We’ve
only seen leaks and preview images of what Windows 8.1 (code named
Windows Blue) would look like so far, but we won’t have to do that
anymore. Microsoft has finally released a video demo of Windows 8.1,
showing off some of the new features the update brings.
The video shows Jensen
Harris of the Windows User Experience Team demonstrating some of the
improvements and changes to the Start Screen and Search; how the new
Snap Views work, and the changes to the overall user interface. However,
Microsoft is still mum about the Start button on Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.1 has a number
of visual tweaks and the core apps have improved functionality. Users
are handed more control of the look and behavior of their Windows
device. Microsoft lets you customize and organize the Start Screen—you
can group together apps and tiles, and name the groups. There are new
small and live tiles that make the Start screen look very similar to
Windows Phone 8’s main menu. Multiple selection of tiles is a
much-needed improvement—you can re-size, move and even get rid of
several in one go. There’s no indication of whether the excessive
animation has been reined in or whether all tile animations can be
turned off in one shot.
There are also more
choices for the Start screen’s background. There are more colours and
new “tattoo” patterns (including animated ones), but users will most
likely appreciate the ability to use any image as the background and
also unify the desktop wallpaper and Start screen background.
New colours and tattoos, including animated ones
In addition, you can
choose to run a slideshow as a sort of screensaver when your device is
locked. Photos on your hard drive or in your online accounts can be
used. There’s also a smartphone-inspired feature for taking photos with
the webcam even when a device is locked—probably not much use on a
desktop, but potentially handy for tablets.
The Snap feature, which
lets you view two windows side by side, is now not limited to specific
screen sizes. You can snap two apps next to each other and drag the bar
between them arbitrarily. You can also have two instances of the same
app snapped next to each other on the screen, such as two document
windows—something that really should have been allowed right from the
beginning. PC users with more than one monitor will be able to snap even
more apps together, run different full-screen apps on different
monitors and even leave the Start screen permanently visible on any one
monitor.
Microsoft will release the first public preview of Windows 8.1 on June 26, at Microsoft’s Build conference.
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