New Features in Windows 8.1: What makes it better?
Microsoft is on its way to turn heads with the launch of the new Windows 8.1. In this update to the already existingWindows 8 operating system, a whole new range of features has been included. These features are aimed at improving the tablet/ PC using experience of the users. After the previous version of this OS was released in August, 2012,
it faced a lot of praises as well as criticism from the users. It is
believed that this has lead to this latest update. And finally there is
good news for the Windows 8 users. They will get this new update for free.
This OS is very easy to use as well as to install.
But will it be any better than the original Windows 8? May be it is too
soon to comment on that. So, below are some of the New Features in
Windows 8.1 which are introduced.
New Features in Windows 8.1
Start button :It has been in the news
that the Start button is going to come back with this update. But the
truth is that it is not exactly the start button like in the case of
Windows Vista/ XP/ 7 or others,
rather it is a simple icon at the lower left of the display screen of
your device. By simply clicking/ tapping on this button, you can zip
back to the Windows 8 which uses tile user interface. Apart from this,
the traditional right click options are still there as usual.
Universal search : One of the major drawbacks of
Windows 8 was that while searching for documents/ files, the users had
to specify exactly where they wanted to search i.e. folders, apps, files
or settings. But in the new Windows 8.1, there is the facility to carry
out universal search. This means that all you need to do is type what
you want to search and all folders and files will be searched
automatically. Apart from this, there is smart search which will make
suggestions without the need to search an entire word or phrase.
Boot to desktop : For people without a PC, laptop
or tablet, the tiled user interface of Windows 8 was not convenient to
use on their computer systems. Due to this reason, the Windows 8.1 OS
comes with an option during the time of booting using which bypass the
tiled user interface and can get it opened on the desktop. Under the
task and navigation properties menu, there is a box that you need to
tick. Click on the box next to the “Go to the desktop instead of start
when I sign in” and you will be redirected to the desktop automatically.
In case you want to change this setting, you need to un- tick this box.
Find apps using the apps bar : Windows 8.1 comes
with an app bar and you can use it by right clicking on the app screen
with mouse or by swiping the bottom of screen upwards. This will open
the list of apps and their functions. You can also pin these apps onto
the taskbar.
Find libraries & charm : With Windows 7 came
the library which showed all your contents and made them easy to access.
Now, Windows 8.1 doesn’t show this folder and you need to click on View
menu in order to access it. Another feature is the Charms. You can
easily find it on the right side of the screen.
Alarm : You can set alarm by clicking on the start screen.
Customize the lock up screen using photos : While Windows 8 allowed you to set specific photos on the lock screen but Windows 8.1 allows you to set a whole series of pictures onto the lock screen as well.
Quick shutdown : Shutting down the system is the
same in Windows 8.1 as that was in the previous versions but there are
some new features here. This helps you in logging out of your account or
shutting down your system without using the settings charm.
While these are few of the features in this Windows update, there are a whole bunch of other improved features as well.
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