Rumor: Microsoft Working on Windows 8.1 Update 3
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As we get closer to the release of Windows 8.1 Update 2 new rumors have come to light. Microsoft enthusiast FaiKee has revealed new information based on his discussions with a Chinese source. It appears Microsoft may be working on an Update 3 for Windows 8.1 (may be called Windows 8.2) to succeed Windows 8.1 Update 2.
Small info update, take it as a rumor – it’s still quite far away, and plans could change anyway : 🙂
Windows Codename Blue -> Windows 8.1 Updates 1/2/3, Update3 expected 2015 Spring.
Windows Codename Threshold -> Windows 8.1.x or 8.x , or whatever MS would name it, there will be 1 preview, expected 2015 Q2~Q3
Windows Codename 9 -> Windows 9 , or whatever MS would name it, there will be 2 previews, first preview expected 2015 Q2~Q3.
This rumor does add fuel to the fire that Windows 9 may already be off schedule. Mary-Jo Foley has stated she disagrees with this rumor and continues to hear Windows 9 will be released by Spring 2015.
If we look at Microsoft historically, the company would regularly release service pack to its operating systems. With the exception of SP2 for WinXP, service packs contained mostly under-the-hood a little in terms of new features. When Steven Sinofsky took the Windows division he stopped the practice of releasing multiple service packs. Only one service pack was released for Windows 7. With Windows 8 no service packs have been released. Instead every month a significant amount of windows updates are released. A new OS, Windows 8.1 was released a year later. Windows 8.1 Update 1 could have been called Windows 8.2, but in many ways it was similar to a service pack that also contained some new features.
Terry Myerson may be wanting to go back to a time where service packs (or something similar to them in the form of “Updates”) are released more regularly. Therefore while I disagree with Faikee’s timeline slightly, I still think it is interesting and it is plausible an Update 3 (or called Windows 8.2) could be in the works. Likely to appear within a quarter (earlier or later) of the release of Windows 9.
If indeed Windows 9 is already a quarter off schedule that is extremely concerning, but I’m going to cross my fingers and hope it is not true for the time being.
h/t: FaiKee
