Windows 8.1 August update (2) available for download

As you might have heard that Microsoft planned to release Windows 8.1 update 2 aka August update with some minor improvements rather than those which were actually expected to be packed with the update such as the start menu,ability to run Store apps inside the desktop. But the development of Windows 9 has made several changes to the Redmond Giant's update to Windows 8.1.  

But still the update has some improvements which won't make much difference for the consumers, here are the new features : 

Precision touchpad improvements – three new end-user settings have been added: Leave touch pad on when a mouse is connected; allow right-clicks on the touchpad; double-tap and drag.

Miracast Receive – exposes a set of Wi-Fi direct APIs for Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) drivers or OEM drivers to develop Windows 32-bit applications that run on all supported x86-based or x64-based versions of Windows 8.1, enabling the computer as a Miracast receiver.

Minimizing login prompts for SharePoint Online – reduces the number of prompts with federated use in accessing SharePoint Online sites. If you select the “Keep me signed in” check box when you log on for the first time, you will not see prompts for successive access to that SharePoint Online site.

As you can see there is no much changes to the latest incarnation of Windows and most probably this will be the last set of features introduced in Windows 8.1 which means the next Windows release will be Windows 9 which is scheduled to launch as a preview later this year or in the first quarter of 2015. Windows 8.1 will continue to get security patches and other improvements via Windows update. I still wonder if Microsoft will release the start menu for Windows 8.1 as a update after the launch of Windows 9 next year.

You can also wait till the updates gets pushed to your PC/tablet via Windows update but if you don't like waiting like me, then you are free to download and install the updates from the links below. 

Download Windows 8.1 update 2 for 64-bit systems

Download Windows 8.1 update 2 for 32-bit systems

Note : You have to install the small update and restart the PC before installing the big one which actually contains the August updates. Happy updating !