Skip to main content

Microsoft exec confirms Windows Blue will be a free upgrade called Windows 8.1

twitter windows 8We can all stop calling Microsoft’s upcoming operating system Windows Blue now that Tami Reller, the CMO and CFO of Microsoft’s Windows Division, confirmed that its official name will be Windows 8.1.  

Confirming what fellow company exec Julie Larson-Green said earlier this month, Reller revealed during JP Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference that you’ll be able to download the public preview version of Windows 8.1 by the end of June  – June 26, to be exact – which happens to be right at the beginning of the 2013 Build Developer Conference. Reller is keeping mum when it comes to the system’s actual release date – only hinting that it will be launched some time during or before the holiday season.

Recommended Videos

Reller did, however, share that Windows 8.1 will be released as a free upgrade, as was speculated, and will be available as a download on your Windows 8 home screen once it’s been launched. Windows 8.1 will be rolled out to both full Windows 8 copies and RT versions of the system. She also made an allusion to the possibility of seeing smaller Windows 8 slates by praising the 8.1 for being a great OS even for “the smallest tablets.”

Even though Reller has shed light on a number of 8.1 reports, a number of unconfirmed ones remain including the reintroduction of the Start button. We have a feeling we’ll be hearing more about Windows 8.1 as we get closer to Build, so stay tuned. 

Mariella Moon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mariella loves working on both helpful and awe-inspiring science and technology stories. When she's not at her desk writing…
Apple’s Vision Pro is getting the M5 chip, but that’s not what it really needs
Two people talk while one wears an Apple Vision Pro headset. Their eyes are visible through the device using the EyeSight feature.

We’ve not yet seen the full rollout of Apple’s M4 chip family -- the M4 Ultra is still yet to make an appearance -- but already we’ve just learned that the M5 chip is now in production. That means it’ll probably arrive in Macs either late this year or early next year.

If you’ve been waiting to buy a new MacBook Pro, that could mean 2026 is the year to finally pull the trigger. After all, Apple is expected to fully redesign its flagship laptop for next year’s release, and if that coincides with a powerful new M5 chip, all the better.

Read more
This Acer Predator gaming PC with RTX 4070 Ti Super is $350 off
The side profile of the Acer Predator Orion 5000 gaming PC.

You should be careful if you're thinking about upgrading with gaming PC deals, as not all machines are worth your hard-earned money. Here's one that we highly recommend: the Acer Predator Orion 5000 at $350 off from Best Buy, which brings its price down to $1,750 from $2,100. It's still not what you'd call affordable after that discount, but this is the type of machine that you will never regret buying. You're going to want to complete your transaction for it as soon as possible though, as there's no telling when the offer expires.

Why you should buy the Acer Predator Orion 5000 gaming PC
The Acer Predator Orion 5000 challenges the best gaming PCs with specifications that will let you play the best PC games at their most demanding settings. It's powered by the 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, along with 32GB of RAM that our guide on how much RAM do you need says is the sweet spot for high-end gamers. The gaming desktop also comes with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded in its 2TB SSD, which will provide enough storage space for multiple AAA titles with all their necessary updates and optional add-ons.

Read more
Grab this Lenovo Legion gaming PC while it’s under $1,000
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 8 gaming PC on a white background.

You don't need to spend more than $1,000 in upgrading your gaming desktop, as there are gaming PC deals out there with huge discounts on powerful machines. You won't have to do the searching yourself though, as we've done that for you -- check out the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8, which is available with a 30% discount from Lenovo that drops its price from $1,330 to only $930. There are only limited stocks for this computer though, so you have to hurry with your purchase if you want to secure the $400 in savings.

Why you should buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 gaming PC
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 is an affordable gaming desktop that's built similar to the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, which appears in our list of the best gaming PCs as our favorite option for below $1,000. The major difference is that the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 is powered by AMD -- the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor, to be exact, alongside the AMD Radeon RX 7600 graphics card and 16GB of RAM that's the best place to start for gaming, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. With these specifications, you'll be able to play the best PC games on this gaming PC without any issues.

Read more