An official word on the Windows Blue release date has surfaced through the Redmond giant via a post on the platform’s certified blog. Based on the details provided, the new version will be merely an update and not a major launch. It is expected to debut later this year, but no specifics have been given as yet.
Tami Reller, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer, recently disclosed this information in a Q&A session and also stated that the company has achieved the 100 million licenses sold mark for their latest OS. The mentioned number comprises of licenses that have been shipped with a new tablet or PC and even installed as an upgrade. Back to the topic at hand, the upcoming software is intended as an update and Frank X. Shaw, Corporate Vice President of Corporate Communications, states that Blue is only an internal codename for the new version which is like to be changed upon launch.
Based on previous leaks, the update will be known as Windows 8.1. Reller claims that it will introduce enhancements in various segments such as the display, battery life and performance. What’s worth noting down is that there’s also a mention of support for ‘form factors of all sizes,’ which could mean support for tablets with screens smaller than 10-inches. Additionally, improvements are expected based on customer feedback received on the desktop and slate versions of the OS since their launch.
Back in march, an early build of the platform was leaked to the internet. While the UI looks no different than the current one, there are some pretty interesting and much awaited changes included. The company has updated the side-by-side view feature which now allows users to simultaneously run 4 apps in split-screen. Like in WP8, Live Tiles can now be made smaller and some tools can be re-sized to a display a much bigger icon on the Start Screen. Speaking of which, more customizations are accessible and a report last month suggested that the conventional Start button would make its reappearance.
The Blue update is not only expected to be released for Windows 8, but also Server, Azure, Visual Studio and other products. More details are anticipated to be unveiled at the Build 2013 developer conference in June.