Windows 8.1 was officially released earlier today, so in case you’re already running Windows 8, you can now launch the Store and get the update right away.
Even though some people claimed that Microsoft might also launch a standalone version of the update that would allow users to deploy Windows 8.1 without turning to the Store, it turns out that this isn’t going to happen.
“Windows 8.1 will not be released as a separate, free download. If you are running a Windows 8 Device, the Windows Store is the best way to install. We should not think of Windows 8.1 as a service pack, its much more comprehensive and uses the Windows setup engine to install,” a company employee says on the Microsoft Community forums.
The retail box of Windows 8.1 will be launched tomorrow, so unless you’re running an older version of Windows, you better launch the Store and get the update the easy way.
