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Not only did Microsoft roll out Windows 8.1 Update earlier this month, but the company also rolled out Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Update. This update is available to customers and partners via Windows Update, Microsoft OEM Online, and Volume Licensing Service Center. Windows 8.1 Update brings along quite a lot of new improvements for non-touch users, but did you know that Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Update brings along some new improvements for retail, manufacturing, and health devices? Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Update enables sideloading, easier app development, low-cost hardware deployment, and much more. Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry extends Windows 8.1 to a range of industry devices across retail, manufacturing, health and any other industries in which powerful line-of-business applications and the ability to perform a specialized function in a secure and reliable way is paramount. Here are some of the key features of the update: Sideloading will be enabled on Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry - meaning the customers no longer need to purchase a sideloading key through VL Inter-process communication between a modern app and a desktop app will be enabled, allowing developers to take advantage of both the modern app model as well as the existing desktop app model Updated Embedded Lockdown Manager provides a more unified way to manage embedded lockdown features such as unified write filter and gesture filter User interface improvements to help naturally bridge touch and desktop, especially for keyboard and mouse users Enabling Windows on lower-cost hardware (for example: 1 GB RAM and 16 GB SSD), enabling a wider range of industry tablet devices "For our customers, this update will help them stay current with modern technologies as well as continue to receive future updates, including security updates. For ISV partners, deploying modern apps on Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry will be more streamlined. And OEM partners will have the ability to enable Windows on lower-cost hardware; also note that OEMs will need to apply this update to continue getting future security updates," Microsoft explained in an official blog post. Source