Windows 8.1 Update 2 could be released August 12

By Konrad Krawczyk July 21, 2014

windows 8 1 update 2 to be released august 12 features release date — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Windows 8.1 Update 2, which is set to be the next significant upgrade to Microsoft’s beleaguered desktop operating system, could arrive as soon as August 12, Neowin reports. The claim comes courtesy of PCPortal.org.ru, a Russian Web site.

According to Neowin, Windows 8.1 Update 2 will be quite small, and won’t include any big changes. It will allegedly improve the operating system’s stability, but won’t add any big “front end” features. Windows 8.1 Update 2’s potential August 12 release date coincides with that month’s regularly scheduled Patch Tuesday.

In April, WZor, a prominent Russian leaker of Windows-centric information, stated that Windows 8.1 Update 2 would arrive this fall, and include a return of the Start menu. However, another report last month claimed that the Start menu would be held back and released with Windows 9, which likely won’t hit the market at least until sometime in Spring 2015.

With Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1. Update 1, which arrived in October and this April, respectively, Microsoft has added a handful of smaller functions aimed at pleasing desktop users. They include a psuedo-Start button for the classic desktop UI, the ability to run Metro apps in the desktop, a dedicated button for shutting down, restarting, or putting your device to sleep in the Metro UIs Start screen, and more.

Windows 8.1′s popularity has risen recently, but not by much. According to Net Marketshare, Windows 8.1′s share rose from 6.35 percent in May, to 6.61 percent in June.

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Konrad Krawczyk

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…

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