Second update of Windows 8.1 could arrive in August

Microsoft released the first major update for its Windows 8.1 operating system on April 8, which will also be remembered as the day when Windows XP finally reached the end of its 12-year life. Although this has not been officially confirmed yet, it seems like Microsoft's release cycle for its flagship product is speeding up and Windows 8.1 could get its second major update as soon as August.

While Russian website WZOR recently leaked information about Windows 8.2 coming in September, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley claims her sources say the next big update to Microsoft's flagship operating system could arrive in August. Unfortunately, these sources did not reveal the name of this update, so it could be Windows 8.1 Update 2 or Windows 8.2, but we may see the "Service Pack" label returning as well.

This upcoming update is expected to finally include the Start menu version revealed by Microsoft during the Build 2014 conference earlier this month, but rumors go as far as mentioning a free for everyone version of the operating system will arrive in August/September as well. This Windows flavor could require a subscription for activating various extra features using the same approach as Microsoft Office for iPad.

All the above should be taken with a grain of salt for now, but we will get back to the topic as soon as more information becomes available.