Yesterday, whilst most of the tech.-world had their eyes focussed on the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770/700M-series or Razer Gaming Laptop launches, Microsoft posted to their official blog detailing some of the changes they're making to Windows 8 in the coming update. Windows 8.1, formerly known as Windows Blue, is the eagerly anticipated free update to the operating system supposedly intended to address some of the weaknesses in the original which lead to a wave of negative feedback and lacklustre demand.
As a sneak peak Microsoft have outlined some of the improvements you'll see in Win 8.1 under seven different groupings:
Personalisation:- New flexibility for the Start and Lock Screens including a choice of static and animated backgrounds, or changing the screen into a virtual photoframe via a slideshow in Lock mode. Installed apps are now searchable and filterable, making the process of installing and using apps more streamlined.
Search:- The Search 'charm', powered by Microsoft's own Bing technology, now provides an aggregated list of matches for your search query from the Web, Apps, local storage and Sky Drive. This list is accessible through a swipe to the left.
App and Windows Store:- Improved features for the built-in Photo and Music apps, and improved means for running multiple apps at once. Rolled into this is greater multiple-monitor support, allowing apps to be moved around the screens whilst keeping the Start screen clear (if desired). The updated app store in Windows 8.1 is designed to be more informative and highlighting apps which are free or popular.
Cloud Connectivity:- Files can be saved directly to a SkyDrive location, and new roaming user features will automatically use your specific personalised settings when logging into a Windows 8.1 device with your Microsoft account.
PC Settings:- The Updated PC Settings allows the modification of certain settings without needing to navigate to Control Panel on the desktop.
Internet Explorer:- IE 11 is the order of the day with Windows 8.1, offering faster load times and now letting you opens as many tabs as you want.
Better PC and Mouse Options:- The Start Button returns in the form of the initial Start 'tip' being replaced with the Windows Logo.
Search:- The Search 'charm', powered by Microsoft's own Bing technology, now provides an aggregated list of matches for your search query from the Web, Apps, local storage and Sky Drive. This list is accessible through a swipe to the left.
App and Windows Store:- Improved features for the built-in Photo and Music apps, and improved means for running multiple apps at once. Rolled into this is greater multiple-monitor support, allowing apps to be moved around the screens whilst keeping the Start screen clear (if desired). The updated app store in Windows 8.1 is designed to be more informative and highlighting apps which are free or popular.
Cloud Connectivity:- Files can be saved directly to a SkyDrive location, and new roaming user features will automatically use your specific personalised settings when logging into a Windows 8.1 device with your Microsoft account.
PC Settings:- The Updated PC Settings allows the modification of certain settings without needing to navigate to Control Panel on the desktop.
Internet Explorer:- IE 11 is the order of the day with Windows 8.1, offering faster load times and now letting you opens as many tabs as you want.
Better PC and Mouse Options:- The Start Button returns in the form of the initial Start 'tip' being replaced with the Windows Logo.
Obviously most of these updates are are aimed squarely at tablet and phone users leveraging the mobility of the platform, which highlights that even though desktop users were their chief critics of the OS thus far Microsoft cannot be swayed from their focus on touch screens and mobility. Windows 8 came into a lot of flack for being optimised for touch-screen input - either from a mobile phone or tablet - but that style is deeply incompatible with a desktop sensibility where mouse and keyboard is king. For desktop users the listed PC/Mouse improvements will not assuage these criticisms, specifically because it does not return to a traditional Task Bar/Start Menu system and sounds more like a sop than an attempt to assuage their concerns. Addressing them by inference, Microsoft appear to be doubling down:
Windows 8 has been a bold, necessary move towards mobility for the PC industry – pushing ourselves and our industry ahead with a touch-first approach that is redefining the PC as we know it, while offering the best of all worlds across any device at any time. Our commitment to that vision – and to always improving - remains the same as we stay the course of the evolution of Windows with Windows 8.1. We’ve been watching, we’ve been listening; Windows 8.1 will continue to build on what you love bringing the latest advancements in hardware, apps, cloud services and the OS to enable a unique experience in everything you do.
Those who want a more traditional look will still be able to use a classic shell mod, but MS likely feel that offering it as a default option would diminish the Windows Store, an outlet primarily for apps which utilise the 'tile' system and key to their future business strategy.
The full post can be found here, together with more detail of the features to expect. More features are due to be revealed at the TechEd conference next week. A preview release of 8.1 will be available from the 26th June, and whilst there is no set day for the release of Windows 8.1 it will be available as a free upgrade for those who have already purchased Windows 8.
