Windows 8.1: Complete List Of Changes & New Features
In our previous post we have observed that Windows 8.1 Preview is now available for download. But the question remain, why we should download it? Because, Windows 8 has been criticized non user-friendly. Therefore, Microsoft came up with Windows 8.1. It can be said that Windows 8.1 is an update of Windows 8. This update fixes some of the annoyances, and adds some interesting new features.
Lets see what features Windows 8.1 have for us:
1. Boot to Desktop:
Those who were not using the touch feature weren’t too pleased with Windows 8’s insistence on booting into the revamped, tile-based Start screen UI. In 8.1 Microsoft has offered a compromise of sorts. You will have the option to boot directly to the desktop.
2. More Lock screen and Start screen options:
Microsoft already had picture passwords, but now that feature has been expanded to allow multiple images to be pulled from the local storage or SkyDrive galleries. This effectively makes the Lock screen into a digital photo frame. You’ll also be able to capture pictures with the device’s camera, or answer Skype calls, without unlocking first. The Start screen now has more tile sizes and background colors, as well.
3. The Start button returns:
Many people thought that the most annoying feature of Windows 8 was the "Missing Start Button". Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button, but stops short of resurrecting the menu. Clicking on the button opens the Windows 8.1 Start screen, but a right click does give you access to some common functions like the control panel, task manager and the ability to shut down or restart the computer.
4. Refreshed Xbox Music:
One of the neat but under-appreciated features of Windows 8 is the Xbox Music integration. It allows users to stream over 30 million tracks for free. The only problem was the app’s confusing interface. In 8.1, Xbox Music is more user-friendly and supports custom playlists.
5. Revamped search:
For whatever reason, Microsoft didn’t include true universal search in Windows 8. In Windows 8.1, searching the device will pull up apps, local and SkyDrive files, and settings.
6. Snap Views and better multi-monitor:
In 8.1, users can run multiple apps in the foreground with Snap. If you have a 2,560×1,440 resolution or higher monitor, you can have four apps up at once. These figures hold for each monitor, so you can have eight Modern UI apps up across two high-resolution monitors, for example.
7. The Windows Store:
The new Windows Store UI is cleaner and has larger images of the apps. Currently installed apps can also auto-update in the background. Hopefully this get developers more excited about making things for Windows 8.
8. Extensive SkyDrive integration:
Perhaps the biggest and best change in Windows 8.1 is extensive, all-inclusive SkyDrive integration. Now, when you set up Windows 8.1, you will be prompted to turn on SkyDrive — and by doing so, SkyDrive will be integrated right into Explorer. Accessing your SkyDrive documents from the Desktop is very easy and surprisingly slick. More files and settings will now be synced/backed up by default, too.
9. Souped up Metro Control Panel:
For touchscreen users, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is a massively beefed up Metro Control Panel. No longer will you have to fall back to the Desktop Control Panel to change a large number of system settings!
10. 3D printing support:
In a rare example of Microsoft being cool, Windows 8.1 now has a 3D printing API, allowing you to print directly to 3D printers from the Charms bar.
11. Miracast streaming:
Windows 8.1 supports Miracast, an open industry standard alternative to Apple’s AirPlay that uses WiFi Direct to stream content to nearby Miracast-enabled TVs.
12. New tile sizes:
Windows 8.1 offers support for more tile sizes. App tiles can now be reduced down to thumbnail size, occupying only a quarter of the space an existing "smaller" tile occupies. There’s also a new super-sized tile, the size of two of Windows 8’s "larger" tiles. This allows you to display more live information on tiles such as Mail and Weather, providing a detailed synopsis of recent messages in your inbox or a long-range weather forecast.
13. Smaller tablets:
Windows 8.1 will have better support for smaller tablets. The Start screen adapts to smaller form factors to work better in portrait mode. Developers will be able to design apps specifically for smaller form factors.
The virtual keyboard has been redesigned to suggests words as you type. Rather than removing your hand from the virtual keyboard to select the word, Windows 8.1 recognizes gestures, letting you pick the word you want by stroking the space bar.
14. Internet Explorer 11:
A leaked Windows 8.1 build gave us the first sighting of Internet Explorer 11, in both Metro and desktop modes. The appearance of the browser remains largely identical in both versions, but there are a couple of intriguing new features. The Settings menu in the Metro version of IE11 now includes a "Show synced tabs" option. This suggests Microsoft will allow users to synchronise tabs across devices, and possibly even from Windows Phone 8 devices, although the feature wasn’t functional in the leaked build.
Cheers!!!
Lets see what features Windows 8.1 have for us:
1. Boot to Desktop:
Those who were not using the touch feature weren’t too pleased with Windows 8’s insistence on booting into the revamped, tile-based Start screen UI. In 8.1 Microsoft has offered a compromise of sorts. You will have the option to boot directly to the desktop.
2. More Lock screen and Start screen options:
Microsoft already had picture passwords, but now that feature has been expanded to allow multiple images to be pulled from the local storage or SkyDrive galleries. This effectively makes the Lock screen into a digital photo frame. You’ll also be able to capture pictures with the device’s camera, or answer Skype calls, without unlocking first. The Start screen now has more tile sizes and background colors, as well.
3. The Start button returns:
Many people thought that the most annoying feature of Windows 8 was the "Missing Start Button". Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button, but stops short of resurrecting the menu. Clicking on the button opens the Windows 8.1 Start screen, but a right click does give you access to some common functions like the control panel, task manager and the ability to shut down or restart the computer.
4. Refreshed Xbox Music:
One of the neat but under-appreciated features of Windows 8 is the Xbox Music integration. It allows users to stream over 30 million tracks for free. The only problem was the app’s confusing interface. In 8.1, Xbox Music is more user-friendly and supports custom playlists.
5. Revamped search:
For whatever reason, Microsoft didn’t include true universal search in Windows 8. In Windows 8.1, searching the device will pull up apps, local and SkyDrive files, and settings.
6. Snap Views and better multi-monitor:
In 8.1, users can run multiple apps in the foreground with Snap. If you have a 2,560×1,440 resolution or higher monitor, you can have four apps up at once. These figures hold for each monitor, so you can have eight Modern UI apps up across two high-resolution monitors, for example.
7. The Windows Store:
The new Windows Store UI is cleaner and has larger images of the apps. Currently installed apps can also auto-update in the background. Hopefully this get developers more excited about making things for Windows 8.
8. Extensive SkyDrive integration:
Perhaps the biggest and best change in Windows 8.1 is extensive, all-inclusive SkyDrive integration. Now, when you set up Windows 8.1, you will be prompted to turn on SkyDrive — and by doing so, SkyDrive will be integrated right into Explorer. Accessing your SkyDrive documents from the Desktop is very easy and surprisingly slick. More files and settings will now be synced/backed up by default, too.
9. Souped up Metro Control Panel:
For touchscreen users, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is a massively beefed up Metro Control Panel. No longer will you have to fall back to the Desktop Control Panel to change a large number of system settings!
10. 3D printing support:
In a rare example of Microsoft being cool, Windows 8.1 now has a 3D printing API, allowing you to print directly to 3D printers from the Charms bar.
11. Miracast streaming:
Windows 8.1 supports Miracast, an open industry standard alternative to Apple’s AirPlay that uses WiFi Direct to stream content to nearby Miracast-enabled TVs.
12. New tile sizes:
Windows 8.1 offers support for more tile sizes. App tiles can now be reduced down to thumbnail size, occupying only a quarter of the space an existing "smaller" tile occupies. There’s also a new super-sized tile, the size of two of Windows 8’s "larger" tiles. This allows you to display more live information on tiles such as Mail and Weather, providing a detailed synopsis of recent messages in your inbox or a long-range weather forecast.
13. Smaller tablets:
Windows 8.1 will have better support for smaller tablets. The Start screen adapts to smaller form factors to work better in portrait mode. Developers will be able to design apps specifically for smaller form factors.
The virtual keyboard has been redesigned to suggests words as you type. Rather than removing your hand from the virtual keyboard to select the word, Windows 8.1 recognizes gestures, letting you pick the word you want by stroking the space bar.
14. Internet Explorer 11:
A leaked Windows 8.1 build gave us the first sighting of Internet Explorer 11, in both Metro and desktop modes. The appearance of the browser remains largely identical in both versions, but there are a couple of intriguing new features. The Settings menu in the Metro version of IE11 now includes a "Show synced tabs" option. This suggests Microsoft will allow users to synchronise tabs across devices, and possibly even from Windows Phone 8 devices, although the feature wasn’t functional in the leaked build.
Cheers!!!
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