It remains to be seen whether the second major update to Windows 8.1 will also include the refreshed Start menu, although there are indications that this would seem rather likely. Recently, whispers have been going around, touting that the Start menu itself will make a return before the year is over. What it will most likely not come with, however, would be the ability for Windows 8.1 to run Metro apps windowed on the desktop.
The windowed Metro apps might make its way to the masses when Windows 9 rolls around, which has been targeted for an early 2015 release. It does seem as though the upcoming updates are part of Microsoft’s efforts to be able to better distinguish between PC and tablet users. As with all rumors out there, we will take this with a pinch of salt and wait as time will reveal this to be true or a dud.