X
Tech

Microsoft delivers August firmware updates for its Surface tablets

Microsoft is making firmware updates available for Surface RT, Surface Pro and Surface Pro 3 on its August Patch Tuesday. Here's what's inside.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

It's August 12, so that means Patch Tuesday. And, as is often the case, Patch Tuesday means new firmware updates for Microsoft's Surface family of tablets.

surfacefirmwareupdateaug

Not all of the Surfaces received firmware updates today. The ARM-based Surface RT did, as did the Intel-based Surface Pro and Surface Pro 3. (There were no firmware updates in August for Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2.)

Here's what Microsoft is making available on the Surfaces that are being updated this month, according to the Surface Update History sites:

Surface RT:

  • Surface RT UEFI (v3.31.500): Improves overall system stability.

Surface Pro:

  • Wireless Network Controller and Bluetooth (v14.69.24054.176): Improves network connection stability and enables functionality on wifi networks using a hidden SSID.

Surface 2

  • No August firmware updates.

Surface Pro 2

  • No August firmware updates.

Surface Pro 3:

  • Surface Pro Embedded Controller Firmware (v38.4.50.0): Improved support for Surface Power Cover.
  • Surface Pro System Aggregator Firmware (v3.9.250.0): Improved support for Surface Power Cover and enhancements to overall system stability.
  • Microsoft LifeCam Front (v5.20.1034.0): Improves power consumption during video chat such as Skype, supports Flash camera streaming in Internet Explorer, and improves overall functionality and stability.
  • Surface Ethernet Adapter (v8.14.0704.2014): Improved support for the gigabit Surface Ethernet Adapter.

As usual, Microsoft is making these firmware updates available on a staggered basis.

"As a result, not every Surface will receive the update at the same time, but the update will be delivered to all devices. If you have not received the update then please manually check Windows Update later," officials remind customers on the Update History site.

Today, August 12, is also the day Microsoft is making available a few minor updates to Windows 8.1. Microsoft officials are calling these the 8.1 "August updates"; some of us who've been keeping track of what's coming have been calling them "Update 2." Improved touchpad support is among those updates.

Additionally, today is the cutoff date for Windows 8.1 business users to move to Windows 8.1 Update (1). Those who do not move by today won't get the August Patch Tuesday updates or any subsequent security and bug fix updates from Microsoft.

Editorial standards