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
Ok i m not newbie i set up computers from 1995 with custom cooling solutions (watercooling. phase change etc) because my favorite hobby is oc'ing. i ve paid lots of money to this market just fr hobby and my opinion is windows 8 and 8.1 is a shit software designed for tablets and phones, i' m using them only for being up to date but (thanks to iobit trick) with proper start button, not with metro shit, its idiotic unuseful and I DONT WANNA use this (metro) because its only a marketing SHIT
p.s. English is not my speaking language, so my apologize for some mistakes
How does "Metro" improve my clients' access to their RDP connections to a server running custom software? How does it improve my accountant clients' ability to run Peachtree, Quickbooks, Excel, Email? Database management? Improve support for legacy printers?
Exactly. Not moving any more of our clients that way as long as we can. Win 7 for us, thanks.
Talking generally, not just Windows 8, I think what really fuels it, is that each side thinks they're "obviously :rolleyes: " right, whether that's true or not. For the side that's actually right though, they're justified in responding like that. But which side is it...? Or sometimes neither is right, or it's a grey area and they've both got a point to a degree...
The only issue I've had so far is after the 8.1 update the system was confused which monitor was which. Driver reinstall fixed that. So far about the only thing I've noticed is the so called start button and the less space on my ssd.
Since I had a license for StartIsBack for regular Windows 8, I just had to download the new version designed for Win 8.1, and my license worked, so all is well.
StartIsBack, turn of all the metro stuff sliding and poping up at me left right and center, default all my programes to 'traditonal' programmes, now im happy. Under the irritating GUI i think theres some nice improvements. Win8 handled fitting a new MOBO without unsitalling or reinstalling drivers manualy brilliantly, out of all the OS's ive used theyve all fallen over or taken a grave performance hit from doing that. Plus i do like the faster booting times.
What to do?
Win 8 pro dont work on 8.1 or do miss something here.
Reset.........
Back to 8.0.
If so, that is what I have, my name, then a password.
Then it asks me for a Microsoft account and password.
No way I'm signing into windows with any kind of email account.
Any thoughts on side by side apps? Is it really all that AND a bag of chips? Oh, and the whole Windows Experience Index, do I have to have a Microsoft account to become Admin of my computer, now? Also, is it true, as I have read, the Apps are now Over-Dynamic? Meaning, they have connections to Facebook and such?
I have 8, hated it, now I am used to it and have adapted to it's quirky search and little used Metro. I have rarely used any apps, only a couple times when it was new.
In fact, I still kinda hate the whole high-jacking of my pictures, to Metro, when I click on them. I know I can click and open elsewhere but, I shouldn't have to make the extra step.
Anyways, still, on the fence wit 8.1.