Screenshots: New Windows 8.1 features
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Windows Store
Windows Store
Thisrngallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.
Note: After you install Windows 8.1, you will be asked to sign in to a Microsoft Live account. There will be no apparent way to move past that screen if your intention is to only have a local account. Here is the trick: Click the Create New Account link and then at the bottom of that next screen you will see a link that will let you cancel the process. You will then login using your local account.
As of October 17, 2013, MicrosoftrnWindows 8.1 is available as a downloadable update for Windows 8 users. Thernretail box version of the operating system hit the market on October 18, 2013.rnFor those of us using Windows 8, the new features and subtle changes of 8.1 arernvery welcome. I can say unequivocally, if you have a computer running Windowsrn8, you want to upgrade to 8.1.
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Before you begin your download
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I know you will be tempted to start your Windows 8.1rndownload right away, but there are few things to do in preparation before yournbegin the process:
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- Make sure you have updatedrn your copy of Windows 8 by running Windows Update.
- Make sure you are loggedrn in as the account administrator.
- Make sure you havern allocated a couple of hours to the project – it will likely take less timern than that, but you can never be sure.
- Just to be safe, you mightrn have you activation code for Windows 8 close by.
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Downloading
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If you have a retail version of Windows 8, you can update torn8.1 by going to the Store from the Start Screen – the first item you should seernis a large Windows 8.1 download icon (Figure A).
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Download
Download
The next page (Figure B) is where you will actually clickrnthe download button. This is also where you can get some explanation of whatrnchanges are available with 8.1.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
A slow download
A slow download
The download took a long time (Figure C), but I am thinkingrnsome of the increased time was because of the number of requests coming in onrnthe first day of availability.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Windows 8.1 Start Screen
Windows 8.1 Start Screen
Subtle but welcome changes
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Once you have completed the download an installationrnprocess, the Start Screen of Windows 8.1 looks much like Windows 8 always hasrn(Figure D).
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Help + tips
Help + tips
One of the prominent complaints against Windows 8 was thernsteep learning curve. In my opinion, much of the problem was that Microsoft didrna terrible job explaining how things work in Windows 8 – especially with regardrnto the Start Screen.
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Windows 8.1 includes a Help + tips tile (Figure E) thatrnexplains many of the navigation features users should be familiar with whenrnthey are using the Start Screen. There is also an explanation of some of thernnew 8.1 features.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
What's new
What's new
Figure F shows you some of the new features of Windows 8.1.rnFor me, some of the more noteworthy changes include the better Search, multiplernapplications on one screen, and more personalization choices.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
More What's new
More What's new
Figure G shows you a few more of the new features, includingrnthe additional integration of SkyDrive. This is an important change – therndefault saving folders are now all on SkyDrive. You will have to specify arndifferent saving path if you want to save on your local hard drive, forrnexample.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Applications side by side
Applications side by side
You have many more settings options (Figure H) with 8.1 andrnyou can now display two modern interface apps side by side.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
More personalization
More personalization
There are also more options flowing off of the Personalizernsettings screen (Figure I). In a business setting, this may not be asrnimportant, but for individuals falling under the BYOD mode of operation it isrnoften very important.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Corners and edges
Corners and edges
Corners and edges play a major role for touch screen usersrnand the settings for those navigation aspects are included in the Personalizernsettings menu. (Figure J)
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
More right-click options
More right-click options
As a desktop user, I am more excited by having more featuresrnand choices available from the Windows Desktop. Figure K shows you the optionsrnyou get when you right-click the Start button in the bottom left corner.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Shut down options
Shut down options
As you can see in Figure L, an additional menu off of thernright-click menu gives you all of your Shut down options.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Control Panel
Control Panel
The Start button right-click menu also gives you directrnaccess to the familiar all-encompassing Control Panel. (Figure M)
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Taskbar and Navigation properties screen
Taskbar and Navigation properties screen
Another new feature in 8.1 that desktop users have beenrnlooking for is the ability to login directly to the Desktop. The setting forrnthis feature can be found in the Taskbar and Navigation properties screen,rnshown in Figure N. You get to this screen by right-clicking the Taskbar andrnclicking the Properties menu item.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Background changes
Background changes
Another personalization feature is the ability to set arnbackground image for the Start Screen. (Figure O)
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
Search everywhere
Search everywhere
As mentioned earlier, the Search feature in 8.1 now searchesrneverywhere (Figure P), which eliminates the need to specify apps over settingsrnetc.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
The new Windows Store
The new Windows Store
The Windows Store has also received a facelift with 8.1.rn(Figure Q)
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Windows 8.1
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As I said originally, if you use Windows 8 you will want tornupgrade to Windows 8.1. There are new features and subtle changes that addressrnmany of the issues user complained about when Windows 8 was released. And yournget these better features for free – that’s tough to complain about.
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Credit: Images by MarkrnKaelin for TechRepublic
