Microsoft might have opted to delay the announcement of Windows 8.1 RTM (Release To Manufacture) in order not to overshadow it with the recent announcement of Steve Balmer's retirement within the next twelve months, despite the fact that it was previously targeting August 26th.


According to a post of Windows SuperSite editor Paul Thurrot, which tweeted on August 23rd that Windows 8.1 was actually released to manufacturing and that the final RTM build number is 9600.16384.130821-1623, there is still no official announcement from Microsoft.

The members of the press are still talking about the big announcement from last week that CEO Steve Balmer is retiring within the next 12 months and the delay is a simple marketing decision due to the fact that the announcement for the Windows 8.1 RTM could be overshadowed by the Steve Balmer announcement.

Microsoft previously announced that OEMs will get final RTM build before the end of August and by that account, Microsoft still has a couple of days to do it. The big question of whether the developers, IT pros' and other users will actually get the final RTM before the official launch, as it was the case with earlier Windows versions, still remains. There has been some rumors that only OEMs will get the final RTM and the rest will have to wait for the official launch scheduled for 18th of October.

The upcoming Windows 8.1 will add a number of changes designed to make the new operating system a bit more "usable" as well as bring features like "an actual Start Button", a boot-straight-to-desktop option, the ability to unpin all Metro apps, built-in tutorials, an improved Windows Store and a bunch of other consumer- and business-focused features.


Source: ZDNet.com.