Windows 8.1 Expected to Arrive in October

Microsoft is now putting the final touches on Windows 8.1, but users may have to wait until October to get their hands on the operating system's latest version.

Microsoft previously announced that it would be delivering Windows 8.1 to device-makers in late August. The company is on track to fulfill its promise, but isn't planning to make the software available to consumers at the same time, according to ZDNet.

See also: The Problem With Windows 8

Windows 8.1 is instead expected to roll out to existing machines along with new devices in October. The gap in time allows device-makers to test drivers and search for bugs in their products before having to deal with those issues with the public.

Microsoft's newest OS includes a number of design and utility improvements, including support for smaller-screen devices. For a look at what's in store, check out our hands-on with Windows 8.1 from Microsoft's developer conference in June.

BONUS: Windows 8.1: Everything You Need to Know

1. 

   Windows 8, New & Improved

   Windows 8.1, which will be available to customers in the fall, includes many new features as well as refinements to the user interface. One of the updates lets you use the same background for the desktop and the modern UI.

2. 

   New Live Tiles

   There are two new sizes of live tile in Windows 8.1: tiny and extra-large.

3. 

   Snap on Steroids

   Snap -- where you have two different-size windows on the screen -- gets a big upgrade in Windows 8.1. You can split the screen however you want now, and even use Snap with multiple apps at the same time.

4. 

   Global Search

   Search is enhanced in Windows 8.1, which will create a "search hero" results page full of organized information from both the web and your local machine.

5. 

   Deeper SkyDrive Integration

   You can easily pick which files from SkyDrive get mirrored to your PC. It's also the default place to save documents.

Images: Mashable, Emil Lendof