{"id":2223,"date":"2013-05-30T14:16:05","date_gmt":"2013-05-30T14:16:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gadgets.itwriting.com\/?p=2223"},"modified":"2013-05-30T14:16:05","modified_gmt":"2013-05-30T14:16:05","slug":"whats-new-in-windows-8-1-new-features-rated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/2223-whats-new-in-windows-8-1-new-features-rated.html","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s coming in Windows 8.1?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Microsoft is now talking in detail<\/a> about Windows 8.1, essentially a service pack for the original release.<\/p>\n

Windows Vista SP1 used the same core OS as Windows Server 2008 R2, so you might reasonably expect a similar relationship between Windows 8.1 and an updated Windows Server 2012.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s new? My quick summary, with importance rating from 1-10:<\/p>\n

You can make your lock screen a slide show (1)<\/p>\n

You can set new animated backgrounds for the Start screen (1)<\/p>\n

Start button always visible on the desktop. (6) since many struggle with this.<\/p>\n

You can choose your desktop background as your Start screen background. This gets a (4) since it reduces the dissonance between desktop and Metro a fraction.<\/p>\n

New super large tiles and new super small tiles in the Start screen. Rated (6) since it will help make the all-import initial view more comprehensive on large displays.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Start screen view is now a \u201cfavourites\u201d view. Apps do not add themselves by default (I am not sure if this applies to desktop as well as Store apps, but I hope it does). The All Apps view by contrast has everything. And you can set Apps view as the default if you want. All good changes. (5).<\/p>\n

Easier grouping and rearranging of tiles. Rated (5) since this important feature is hard to find in Windows 8.0.<\/p>\n

New combined web and local search in the Search bar:<\/p>\n

\n

In Windows 8.1, the Search charm will provide global search results powered by Bing in a rich, simple-to-read, aggregated view of many content sources (the web, apps, files, SkyDrive, actions you can take) to provide the best \u201canswer\u201d for your query.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I like the idea but I\u2019m not optimistic about how useful it will be. Hedging bets with (5).<\/p>\n

Improved built-in apps. Detail not given. Rated (6) as this is badly needed but the extent of the improvements are unknown.<\/p>\n

Variable and continuous sizing of snapped views and support for multi-tasking Store apps across snapped views, multiple displays, and multiple windows of the same app. Fascinating. Handy improvements, but is Metro now re-inventing the desktop but with non-overlapping Windows as in some early windowing systems? What challenges are posed for developers who now have to deal with resizable apps almost as on the desktop? (7).<\/p>\n

Improved Windows Store with related apps, automatic background update, on-screen search (no need for Charms). (5) but what we really need is better apps.<\/p>\n

SkyDrive app supports offline files and \u201cSave to SkyDrive\u201d. (5) but the desktop one already supports this.<\/p>\n

PC Settings more comprehensive so less need for old Control Panel. I\u2019m sceptical though when Microsoft\u2019s Antoine Leblond says:<\/p>\n

\n

The updated PC Settings in Windows 8.1 gives you access to all your settings on your device without having to go to the Control Panel on the desktop.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Internet Explorer 11, the \u201conly browser built for touch.\u201d (5) as features unknown.<\/p>\n

Hmm, I have got to the bottom of the list and rated nothing higher than 7\/10 Then again, I have not had hands-on experience yet. If Windows 8.1 fixes my annoying Samsung Slate unresponsive screen<\/a>, that will be (9) of course.<\/p>\n

The total update may be more satisfying than the sum of its parts. For my general take though on why this will not \u201cfix\u201d Windows 8 see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Microsoft is now talking in detail about Windows 8.1, essentially a service pack for the original release. Windows Vista SP1 used the same core OS as Windows Server 2008 R2, so you might reasonably expect a similar relationship between Windows 8.1 and an updated Windows Server 2012. So what\u2019s new? My quick summary, with importance … Continue reading What\u2019s coming in Windows 8.1?<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1137,97],"tags":[586,1000],"class_list":["post-2223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-comment","category-windows","tag-microsoft","tag-windows-8-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2223\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}