Microsoft has finally announced Windows 8.1 Update 1, which is set to be arriving this Spring for all Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 devices. Update 1 is set to improve the operating system for mice and keyboard users, whilst improving the underside of the operating system to allow it to run end hardware.
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Microsoft says there will be "easy" launching and switching of apps via the Windows 8.1 taskbar, alongside new mouse UI for right-click and closing apps. It's clear this is largely designed for mouse and keyboard users, and Belfiore admits Microsoft has heard the complaints. "Some of those touch affordances weren’t really tuned as well as we could do for those mouse and keyboard users," says Belfiore. "We found people weren’t aware of where they should look in the UI. Those are the things we’ve really started to improve for this update coming this spring."
Under the hood changes include reduced hardware requirements, meaning the operating system can now run on hardware with as low as 1GB RAM and 16GB storage. This is a great change as it allows for a whole new load of devices running Windows 8.1 to be sold.
Microsoft isn't naming the update today, but internally it's known as "Update 1" for Windows 8.1. Microsoft also isn't announcing exactly when the update will become available, but the company is largely expected to detail it fully at an upcoming Build developer event in April before releasing it early that month.