Windows 8.1 finally passes Windows 8 in market share, Windows 7 climbs back over 50%

May was the seventh full month of availability for Microsoft’s latest operating system version: Windows 8.1 continues to grow slowly while Windows 8 remains largely flat, allowing the former to finally pass the latter in market share. At the same time, Windows 7 has managed to climb back over the 50 percent mark, while Windows XP still has more than 25 percent of the pie, despite support for the ancient OS finally ending in April.

The latest market share data from Net Applications shows that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have gained a combined 0.40 percentage points (from 12.24 percent to 12.64 percent). More specifically, Windows 8 slipped 0.07 percentage points (from 6.36 percent to 6.29 percent), while Windows 8.1 grabbed an additional 0.47 percentage points (from 5.88 percent to 6.35 percent).

Windows 8, which saw its biggest gain in August at 2.01 percentage points and its biggest loss in November at 0.87 percentage points, continues to slip. There are still computers being sold with Windows 8, but Microsoft is encouraging the upgrade path to Windows 8.1 by making it just a free download away for Windows 8 users.

Meanwhile, Windows 7 managed to grab an additional 0.79 percentage points (from 49.27 percent to 50.06 percent). Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 usually do better combined than Windows 7 does, but some months the opposite happens, and May was one of those instances. It should surprise nobody if Microsoft ends up struggling to woo users off Windows 7 one day, just like the current headache it is experiencing with Windows XP.

Going back to earlier versions, Windows Vista managed to gain 0.01 percentage points (from 2.89 percent to 2.90 percent). Windows XP meanwhile dropped a solid 1.02 percentage points (from 26.29 percent to 25.27 percent). Unfortunately for Microsoft, that drop is nowhere near as large as it should be.

In 2013, Windows lost share every month except for March, July, and November. So far in 2014, Windows slipped in January and April, gained in February and March, and now gained 0.19 percentage points (from 90.80 percent to 90.99 percent) in May. OS X fell 0.23 percentage points (to 7.39 percent), while Linux gained 0.04 percentage points (to 1.62 percent).

Net Applications uses data captured from 160 million unique visitors each month by monitoring some 40,000 websites for its clients. StatCounter is another popular service for watching market share moves; the company looks at 15 billion page views. 

Microsoft Windows 8.1 free update released

Microsoft has released the free update of Windows 8.1 for Windows 8 and Windows RT device users via the Windows Store. Businesses now have access to the final versions of Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 8.1 Enterprise. Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as boxed software from 18 October.

Updates include: An improved, more customisable Start screen with variable tile sizes, more background designs and colours to make each Windows device look unique. Now you can chose to boot up at the Start screen or directly in good old fashion Windows desktop. 

The Start button has also returned as well as an updated apps view. Search with Bing has been enhanced for instant online or local searching from the Start screen. 

You can now enjoy native support for 3D printing making it easy as plug-and-play for all. Up to four apps can be used at once side by side with easy screen resizing as well as improved multi- monitor support. 

Sky Drive is also more heavily integrated making backing up files and using them across devices much easier. The Windows Store has also had a refresh making keeping up to date easier.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Preview now available for download

At its Build developers conference,
Microsoft announced that it has made
the preview version of Windows 8.1,
the update to its Windows 8 desktop
operating system, available to the
public for download.
As the word 'preview' suggests, this
build is sort of a final beta and might
contain some bugs so Microsoft
recommends that you should only
install it if you're comfortable with
troubleshooting your PC. The company
also warns that you might lose some
functionality or encounter errors as
the software is still in development
stage. Also, the final version of
Windows 8.1 could feature more
changes.
To download the new OS, you need to
visit the Windows 8.1 Preview page
and download a small program. It's
worth pointing out you will not be able
to 'uninstall' Windows 8.1 Preview
and will need to perform a fresh install
if you wish to go back to Windows 8.
After executing the downloaded
program, the PC will prompt you to
restart and will give you an option to
download the Windows 8.1 update
from the Windows Store. You'll just
need to follow the instructions to
download and install the update.
Microsoft also lists some devices that
are not compatible with the Preview,
yet.
It says, "Some tablets and PCs running
newer 32-bit Atom processors require
updates to their graphics drivers
before they can run the Windows 8.1
Preview. Those tablets and PCs
include the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2,
ASUS VivoTab TF810C, HP Envy X2,
HP ElitePad 900, Samsung ATIV Smart
PC, and Fujitsu ARROWS Tab. We are
working closely with Intel and OEM
partners to deliver updated drivers
that will allow you to install the
Windows 8.1 Preview as soon as
possible."
The Windows 8.1 update features a
couple of new improvements including
a new Start tip that offers Start menu
like functionality, desktop wallpapers
for Start screen, updated search,
automatic app updates, new
multitasking experience, a revamped
Store, better PC settings and a new
version of Internet Explorer, among
other changes.