Thursday, October 17th 2013
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Is Now Available
Microsoft Corp. on Thursday announced the global availability of Windows 8.1, a feature-rich update to its popular Windows 8 operating system, enabling customers to create experiences that keep pace with their lives - at work, at home or on the go. Beginning Oct. 17, consumers with a Windows 8 device in more than 230 markets and 37 languages can download the free update via the online Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as boxed software starting Oct. 18 at retail locations around the world.
Windows 8.1 evolves the Windows vision for highly personalized computing while showcasing Microsoft's continued commitment to rapid and responsive development. It marks a wave of new, innovative devices coming for consumers and businesses - from the convenience and mobility of tablets and 2-in-1s to the productive experience expected from laptops, all-in-ones and specialized industry devices. Many of these new devices are touch-enabled and will deliver advancements in processing power, battery life and design, across a range of price points.
Windows 8.1 offers a host of increased customization refinements and functional improvements, including the following:
Windows 8.1 evolves the Windows vision for highly personalized computing while showcasing Microsoft's continued commitment to rapid and responsive development. It marks a wave of new, innovative devices coming for consumers and businesses - from the convenience and mobility of tablets and 2-in-1s to the productive experience expected from laptops, all-in-ones and specialized industry devices. Many of these new devices are touch-enabled and will deliver advancements in processing power, battery life and design, across a range of price points.
- Highly personal. An improved and more customizable Start screen offers variable tile sizes, more background designs and colors so each Windows device looks unique and personal to the individual. In addition, customers can choose how to start their Windows experience - at the Start screen or directly in the familiar Windows desktop - while all their Windows devices stay in sync with their Microsoft account.
- More familiar and easy to navigate. As an iconic part of the Windows experience, Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button as a familiar point of navigation. An updated apps view lets users see all their apps at once for easy access and new clicks and cues, as well as a Help + Tips app that gets them up to speed quickly.
- Enhanced search. The new Bing Smart Search provides the easiest way to find what users need on the device or on the Web in one beautiful and easy consolidated view that's built for touch. Simply swipe or type from the Start screen, and Smart Search will find it - whether it's a document on a PC, a photo album on SkyDrive, a favorite app, a song from Xbox Music or a website.
- Wide range of apps and services from the Start. Windows 8.1 is the most complete out-of-the-box experience. It offers a range of apps and services from the Start screen, allowing customers to quickly and easily do the things they love on Windows, such as catching up with friends and family via Skype, emailing effortlessly in the Mail app, watching movies and TV shows on Xbox Video, finding new recipes with the Bing Food & Drink app, or listening to free streaming music via Xbox Music. Windows 8.1 also comes with the new Internet Explorer 11, which is fast, fluid and perfect for touch. Internet Explorer 11 brings enhanced touch performance, speed boosts, and synchronized browsing history, favorites and settings across all Windows 8.1 devices. Windows 8.1 also provides native support for 3-D printing, meaning it will have plug-and-play support for 3-D printers, enable apps to seamlessly print 3-D jobs and understand 3-D file formats.
- The best for multitasking and productivity. Windows 8.1 includes the display and use of up to four apps side by side, flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen, the ability for one app to launch another app, and improved multimonitor support so users can view the desktop or apps from the Windows Store on any or all monitors.
- Deep cloud integration with SkyDrive. Windows 8.1 makes it easier than ever to work from anywhere and know that files are always accessible - across devices and locations. With SkyDrive, users can create, edit, save and share files anywhere, anytime, on whatever device they're using.
- A beautifully redesigned Windows Store. The new design of the Windows Store improves how great apps are showcased and makes it easier for customers to get the apps they want. Fresh layouts and categories, such as New & Rising, make it easier to stay up to date on the hottest new entries to explore. Personalized recommendations use the Bing advanced recommendation and relevance system to help find new favorites. And with Windows 8.1, apps are updated automatically by default, so users always have the newest and best version of any app, such as Fresh Paint, which now includes watercolor, a new graphite pencil set and a new clean, modern user interface for the latest painting or drawing creations. New and updated apps are also continually being delivered to the Windows Store, including Evernote, Facebook for Windows 8.1, Hulu Plus, Adobe Photoshop Express, eBay, Netflix and NOOK.
229 Comments on Microsoft Windows 8.1 Is Now Available
Do it, You won't.
Anyway I'm pretty sure there are no windows.* files anywhere. Not on my computer anyway. :laugh:
EDIT: Nope, just searched my C drive. Nothing. I think it's safe to go ahead.
the new start menu is amazing, i hated that metro nonsense but now i have a start button its all alright ,,, welll except thats sarcasm(noted for some) and the damn paint icon isnt in start nor is wordpad notepad ,all those things I have to ass about to use,, nice.
We do not deserve this bullsh1t. Totally and irreversibly smelling like iTunes (which I NEVER have had to smell, btw... But I got imagination)
Thanks though!My issue appears to have been fixed by installing a few updates over in Windows Update and rebooting. I can't say for sure if it was the updates themselves or just rebooting, but after the reboot, the Windows 8.1 update appeared under a new "Update Windows" category and appeared as soon as the app was opened.
Window 8.1 sucks!!!its big stepback from Window Vista/Window 7...Microsofts Software Clown are going backwords!!!!What a stupid looking interface!!!I will never ever upgrade to Window 8 and thinking about Apple!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:
The metro settings menu is now a full settings menu
Apps actually work properly across multiple monitors, and two can run at a time without messing with the other
And i now have 3 buttons for the start menu, because apparently the pop up one, and charms at the right side, wasn't good enough
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8
More color options
Desktop wallpaper on start screen provides more uniform experience
Boot to desktop
Easy access to "All Apps" section of start screen
Start (ish) button with easy right click access to shutdown/reboot/etc
Cleaner install (freed up 6gb from my 8.0) install
Advantages of Window 8 over 7 (in general)
Direct X 11.1
Snappier navigation (hard to measure, easy to see)
Up One Level button in File Explorer
Improved Task Manager
Faster Boot
Now granted, yes, Windows 8 (and 8.1 for that matter) could still use a little tweaking. The hot corners are not the most intuitive thing ever, and the start screen is a not so big departure from the start menu, but all in all Win 8(.1) has lots of really nice touches. The UI is clean, snappy, lightweight. The boot speed is a good deal better than Win 7. I've been on Win 8 since they released it through MSDN and I don't plan on going back. Change isn't so bad.
better task manager UI in general, and speedier file transfers. really a good operating system when you get away from Metro UI (for those that don't like that part).