Microsoft previously announced that support for the Windows 8 operating system would continue until 2023. However, the situation now seems to have changed. , as the corporation intends to accelerate the process of moving users from Windows 8 to newer versions, meaning that support for computers running Windows 8 will cease on July 1, 2019. It should be noted that updates for the mobile OS Windows Phone 8.x will also stop on the same day.
Meanwhile, PCs running Windows 8.1 will continue to receive updates until July 1, 2023. Initially, this deadline was planned for regular Windows 8 as well. Thus, Microsoft has differentiated Windows 8 from 8.1, doing so now rather than immediately after the release of 8.1, which was a free upgrade for Windows 8 users.
Clearly, the company is trying to move users closer to Windows 10 to achieve the coveted billion active devices running this OS. While the number of users still operating on Windows 8 is likely insignificant, those who continue to use this version will probably not be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after July 1. It's also possible that the Windows Store may cease to function in regular Windows 8, although this is still just speculation.
ZDNet reached out to Microsoft for a comment, but no information has been provided so far. Overall, this approach is not surprising, as the corporation is using every means possible to move users to Windows 10. Everything is on the table, from free upgrades to various forms of coercion. And ending support is one of them.
Source: 3dnews.ru
