Microsoft is releasing its long-
awaited Windows 8.1 upgrade as a free
download starting on Thursday. 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 release comes as sales of traditional
desktop and laptop computers continue to
decline because consumers are spending
money instead on the latest smartphones and
tablets.
It also comes at a time of transition for
Microsoft as the Redmond, Washington,
company focuses on devices and services, not
just software.
Earlier this month, Microsoft struck a deal
to acquire Nokia's phone business and patent
rights for more than $7bn. Microsoft is also
searching for a new CEO to replace Steven A
Ballmer, who announced last month that he
plans to retire within the next year.
The Window 8.1 update is free for current
owners of Windows 8. It's available starting
at 11:00 GMT on Thursday in New York,
which corresponds to the start of Friday in
New Zealand. Simply go to the Windows
Store app to find it.
It may take a few hours for updates to
reach everyone. Computers with Windows 8.1
already installed will go on sale on Friday
local time. That's also when people will be
able to buy stand-alone copies of Windows
8.1.
The changes range from the cosmetic to
improved functionality:
Start me up - 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 organisation - 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 18cm to 20cm
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.
Better multitasking - In Windows 8.1, you
can run up to four apps at once side by side,
double the previous amount, though you need
a large, high-resolution monitor to do so (On
its own, Microsoft's Surface tablets are not
big enough for more than two).
You can resize panes using a slider that
moves side to side, instead of being limited
to one larger window and one slender one.
This is still not as capable as Windows 7 or in
desktop mode, where you can open dozens of
items in windows that can be resized both
horizontally and diagonally. And many app
makers have yet to adapt, meaning some apps
still appear as a thin sliver, even if you want
them to take up half the screen.
Global search - Typing while on the tile-
based start screen will pull up multiple
search results - if applicable - from your
computer, the web and the Windows app
store. If you're searching for a musician,
you'll see a list of popular songs you can play
using Xbox Music, and if it's someone
famous (like US President Barack Obama)
you'll see biographical details, videos and
other information. Before, you had to choose
where to search: In apps, settings, computer
file or on the internet.
E-mail update - The standard-issue Mail app
now has a "power pane" on left-hand side
with folders for updates from social
networks like Facebook, messages from
favourite contacts and newsletters. Some of
these features work only with Microsoft
accounts such as Hotmail and Outlook.com,
though. A new "sweep" command deletes
multiple messages with a couple taps.
Better browsing - No longer are you limited
to 10 open tabs in the tile version of
Internet Explorer. Before, web pages
automatically closed without prompts when
you try to open more.
You can open as many as you want now.
Better yet, you can have two different
websites displayed side by side, the way
you've long been able to before Windows 8
came along.
Xbox music refresh - The music streaming
app now optimizes playback over discovery
with a layout that has more lists and smaller
photos.
It also adds the ability to create playlists
from any website with a couple taps. When on
a website featuring artists, swipe in from
the right edge and tap the Share button
followed by the Music button. It will create a
song playlist based on those artists, which
you can then stream for free.
Picture editing - A picture editor with pre-
set effects comes with the update, allowing
for photo touch-ups, cropping, contrast
changes and other features.
Xbox One integration - You can pick up
where you left off if you start playing a
video purchased on Xbox Video on a tablet
and then watch the rest on Microsoft's
upcoming game console, Xbox One. AP

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