First a Public Service Announcement: Today is Microsoft’s monthly Patch Tuesday, as we mentioned last week, so make sure you update your Windows based systems today.
Now back to your regularly scheduled blog post.
The advance notice about today’s updates initially listed that there were no security related updates for the latest version of Microsoft’s flagship operating system however, there is indeed one security related update for the new OS as well as a significant performance update.
These updates are intended to have Windows 8 as up to date as possible when it becomes widely available starting on 26 October 2012.
According to the Building Windows 8 blog post Updating Windows 8 for General Availability, Steven Sinofsky shares that this maybe a new method for delivering updates for the OS based on new tools they have developed alongside of Windows 8 with the express goal of being “able to deliver these “post-RTM” updates sooner than a service pack”.
The update is available for both the X86 and X64 versions of Windows 8 and also has a couple of other updates alongside of it:
- Windows 8 Client and Windows Server 2012 General Availability Cumulative Update (KB2756872) – Windows 8 Client and Windows Server 2012 General Availability Cumulative Update is available. This cumulative update package provides a collection of performance and reliability improvements to Windows 8. We recommend that you apply this cumulative update as part of your regular maintenance routines.
- x86 download is 102.8MB
- x64 download is 169.9MB
- Microsoft Security Advisory: Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player for Window 8 and Windows Server 2012 (KB2758994) – Microsoft is announcing the availability of an update for Adobe Flash Player in Internet Explorer 10 on all supported editions of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. The update addresses the vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player by updating the affected Adobe Flash libraries contained within Internet Explorer 10.
- x86 download is 8.1MB
- x64 download is 16.1MB
- An update that adds Microsoft Camera Codec Pack support to Windows 8 and Windows RT is available (KB2712101) – This article introduces the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack update for Windows 8 and for Windows RT. This update adds the ability to view device-specific RAW photos in Windows 8 and Windows RT.
- x86 download is 3.9MB
- x64 download is 4.4MB
Install on my main desktop system (SSD based) took about 8 minutes from starting the download to useable desktop. My Acer Iconia Tablet W500 took about 30 minutes with the download over wireless.
Some of the apps and other aspects of the OS do seem to be snappier but that could very well be a Jedi Mind Trick. Looking forward to seeing what kind of battery benefits I gain on my tablet as well.
Have you seen any noticeable improvements with this update if you are running Windows 8?