The update to Windows 8 previously codenamed "Blue" will be officially known as "Windows 8.1," and it will be shipping later this year as a free update distributed via the Windows Store. Windows 8.1 was announced by Windows Division CFO Tami Reller today at JP Morgan's Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference in Boston.

A public preview of Windows 8.1 will be available on June 26, which coincides with the start of Microsoft’s Build developer conference in San Francisco.