect to avoid the slowdown and plethora of errors that were the result of downloading a large update via the Windows Store. It would also seem appropriate to see this update on Windows Update, alongside all our other operating system hotfixes, making the process just a tad bit easier.
Now keep in mind that Microsoft has yet to publicly confirm that Update 1 will roll out via Windows Update. Plans can change as the release date nears.
