It is worth noting that we would strongly advise against the installation of this until official release date.

Wow...wonder why MS put it up, then?

Any thoughts, Neil?

They just have the updates on their servers, and someone found them.  

I thought that's what happened originally...now that they're back up, isn't that a sign they're ready for download? 

"The Spring Update for Windows 8.1 has been added back to Microsoft's Windows Update servers, and we have the links for x86, x64 and ARM versions below. These are official, and there's no reason to assume they are not RTM...."

They then go on to say,

"You can of course opt to wait it out and let Windows Update work its magic sometime at the beginning of April when it'll be rolled out worldwide. Or take the plunge and install now, please do note that the updates require multiple reboots, and may also be pulled from the download locations at any time, like what happened last time.

If this is the first time you're hearing about the Spring Update (or Update 1) you should probably wait for the official Windows Update roll-out, see what's new here for more details on what the update brings to Windows 8.1."

Which makes it about as clear as mud...a disclaimer of sorts, I suppose.

This is why I referred back to the Neowin article in the OP as well as it being the source.

You may encounter serious issues with some software as developers have yet to have the chance to update software,

Again I must strongly suggest that they are not installed.  Stardock are unlikely to accept bug reports from any machine running them.

I can already pin metro apps to the taskbar. Already have a link to the classic Control Panel in settings.

I thought Neowin was a partner site and if so, why do they post these things if they are bad? Or not yet ready for consumption.

Isn't it kind of like posting links to someone else's work without consent? Forbidden usually?

Brad helped Neowin when they had severe problems. However, Brad and Stardock aren't responsible for what's written on Neowin, Jim.

Well, I knew that. I just meant you'd think Neowin would be more responsible than to share leaked, or otherwise wrongly attained software, or links to.

Just an observation.    

It happens.  Sites cannot always successfully police everything its members might do.  Coincidentally years ago I once 'acquired' a Warez version of Windowblinds from someone on Neowin. [it was to see if it was newly in the wild or one already known].  He obviously didn't know who I was....