Windows 8.1 and its changes

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Microsoft has officially confirmed the changes introduced in Windows 8.1, the next update to Windows 8, codenamed Blue. In the next installment, many small changes have been implemented, some driven by the criticism received, that make up a new way of making and operating the operating system. Changes that will not only polish Windows 8, but also take the user experience to another dimension, the one that Windows 8 should have had from the beginning based on the results and opinion of the community."

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The much-vaunted return of the Start button, the recovery of the concept of windows within the Modern UI environment, the prominence of the cloud within the system, functional and aesthetic changes, more and better standard applications and a very powerful search tool, make Windows 8.1 a very appetizing product."

h2. What's new in Windows 8.1

h3. Home button lap

Microsoft has listened to the community and the Start button will be back in Windows 8.1 It won't be exactly like it was in previous versions ( in the Modern UI environment it will be hidden until the left sidebar is displayed) and the integration into the classic desktop taskbar also has its differences. Remember what we published about it.

h2. Multiple Windows

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Windows 8.1 returns to the almost lost concept of multiple windows, in the Modern UI style, of course. When we have a program on the screen and launch another, the screen will be divided, so that we can have the browser and the mail, for example, present at the same time in a 50/50 ratio "

When we act in any of them, the proportion will become 60/40, highlighting the size of the one in which we are operating ( when opening an email, for example). Here too there is a "still more"; Each application can have multiple windows, so that we can see two web pages simultaneously, to continue with the same example. This functionality makes even more sense on screens with large resolutions and even if we are using two or more monitors.

On small screens, adapted to the new minimum requirements of 1024 x 768 pixels, 50/50 vision can also be used , thus giving a new functionality to the screens of the next generations of 7 and 8-inch tablets, as well as the occasional portable PC, which for the moment can use Windows 8 with the limitation of a single window.

h3. Live Tiles with more life

The thumbnails will become multi-purpose, so that, for example, applications like Weather can display the information weather forecast for three different cities and the weather forecast for the next three days. Others, like Calendar, will report activities noted for the entire day. Third-party applications, such as Twitter, may also display additional information. In short, information is going to flow across the home screen

h3. The auto anchor disappears.

One of the issues that have been reviewed has been the automaticity by which, every time we install a new application, it remains anchored to the home screen by default, turning the desktop into a jigsaw puzzle.

In Windows 8.1 this will not be the case. When we install new software, its icon will appear inside the overview of All applications . This way we can have a cleaner desktop, anchoring on it only what interests us and without modifying the visual configuration of our home screen. Another additional feature will be the possibility to organize thumbnails by selecting several at once

h3. Lock screen

The new lock screen in Windows 8.1 will allow you to accept Skype calls while your device is locked, as well as taking photos with the camera without unlocking the device. On the other hand, the block screen can become a digital photo frame if we wish, with images from multiple sources (SkyDrive, Windows Phone or our own device where it is installed).

h3. More customization options

Windows 8.1 is going to allow more customization options with extra colors and settings, as well as the ability to add animated wallpapers. If this is already attractive in itself, the fact that some of these possibilities are also going to be transferred to the traditional desktop is even more so, facilitating visual coherence between one environment and another

h3. Synchronized configuration.

Configuring a team to our liking is a task that ends up adding many small moments. If we change the device, we have to repeat several of these settings and they do not always remain the same, because we tend to be constantly changing the appearance of the system. Windows 8.1 is going to solve this once and for all, through the single Microsoft account like never before.

The purpose of the functionality, which can be used with different degrees of depth, is that we can have the same home screen, with the same same applications and their configuration, on several computers, under the same account. For this purpose, the application Store renews its interface so that we can locate paid and free applications more easily.

h3. More integration with SkyDrive

SkyDrive takes on more prominence in Windows 8.1, with a sync engine specially designed for it. If we regularly use the cloud storage service, we will notice greater flexibility when using it.

When connecting to the service, the minimum information necessary to identify items stored in the cloud will be loaded. As we open files, the necessary information will be downloaded.

Not only this, there's also the possibility to download all content locally or deploy an instance of everything stored on SkyDrive to work offline. SkyDrive will appear integrated into File Explorer as well as Windows 8.1 apps. Settings, apps and your history will be stored on SkyDrive.

h3. Internet Explorer 11

Confirmed Internet Explorer 11 release along with Windows 8.1 debut The next version of the browser includes tabs, with unlimited tabs and subfolders for favorites, as well as new features, which we will have the opportunity to analyze in detail when the product is in our hands. The next installment of the browser will be able to sync the tabs used on other devices, as well as Windows Phone.

h3. Searches, the ultimate weapon against Google

The search tool has been enhanced in Windows 8.1, conceiving it as a universal tool for this purpose. With it we will be able to locate information in files, SkyDrive, settings, applications and the web.

When we carry out a search, it will be global, using local resources and the Internet, also enabling the use of specific applications for process that information. For example, if we search for a term found in Wikipedia, clicking on the link will launch the Wikipedia application for Windows 8, instead of a web page.

If what we have located is a movie, we can see the trailer and so on with music and images. Behind the whole process is Bing, which will be not only the default search engine, but the only one , leaving out the other search engines.The + keyboard shortcut is also enabled to perform searches regardless of whether we are on the desktop or within an application.

h3. More system enhancements

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The on-screen keyboard and above all its functions, improve in Windows 8.1, with small changes in favor of the user experience, with special prominence of the space bar, to select and insert words. These modifications are specially designed for touch screens."

The control panel has also received a new approach, assuming more prominence, to make configuration on touch devices easier.

h3. More and better standard applications with the system

Windows 8.1 also means the improvement and increase in applications that comes standard with the system, with special emphasis on Xbox Music, which greatly improves performance.Among the new applications, highlight He alth, Fitness and Gastronomy, which will have a hands-free option to be able to get entangled in pots without filling the screen of the device with remains of food. Lastly, and if I haven't forgotten anything, the camera app includes full panorama support, with Photosynth built right in

h2. Windows 8.1 Conclusions

Everything exposed here is at a theoretical level, based on official information provided by Microsoft. The ideas poured into Windows 8.1 are good, they accommodate user requests (which is really important), and they are a tacit acknowledgment that some aspects of Windows 8 have been a mistake. Correcting is wise and this cascade of small and large improvements will be very positive, with a view to a broader diffusion of the Microsoft product.

Now it remains to see the practical result of this set of improvements tested live.Windows 8.1 will, when released, be a free upgrade for Windows 8 users An upgrade, yes, but it can also be the turning point for a product that has raised a revolution on the desktop of such depth that many users have been lost.

I truly believe that Windows 8.1 is going to be what Windows 8 should have been from the start, but it's also true that the The mind of the creators cannot contain the needs of a millionaire user community, and inspiration comes when you are working. Those from Redmond are doing it and this is going to be the result: Windows 8.1.

Via | Microsoft