After offering free "WINDOWS 8.1 (RTM)" to its MSDN & TechNet subscriber From Microsoft. WINDOWS 8.1 release to manufacturers (RTM) build has seen over two million downloads since Microsoft distributed it to Technet and MSDN subscribers on Tuesday, the firm's EVP of marketing Tami Reller has claimed.
The two million download figure suggests two things: that Windows 8 developers see the Windows 8.1 release as a much needed update, and that Microsoft did right to reverse its earlier decision to withhold the RTM build until its general availability later this year
Announcing the news in a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) on Wednesday, Microsoft's Reller claimed that the firm had seen an "incredible uptake" of the Windows 8.1 build since its release.
The RTM version is the "gold" build that's used by device manufacturers. In past software releases, Microsoft typically had given early access to these bits to its developer MSDN subscribers and IT pro TechNet subscribers, but the company wasn't going to do that this time because of its new faster software release cadence. However, Microsoft has now relented and released the bits anyway. It did so after hearing from developers and IT pros that they needed the time to get ready for the general availability releases, according to the announcement. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 reached their RTM milestones earlier late last month.
While the RTM versions of the operating systems are feature complete, some of the software will be updated at general availability release. For instance, Microsoft indicated it would have further updates to Windows Server 2012 R2 at that time. The price list for Microsoft's new software will be available on Nov. 1 for those organizations making new software purchases.
Microsoft considers the RTM software to be preview software, so there is no upgrade path to the final general availability version, according to the Microsoft spokesperson. Installing the Windows 8.1 RTM on a test machine is the preferred approach. For instance, even the Windows 8.1 preview came with multiple install caveats to observe.
Microsoft hopes that the updates in Windows 8.1 will help those customers who dislike how different the operating system feels in relation to earlier releases to like it again.
Source : www.theinquirer.net & www.redmondmag.com
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