In that case they need to change the KMS Activation system! Anyway you could be right and nobody knows till day X what will come out of the MS Kitchen!
All current (p-KMS) depends on one single host key, all MS need to do is upgrade every KMS hosts to be eligible to activate 8.1 except that single host key. ..... just a thought because I don't know much about KMS, there may be even easier methods for MS.
M$ will change something in the partitioning system in 8.1? Will continue the ntsf or will give some type option,ext for example?
@kastrel I think you can forget the official ext fs support in Windows enviroments. In the future you'll find the ReFS instead of the NTFS fs but nothing more.
If it's real!! On the other hand, why MS should build an 9428 Milestone Preview now, just a few (14) days ahead of of the Public Preview which should be already/min. a Beta? Not makes to much sense!
The so called Milestones of MS are BEFORE Betas and even Pre-Release. Milestones mainly the first builds which are considered as "workable" versions. Milestones are used to be published by MS only for Partners to give them the "first" view of what will coming! That stage is long overdone by MS regarding Windows 8.1. Also, Pre-Release mainly are the "finished" Betas. After those, in general, just may only minor changes will be done before the release. I think that the picture you posted is just an other outcome from an "Circus"!
LOL, don't worry, I am quite sure it's not a circus production before posting it. And it had been rumored a few months back that the preview will be named as a MP(Milestone Preview)......just have to wait and see.