The new Windows 8.1 base apps

Windows 8.1 is more than just a facelift of Windows 8, not only for incorporating some of the most vociferous requests from its user community, such as the start button, but also for adding a new version of the native browser, Internet Explorer 11, and some extra applications that give the product a good added value

In this article we are going to analyze, in some cases at a glance, Modern UI applications that have debuted together with the operating system update Five of them are basic, well-designed, yet functional utilities.Two others are real highlights. In the latter case, these are Bing applications whose complexity would deserve, for each of them, an in-depth analysis.

h2. New base apps in Windows 8.1

h3. Sound recorder

Windows 8.1 incorporates a Modern UI-style sound recorder It's the equivalent of the desktop app we've come to know for the same purpose: record sound with a microphone. This Modern UI version includes a minimal editing capability: Trim , which allows you to adjust the start and end point of a recording.

h3. Scanner

Windows 8/RT has so-called class drivers for managing a wide range of external devices (keyboards, mice, printers, storage media, etc.). In Windows 8.1 the list increases with the inclusion of a new one: scanner.

In addition to the controller, the system has been provided with this Modern UI application as an interface for simple management of a wide family of devices of this type, with very basic functions: view the scanned image and save by choosing the format.

h3. Reading List

Reading List is a very interesting Modern UI application, as it allows you to collect articles that we have shared from other applications, such as the browser Internet Explorer, so you can check them later, even offline, and on any other computer powered by Windows 8.1 and synced via SkyDrive.

h3. Calculator

Windows 8.1 has introduced a Modern UI calculator that complements the one available on desktop.It can work as a basic and scientific calculator, as well as incorporating a useful measurement converter (volume, weight, length, temperature, energy, speed, time and some more) .

h3. Alarms

Alarms is a Modern UI application that fulfills the function of triggering a sound at a certain time, with a couple of plugins. We can select the hour and minutes, days, and sounds among ten possible ones. To set the hour and minutes, it has two knobs located in concentric circles that frame the time.

This function is original and easy to operate with your fingers. It only works, of course, if the computer is turned on. Settings can be saved. As for accessories, it has a timer (countdown) and a chronometer that he appreciates hundredths of a second.

h2. Two complete applications

So far we have seen five new and simple utilities that give Windows 8.1 a touch of s alt, but two real highlights remain: He alth and Wellness and Recipes. These last two applications overcome the barrier of simple utility to provide Windows 8 with added value, since both programs are very complete.

h3. He alth & Wellness

"

He alth and wellness is a Bing application that approaches the care of our body from various perspectives: Diet control, Nutrition and calories, Exercise controller, Exercises, He alth controller, Symptoms>"

Each item in itself has the complexity of any other Modern UI application we've seen on Xataka Windows. As added values, it also has videos to keep fit, 3D maps of the human body and a module to identify diseases based on symptoms.

The application connects with several external services, which can slow down the speed of some modules. As a drawback, note that is not fully translated into our language, particularly the services to which it connects, subtracting the brilliance of a great application.

h3. Prescriptions

As in the previous case, Recipes is a very complete Bing application It has the danger of making us lose all our effort and goals that we have achieved with the previous application. All you have to do is take a walk and check the gastronomic proposals that we can obtain, to guess how you can expand our glorious body with such delights.

"

The recipes themselves are not within the software, they can be located using the appropriate search tool. Try the term Paella... if you have already eaten."

Each recipe located on the web, can be incorporated into our collection of recipes in several ways: Add to Compilations (authentic wardrobe to treasure recipes, and surprise ourselves or others), add to the Meal Planner (in case we want to orchestrate a menu, for example) and add the ingredients to another useful module: Shopping List .

"

The application has a Hands-free module to be able to have a tablet in the kitchen and see all the information in a large enough size necessary to complete a prescription. The application keeps a history of the most recent searches."

h2. New Windows 8.1 base apps, takeaways

As you have been able to verify, Windows 8.1 has debuted with an escort On the one hand, new well-designed utilities with a very complete purpose.On the other, the incorporation of two applications that shine by themselves, belonging to the Bing application ecosystem.

In all cases the design is careful and is equally valid for a desktop machine or a tablet This is a preview of Windows 8.1, which has not incorporated everything that Microsoft has in its portfolio. For example, the application Help & Tips is unfinished and from it we can only see the icon and the information that it will be coming soon.

There is still time to mature the product and see in the final version, which is expected by the end of the year, more news and additions. So far, the first course has been a success.