Windows chief Julie Larson-Green announced at the Wired Business Conference Tuesday that Microsoft would release a developer's build of Windows 8.1 Blue by the end of June sometime during the company's Build Developer Conference. The Windows 8.1 Blue release date will still probably occur sometime this year.
The Windows 8.1 Blue update has been highly anticipated. Many are eager to see if Microsoft will listen to user feedback and reincorporate the hallowed Start button back into the OS. According to The Verge, Windows CFO Tami Reller said the following when asked about a Start button in the Windows 8.1 Blue update:
"We've really also tried to understand what people are really asking for when they're asking for that."
A number of new Windows 8.1 Blue features are rumored for the update, including greater customization options and more versatility without needing to go into desktop mode. For more on possible Windows 8.1 Blue features, check out our article on a leaked Windows 8.1 Blue build.
The Windows 8.1 Blue release date is still uncertain, but with the developer's build expected by the end of June, it's likely that Microsoft will ship the final build sometime in late 2013.
Microsoft posted the follow missive on its Windows blog:
Julie Larson-Green, Corporate Vice President for Windows, took to the stage at the Wired Business Conference a little while ago to talk about Windows 8 - reiterating much of the momentum Tami talked about earlier in this blog post. She also talked about our approach to making Windows 8 for a world where mobility is at the forefront. We continue to listen and respond to our customers. As part of the continuing journey for Windows 8, we have an update planned due out later this year codenamed "Windows Blue." Julie unveiled that at BUILD at the end of June, we'll be releasing a public preview of Windows Blue for folks to check out. Look for more from us on Windows Blue leading up to Build in June!
