When Microsoft officially announced that Windows 8.1 had been released to manufacturing, the company said that MSDN and TechNet subscribers would have to wait until October 18th to try out the new software. This was a big—and universally unpopular—change in policy, with a massive online backlash immediately following.

Microsoft has heard the response and has changed its mind. Its new policy is the old policy: MSDN and TechNet subscribers will get immediate access to Windows 8.1 for testing and development purposes. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will be available to download now, and volume license versions of Windows 8.1 will be made available by the end of September. The company does warn that it is continuing to develop the online services that Windows 8.1 uses, so the software will not deliver the full, final experience just yet.

In addition to Windows, Microsoft is also making available Visual Studio 2013 Release Candidate. This version will be go-live licensed, so it can be used for developing desktop and Web applications.

One thing it can't be used for is publishing Metro-style Windows Store applications. Microsoft still isn't taking submissions of updated applications until October 18th. Our expectation is that the final version of Visual Studio 2013 will be published at some point between now and then and that app submissions will need to be built with that final version.