Microsoft releasing Windows 8.1 today

Microsoft's update to its Windows operating system delivers a handful of new features

Microsoft is releasing its long-awaited Windows 8.1 upgrade as a free download starting today (Thursday, Oct 17). Previously, Windows 8 received mixed reviews when it was released. Critics blasted Microsoft for its redesigned user interface and removing the famous Start button. The company promised improvements in the next version of the operating system, now known as Windows 8.1. With Windows 8.1, Microsoft has attempted to fix a lot of the things that were wrong with Windows 8, and make the operating system more appealing by adding a bunch of additional features. It is a massive improvement over its predecessor.

The Window 8.1 update is free for Windows 8 users. You can simply find it in Windows Store app. It may take a few hours for updates to reach everyone. Windows 7 users need to purchase the base software for $119.99 (£75) and Windows 8.1 Pro for $199.99. It’s not designed for installation on devices running Windows XP or Windows Vista. Computers with Windows 8.1 already installed will go on sale Friday. People will also be able to buy stand-alone copies of Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 has several new features, including being able to boot directly to the desktop as well as the return of the Start button. The update adds some new finger-and gesture-friendly shortcuts for touch-based apps. The new Windows 8.1 lets you watch movies or play games with Xbox, access files anywhere with SkyDrive, or find your next favorite app in the Windows Store. You won't have to download Skype anymore. Anyone will get it when they upgrade their operating system to Windows 8.1 or purchase a Windows 8.1 PC. It'll be available as the default communications experience in Windows 8.1, replacing Microsoft's Windows 8 Messaging app.

Windows 8.1 returns the Start button to the desktop, although not the way it was before Windows 8 came along. In Windows 7 and before, a click on Start would have brought up programs and important folders in a list. Now, clicking the button will bring you back to your last menu, while a right-click will reveal more traditional options. From here you can easily restart or power down the computer, access things like your programs, system settings, and Device Manager, along with the Task Manager, Control Panel, File Explorer, and Search and Run functions. This menu can be accessed with a long press for computers with touch screens.

Windows 8 supports two tile sizes at the moment; the new Start screen in Windows 8.1 now offers a choice of four different tile sizes. The new large and small sizes are great and provide more options for organizing apps. Windows 8.1 automatically detects screen size and resolution and if it’s running on a big screen, it will provide more rows.

The Internet Explorer received many improvements with its most recent update, but not everyone prefers to use Microsoft's Web browser. The browser now supports plugin-free HTML5 video, WebGL and the latest standards for closed captioning. It also lets you have up to 100 tabs per window in modern UI version, which can now also permanently show tabs and the address bar.

Windows 8.1 now allows users to set default apps for things like the Web browser, e-mail client, music player, video player, photo viewer, calendar provider, and map address. Windows 8.1 also gives users the option to organize apps into various groups. A right-click will give you the opportunity to name specific app groups. Not every app is displayed in the Start screen. Windows 8.1 will allow running two apps side by side rather than one thin and one large as is the case with Windows 8. On higher-resolution devices you will be able to run three or four app windows side by side for those who really want to embrace multitasking on the same screen at the same time.

 
Live Tiles can be reordered by dragging and dropping makes it easy to select and move lots of tiles around at the same time.

The onscreen keyboard now includes the ability to type numbers or punctuation marks by swiping up or away from certain keys on the standard QWERT layout, eliminating the need to toggle between numeric and alphabetic layouts. Users can also select from suggested words mid-stream using side swipes and taps on the virtual spacebar.

Microsoft introduced Hot Corners last year with the release of Windows 8. Each corner of the screen has a different function; the Charms menu is in the lower and upper right, the back button is in the lower left, and the running apps window is in the upper right.

Users were previously forced to look to third-party alternatives to disable this feature. However, Microsoft adds the option to disable these corners directly into the operating system.

Microsoft added even more customization options in Windows 8.1. You can now set the same background for both your desktop and Start home screens.

(Source: CNET)