Microsoft Nukes Rumors of Windows 8.1 Update 2

By Kevin Parrish
published

Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's Senior Marketing Communications Manager on the Marketing Group, updated the Windows blog on Tuesday with word that despite all the rumors and speculation, there will be no Windows 8.1 Update 2. Instead, the company will distribute updates and enhancements the old fashioned way -- via Windows Update (WU), Microsoft Update (MU), and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

"Rather than waiting for months and bundling together a bunch of improvements into a larger update as we did for the Windows 8.1 Update, customers can expect that we'll use our already existing monthly update process to deliver more frequent improvements along with the security updates normally provided as part of 'Update Tuesday,'" he said in the blog.

Included in the update this month will be three new end-user settings for the touchpad: leaving it on when the user connects a mouse, allowing right-clicks, and double-tap and drag. Also new in next week's update will be Miracast Receive, which will allow the computer to serve as a Miracast receiver.

"[Miracast Receive] exposes a set of Wi-Fi direct APIs for Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) drivers or OEM drivers to develop Windows 32-bit applications that run on all supported x86-based or x64-based versions of Windows 8.1, enabling the computer as a Miracast receiver," LeBlanc explained.

The update next week will also add a feature that "reduces the number of prompts with federated use in accessing SharePoint Online sites." If "Keep me signed in" is checked when logging in for the first time, users will not see prompts for successive access to that particular SharePoint Online site.

"For current Windows 8.1 consumers who have elected automatic updates, the rollout will be gradual to ensure all customers receive the update in a timely manner," LeBlanc wrote on Tuesday. "Those who wish to install the update ahead of automatic updates may do so beginning August 12th manually via Windows Update."

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Kevin Parrish
9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Innocent_Bystander
    Not that I believe them but it's better this way.
    Reply
  • ickibar1234
    "Included in the update this month will be three new end-user settings for the touchpad: leaving it on when the user connects a mouse, allowing right-clicks, and double-tap and drag. "
    For the touchpad? You mean like a touchpad? On my laptop?
    No I guess you are talking about a tablet
    Double tap and drag, wow, finally you can do that?
    Reply
  • antilycus
    Leave it to MS to take a crap on their customers chests and then try to convince the customter they are looking out for them and doing them a favor
    Reply
  • techguy911
    Where is the start menu that Microsoft promised for windows 8?
    My guess if you want a start menu you will have to buy Windows 9.
    Reply
  • iogbrideau
    "Included in the update this month will be three new end-user settings for the touchpad: leaving it on when the user connects a mouse, allowing right-clicks, and double-tap and drag. "

    Really? This would be new on Windows? And I thought I already did that with my laptop and with previous versions of Windows as well. Why would they spend money on touchpad functions when they are already available with the touchpad's manufacturer's settings?
    Reply
  • MrElectrifyer
    "Included in the update this month will be three new end-user settings for the touchpad: leaving it on when the user connects a mouse, allowing right-clicks, and double-tap and drag. "

    Really? This would be new on Windows? And I thought I already did that with my laptop and with previous versions of Windows as well. Why would they spend money on touchpad functions when they are already available with the touchpad's manufacturer's settings?

    To centralize the basic PC functions, and possibly enable the user to sync such functions amongst all their PCs (if they actually use multiple PCs, I know I don't :P).
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    Where is the start menu that Microsoft promised for windows 8?
    My guess if you want a start menu you will have to buy Windows 9.
    Really?
    Still moaning about the Start Menu?
    Have you ever heard of doing something for yourself like installing ClassicShell instead of banging on about how horrible MS is for not doing it for you?
    Reply
  • jardows
    Where is the start menu that Microsoft promised for windows 8?
    My guess if you want a start menu you will have to buy Windows 9.

    I don't want a start menu, especially if it is anything like the mess of the Windows 7 start menu.
    Reply
  • txgs
    Leave it to MS to take a crap on their customers chests and then try to convince the customter they are looking out for them and doing them a favor
    They will release updates, it just wont be a bundle and wont call them update 2. There may not be difference in content with what was already planned. It's as if instead of one big Update 1, Microsoft had given you 5 different updates.

    Where is the start menu that Microsoft promised for windows 8?
    My guess if you want a start menu you will have to buy Windows 9.
    They haven't said anything yet, if it comes, it wont show up as "start menu update" or "update 2". Changing the update naming and delivery method shouldn't affect what was already planned for release. If it doesn't come, then it means it was never meant to regardless of it being named update 2 or "update for windows".
    Reply