The awkwardly named Windows 8.1 Update 1 release earlier this year inspired speculation that Microsoft might produce a similar major group of "Update 2" enhancements for Windows 8.1 ahead of the expected Windows Threshold release . Microsoft has now made it clear that won't happen: we'll see small changes to Windows 8.1 as part of the monthly patching cycle, but nothing else.

Microsoft has unveiled yet another version of Windows 8.1 -- but you won't be able to buy it and install it yourself. Here's the lowdown on Windows 8.1 with Bing, and what it means for Windows RT.

Microsoft has back-pedalled slightly on its surprising policy of killing off patches for Windows 8.1 users who haven't moved to Windows 8.1 Update. While it originally said that change would happen after this week's Patch Tuesday update for end users, it has now extended support for 8.1 for another month.

In a move certain to raise the ire of users of Microsoft's Windows operating system the software giant has announced that next month it will cease support for Windows 8.1. But that operating system is barely eight months old and already an upgraded version of the Windows 8 system that failed to impress many users since its release in 2012. Microsoft has this month already killed off support for the long-lasting Windows XP system, so why is it ending support for Windows 8.1?

Windows 8.1 Update, the oddly-named newest version of Windows that makes Windows 8.1 much more friendly to keyboard and mouse users, has officially started rolling out from today. It's a free update for Windows 8.1 (and 8) owners, but you might not see it show up immediately on your system.

While the major focus of Build 2014 has been on Windows 8.1 Update and Windows Phone 8.1, the keynote also included glimpses at the next major release of Windows. We know that it will include the much-discussed return of the Start menu, but what else was revealed?