Microsoft released its long-awaited Windows 8.1 upgrade
as a free download last month. It addresses some of the gripes people have had
with Windows 8, the dramatically different operating system that attempts to
bridge the divide between tablets and PCs.
Windows 8.1 still features the dual worlds that Windows 8 created when it came out last October. On one hand, it features a touch-enabled tile interface resembling what's found in tablet computers. On the other, there's the old desktop mode where the keyboard and mouse still reign. The update adds some new finger- and gesture-friendly shortcuts for touch-based apps, while restoring some respect for the desktop mode that a billion PC users have become accustomed to.
The Window 8.1 update is free for current owners of Windows 8. Check out the new features in Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 still features the dual worlds that Windows 8 created when it came out last October. On one hand, it features a touch-enabled tile interface resembling what's found in tablet computers. On the other, there's the old desktop mode where the keyboard and mouse still reign. The update adds some new finger- and gesture-friendly shortcuts for touch-based apps, while restoring some respect for the desktop mode that a billion PC users have become accustomed to.
The Window 8.1 update is free for current owners of Windows 8. Check out the new features in Windows 8.1
Start button
The Start button is back in desktop
mode, 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, one tap on Start flips you back to the new tile interface,
where you can click or tap tiles to open programs. A long press brings up
crucial settings such as the Control Panel.
Boot to desktop
You can now start up the machine in
desktop mode, bypassing the tiles for a short time. That removes some of the
headache for companies that want to use Windows 8 but don't want to buy a
touch-screen monitor for every employee.
Onscreen keyboard swipes
The onscreen keyboard now includes
the ability to type numbers or punctuation marks by swiping up or away from certain
keys on the standard "QWERTY" layout, eliminating the need to toggle
between numeric and alphabetic layouts. You can also select from suggested
words mid-stream using side swipes and taps on the virtual spacebar.
Gesture-enabled apps
You can now wave in the air in front
of the front-facing camera to get a response. For example, in the new app Bing
Food & Drink, a right-to-left wave in "Hands Free Mode" flips
through pages of a recipe.
Quicker tile organising
You can tap and hold Windows tiles
with your finger to move them. Another couple taps will allow you to resize
them in one of four sizes. In the previous version, you had to go back to the
mouse or touchpad and right-click on tiles to do this, and you were limited to
two sizes.
Easier apps access
Finding all your apps takes just a
swipe up on your start screen, as long as you don't do it from beyond the
bottom edge. Before, you had to swipe up from the bottom edge, then tap on the
All Apps button.
Automatic updates
Apps update in the background,
replacing the constant reminders to go to the Windows Store to update the apps
yourself.
Smaller tablets
Windows 8.1 now has a home screen
that looks good in portrait mode on screens measuring 7 inches to 8 inches
diagonally.
Lock screen access
You can now answer Skype calls or
take photos from the lock screen without having to log in. Just swipe down. You
can also set other apps like Twitter to send notifications when the screen is
locked.
