On: Download Windows 8.1 RTM, Visual Studio 2013 RC Today

[reflectiv]

Yep, RTM is basically also known as a 'Gold' release or essentially the same thing end users will get - minus marketing materials and other assorted items that come along with a final consumer release.

They should not have called it RTM if it wasn't really RTM.

[marshray → reflectiv]

Feature Freeze, Feature Complete, Alpha, Beta, Release Candidate, Gold, Release To Manufacturing...

I've worked at a few software companies and none of them have used these terms quite the same way.

[OrsenPike → marshray]

Other companies are not the point here though. Microsoft is and they have been consistent in their use for the past two decades or more so why the sudden change?

[marshray → OrsenPike]

http://allthingsd.com/20130626/ballmer-at-build-microsoft-mo...

[OrsenPike → marshray]

Sorry but I don't really see the link between that article and Microsoft's inconsistent use of the term RTM.

They can still move to a rapid release cycle and have a solid RTM. Chrome and Firefox manage to do it every 6 weeks.