Microsoft Rolls Out Windows 8 Update Ahead Of Official Launch
A couple weeks ago, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said that Windows 8 was shipping out when it actually wasn't truly ready for release, claiming that the OS was still filled with bugs. Whether or not he was right, Microsoft is on top of things with an update to Windows 8 that brings improved battery life, and fixes media playback and general compatibility issues.
The company calls it the "Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 General Availability Cumulative Update", and it includes a handful of bugfixes, as well as general performance enhancements that arrive ahead of the operating system's official launch on October 26. Microsoft refers to the updates as "post-RTM" updates, and they mention that these kinds of updates is what you would normally see in a service pack, so the company was able to release an update way sooner than most people expected.
The updates are available today, but only MSDN and enterprise customers are able to take advantage of them for the time being. The general public will have to wait until October 26 in order to get the updates. In the blog post on the MSDN website, Microsoft lists out some of the major enhancements that are included in the update package:
- Increased power efficiency to extend battery life
- Performance improvements in Windows 8 applications and Start screen
- Improved audio and video playback in many scenarios
- Improved application and driver compatibility with Windows 8
Microsoft also said that they'll continue their "Patch Tuesday" streak with Windows 8, where the company will issue out a set of new updates on the first Tuesday of every month. We're glad to see Microsoft keeping up with updates already with Windows 8 — hopefully they'll continue that for the next couple of years.
[via ZDNet]