Microsoft issues Windows 8 update ahead of general release

Microsoft has announced a series of updates to Windows 8 designed to improve a number of areas ahead of the platform's general release in just over two weeks' time.

The improvements target a number of areas of the platform including performance, power management and battery efficiency, media playback, and compatibility. They will be made available from the firm's Windows Update service.

Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division, said in a blog post that the firm was pushing itself to get as many updates pushed through to manufacturers before the operating system is launched publicly.

"During the final months of Windows 8 we challenged ourselves to create the tools and processes to be able to deliver these post-RTM (release to manufacturing) updates sooner than a service pack," he said.

"By developing better test automation and test coverage tools we are happy to say that Windows 8 will be totally up to date for all customers starting at General Availability."

Sinofsky confirmed that any Microsoft Developer Network users or enterprise customers would be able to access these updates for Windows 8 PCs via Windows Update on Wednesday.

The update comes as the firm gears up for its major launch of the Windows 8 platform on 26 October, with chief executive Steve Ballmer touting the firm's future prospects around the platform in a letter to shareholders on Tuesday.

The market remains unsure what to make of the platform, though, with developers claiming manufacturers using the operating system would struggle to match the iPad's dominance.

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
•  
•  
• Send to  

• Topics
• Operating Systems
• Tablets
• Microsoft
• Windows 8
• Tablet pc
• iPad
• Battery