Microsoft Makes Windows 8.1 RTM Build Available to MSDN and TechNet Subscribers Today

Following numerous complaints, Microsoft has announced that Windows 8.1 is now available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers ahead of its public release. Developers were upset that Microsoft wasn't giving them time to test their apps ahead of the operating system update.

---
Starting today, we will extend availability of our current Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM builds to the developer and IT professional communities via MSDN and TechNet subscriptions. The Windows 8.1 RTM Enterprise edition will be available through MSDN and TechNet for businesses later this month. Additionally, today we’re making available the Visual Studio 2013 Release Candidate which you can download here.

We heard from you that our decision to not initially release Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM bits was a big challenge for our developer partners as they’re readying new Windows 8.1 apps and for IT professionals who are preparing for Windows 8.1 deployments. We’ve listened, we value your partnership, and we are adjusting based on your feedback. As we refine our delivery schedules for a more rapid release cadence, we are working on the best way to support early releases to the various audiences within our ecosystem.
---


Windows 8.1 will be released to the public on October 17th/18th depending on your timezone.

Read More