Windows 8.1 release date is expected to be October 17, but The Verge is reporting that the general availability release date for Microsoft’s flagship desktop OS is a day later, October 17. Known updates for Windows 8.1 is new features of Bing and the Photo Loop camera feature.

According to the tech site, some updates included in the flagship desktop OS is upgraded Bing search capabilities. The function was updated to have additional hotels and restaurant search categories. Bing Food and Drink will be updated to include instructional videos from world renowned chefs and 100,000 new recipes with guides on how to cook the meals, The Verge reported.

Bing Finance has been updated to allow users to connect to a portfolio directly and execute trades with the app. Bing Travel will receive more user-generated content from Trover and Michellin, and the sports section, Bing Sports, will be updated in the new release with additional real-time live events and over 20 more international leagues.

The Verge noted, however, that the most interesting addition to Windows 8.1 could be what Microsoft calls the Photo Loop. The feature is similar to Blackberry 10’s photo rewind capability. The site said it works when you open the Camera app on Windows 8.1 with a compatible device, it will start to instantly take photos the time it’s loaded. Users can then rewind a photo through a radial menu.

Although all updates will go live on the Windows Store October 18, select Windows 8 users will see the updates by October 17. The earlier release schedule was taught to be the general release date in previous reports.

New PC owners with Windows 8.1 can upgrade to pro for $99.99, which includes the Windows Media Center, PC Mag reported.

PC owners on a different version aside from Windows 8 or Windows 7 are recommended to do a clean install if in case they opt for the upcoming OS. According to Microsoft, Windows 8.1 “was not designed for installation on devices running Windows XP or Windows Vista.”
Microsoft says that “files, settings, programs will not transfer – Consumers will need to back up their files and settings, perform clean installation, and then reinstall their files, settings and programs.”