Quick Hits: Windows 8.1 Update 1, Future Update Brings Back a Start Menu, Windows Goes Free

Big news from Build 2014 today. I'll delve deeper into the meanings and musings later on, but I wanted to give you all a quick list of what's new and important.

During the Build keynote today, Joe Belfiore helped introduce the developer community (and others on hand in San Francisco and watching the live stream) to the upcoming Windows 8.1 Update (yes, it's no longer being called Windows 8.1 Update 1). Windows 8.1 Update will be delivering Windows 8.1 users on April 8, 2014, along with the regular, monthly patching cycle.

Microsoft also promised a second update to Windows 8.1 that will bring a re-envisioned Start Menu where users will be to find installed applications, including Modern UI apps. The update will also enable the ability for Windows to run Modern UI apps directly on the desktop. The company emphasized they had no announcements around Windows 9 at Build.

And, in other big Windows news, Windows will be free for phones and tablets with sub-9 inch displays.

In the following video, Belfiore takes some time to introduce the new features coming in Windows 8.1 Update that are geared to those still using a keyboard and mouse to perform everyday computing functions.

Incidentally, April 8, 2014 is also the day Windows XP reaches its end of life.