Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Microsoft says Windows RT will get some love in September with Update 3

Jon Martindale
By

update 3 windows rt 81 version 1437020981 8 1 start
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Update 8/10/15 8:45 AM: In a change to the Windows 10 FAQ, Microsoft confirmed that Windows RT devices won’t be upgraded to Windows 10. Instead, Update 3 in September will improve the lock screen and Start Menu, though the revamped versions will be updated Windows 8.1 RT features, not the new Windows 10 Start Menu.

Original Story: Even though Microsoft is gearing up to launch Windows 10 before the end of July, the mobile and tablet version isn’t set to arrive for some time. To make sure that those remaining on platforms like Windows 8.1 RT stay protected and have all of the latest features, Redmond is set to release a patch known as Update 3 for all users in September.

Recommended Videos

The announcement was made by general manager of OSG Data and Fundamentals, Gabe Aul on Twitter. We don’t know a lot about this update, but it’s been understood for a while that certain Windows 10 features may be ported over to the somewhat restricted 8.1 RT platform.Which features will make the jump remains to be seen, but presumably the best ones will be reserved for Microsoft’s new flagship OS in order to draw users to update.

Related

@jon5798 Windows 8.1 RT Update 3 will be available in September

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) July 15, 2015

With its new unified platform for software too, a version of Windows 10 will appear on tablets and other smaller form factor devices before long, so Microsoft might not be too keen to encourage people to stick with their older standards. However it makes sense to keep them on the hook until then, so an update with a few Windows 10 features isn’t a bad plan.

Related: Does the death of Windows RT cast a shadow on Windows 10?

The big feature being requested by users is the ability to run Windows 10 apps on the older RT platform. Not everyone is convinced they will get such functionality with the update; Microsoft and Aul are remaining quiet on the precise content of it. Microsoft needs to rejuvenate the platform moving forward, as third parties have all but dropped support for it.

Microsoft has made sure to develop Windows 10 with an eye towards low system requirements. If the new OS can find its way onto the Raspberry Pi, then surely Redmond will find a way to bring RT users into the fold as well.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale
Computing Coordinator
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
PC gamers are flocking to Windows 11, new Steam survey says
Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

According to the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey, more PC gamers are switching to using Windows 11. Although Windows 10 continues to top the charts, it's slowly losing users to Microsoft's newer operating system, as Windows 11 now compromises over a third of all operating systems in Steam's monthly survey.

It's happy news for Microsoft as Windows 11 continues to inch forward in the Steam Hardware Survey. While the survey doesn't include the software and hardware utilized by each and every gamer on the platform, it still shows us some significant averages. Microsoft has continued to push Windows 11 for new PCs, and the latest survey from Steam suggests that the effort is working.

Read more
Yes, you can use both Mac and Windows — here are some tips to get started
The keyboard of the MacBook Pro 14-inch on a wood surface.

I'm not a typical Windows or Mac user. Where most people choose one operating system and stick with it, I use both Windows 11 and MacOS regularly, going back and forth daily depending on my workflow. And it's easier to do than you probably think.

I have a fast Windows 11 desktop with three 27-inch 4K displays, and I use that for all my research-intensive work that benefits from multiple monitors. But for writing simple copy, and for personal tasks, I use a MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro simply because I like it so much. It's not MacOS that draws me to the machine, but its battery life, cool yet quick operation, excellent keyboard and touchpad, and awesome HDR display. To stay sane, I've worked out a few tricks and techniques to make the constant switching bearable. Here's what I've learned.
Adjust to your keyboards

Read more
Lagging in games? This Windows 11 update might fix the problem
Woman shouting with joy while playing games on a PC.

Microsoft has apparently resolved the gaming issues in the Windows 11 22H2 update, making it safe for anyone that hasn't updated yet to do so now.

The gaming problems were confirmed by Microsoft two weeks into November, following ongoing complaints from Windows gamers that had noticed popular games lagging. A safeguard hold was placed, stopping automatic update alerts but not preventing manual updates.

Read more