If you’re running Windows 8.1, you might not have to wait too long to get to play with some brand new features when using Microsoft’s latest OS. A new rumor indicates that a significant Windows 8.1 update could be released and become available for download on March 11, roughly a month and a half from now. Initially, the rumored release date for the Windows 8.1 update indicated an early April launch, during Microsoft’s Build conference, which will run from April 2 – April 4.
The new Windows 8.1 update could decrease the OS’ = memory and storage space requirements, which would allow the tiled OS to run on lower-end tablets that don’t have much RAM and sport smallish hard drives. According to Microsoft, running Windows 8.1 requires a 1 GHz processor, 1GB/2GB of RAM depending on whether you’re running the 32 or 64-bit version of the OS, and 16/20GB of hard drive space for the same reason.
Last week, a Russian site by the name of Wzor allegedly leaked screenshots of the upcoming Windows 8.1 update. When we looked at the images, we noticed a button on the Taskbar in the classic desktop UI that appeared to be a button sporting the Windows app store insignia. However, it’s unclear whether the app store would run within the desktop UI, or simply take you back to the tiled Metro/Modern interface and run there.
Microsoft is allegedly chipping away on the idea already, looking to make non-desktop apps accessible and usable from the desktop. What isn’t known is if such a feature would appear in this update, a future Windows 8.1 update, or be held back entirely for the launch of Windows 9, which could be released in the middle of 2015.
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