Microsoft Windows 8 was released as RTM version in august 2012 which means it is released to manufacturing, with all the features and functions but not yet available for users. You should expect the windows 8 final versions in the market by the end of october 2012. As always three variants of windows 8 will be available for users which will be called Windows 8, Pro and Enterprise edition.
You might also come across Windows 8 N and Windows 8 KN editions in the market, now what do these special versions have to offer?. Dont be surprised, they are essentially the same versions but built for different markets and do not include Windows Media Player and related technologies such as Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker.
The N & KN windows 8 versions are made for all three variants of windows 8 which makes it a total of nine editions in the market. The price of Windows 8 N and KN editions are same as the regular versions of each variant.
- Windows 8
- Windows 8 N
- Windows 8 KN
- Windows 8 Pro
- Windows 8 Pro N
- Windows 8 KN
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Enterprise N
- Windows 8 Enterprise KN
Difference between N and KN versions of Windows 8
Windows 8 N: is developed for European market, and includes all the features and functions of windows 8 except Windows Media Player and related technologies.
Windows 8 KN: is developed specifically for Korean market, and includes all the features and functions of windows 8 except Windows Media Player and related technologies like Windows Movie Maker but includes links to Media Player Center website, links to download Windows Live Messenger and a messenger center website.
Since the Windows 8 N & KN versions do not include windows media player and related applications, microsoft has compiled a Media feature pack for windows 8, adding all the missing applications to it. The windows 8 media feature pack can be freely downloaded from microsofts website to avail all the missing benefits.
Download Windows 8 Media Feature Pack for free from microsoft download center. (KB2703761) is available for both 32bit and 64bit versions.
You must be wondering why would microsoft remove them from windows versions and provide them in a media feature pack?, it just doesn’t makes sense. Well the issue behind N & KN is the European commission and Korean laws, which stated that microsoft was forcing consumers to use windows media player and related applications by bundling them with Windows. The users should have a free option to choose their own third party media players so microsoft should also offer a windows version without the windows media player and related technologies.
This gives birth to the Windows Media Feature Pack which comes as an option for Windows 8 N & KN users to choose it if they wish to use windows media player and related technologies. Though N & KN Windows edition users will also face another minor problem which is that it will not show the Windows Experience Index score since it uses some parts of windows media player files to calculate index. But now it can be fixed by just downloading the windows 8 media feature pack.
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