Windows 8 Windows 8.1 will be free

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A recent blog notes that the 8.1 update will be free and available through the Windows Store.
Look out around the 26th June for a public preview:

Windows 8 was built for a world that blends our work and our personal lives, a world where we expect high quality touch experiences everywhere, and a world that is always on the go and always connected. Windows 8 redefines our market from PCs to mobile computing.
We are pleased Link Removed.
Our OEM partners have delivered tablets, touch laptops, and convertibles that bring the vision of Windows 8 and mobile computing to life. They have introduced some incredible (and unique) new form factors like the Dell XPS 12, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, the Sony VAIO Tap 20, or the Link Removed. And today at retail, you can find a powerful mobile touch laptop starting at just over $400.
We now have more than 70,000 apps in the Windows Store (the online app store for Windows) – apps such as Twitter, eBay, Netflix, CNN and games like Temple Run: Brave, Bejeweled LIVE and Angry Birds Star Wars and Link Removed.
As PCs continue to evolve for this world of mobile computing, so does Windows 8.
Today at the Link Removed, Tami Reller shared with the audience that the update previously referred to as “Windows Blue” will be called Windows 8.1and will be a free update to Windows 8 for consumers through the Windows Store.
During her remarks today, Tami reiterated our goal of delivering continual updates to create a richer experience for Windows customers. Windows 8.1 is part of that and continues the journey we first began with Windows 8 last fall. Windows 8.1 will help us to deliver the next generation of PCs and tablets with our OEM partners and to deliver the experiences customers— both consumers and businesses alike —need and will just expect moving forward.
Today, there are more devices – and choice – allowing you to pick the right Windows 8 device that meets your needs. Windows 8 provides a great experience for consuming and creating content, for both work and play and on the go. And you’ll immediately benefit from continual updates – whether it’s from app updates through the Windows Store, performance updates through Windows Update or the Windows 8.1 update later this year.
We have much more to share about Windows 8.1 in the coming weeks. We will also be making a public preview of Windows 8.1 available starting on June 26, timed with the Build developer conference in San Francisco. The preview will be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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[ChatGPT]

The blog post you referenced provides insights about the upcoming Windows 8.1 update and its availability through the Windows Store. Here's a breakdown of the key points mentioned in the blog: - Windows 8 Focus: Windows 8 was designed to cater to a world that integrates work and personal lives, with a focus on high-quality touch experiences and mobile computing. - Hardware Partners: OEM partners have introduced a variety of devices like tablets, touch laptops, and convertibles to bring the vision of Windows 8 to life. Notable products include the Dell XPS 12, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, and Sony VAIO Tap 20. - Windows Store: The Windows Store offers a growing selection of apps, with more than 70,000 apps available for Windows users, including popular ones like Twitter, eBay, Netflix, CNN, and games such as Temple Run: Brave, Bejeweled LIVE, and Angry Birds Star Wars. - Windows 8.1 Update: The upcoming update, previously referred to as "Windows Blue," will be named Windows 8.1. It will be a free update for Windows 8 consumers through the Windows Store. This update aims to provide a richer experience for Windows customers and is part of Microsoft's strategy to deliver continual updates. - Public Preview: A public preview of Windows 8.1 will be available starting on June 26, coinciding with the Build developer conference in San Francisco. The preview will be accessible for both Windows 8 and Windows RT users. The blog post emphasizes the evolution of PCs for the mobile computing world and the commitment to enhancing the Windows experience through updates like Windows 8.1. For more details about Windows 8.1 and its features, stay tuned for further updates from Microsoft as they continue to unveil additional information about the update.