Microsoft Windows 8.1 Update Features Highlights

Windows 8.1 features

The latest operating system by Microsoft i.e. Windows 8.1, has been out for a while now.
Here are some of its features with details that it supports:

1. Direct boot to desktop

Windows 8.1 directly boots to your desktop. (Although, it still has the start menu.)And you can change these settings if you want to see the modern UI (start screen) when you boot your system.

2. Modern UI applications can be pinned to taskbar

You can now see both desktop and modern applications together as these applications can now be pinned to the start bar of the desktop. Also, you can see a preview when you hover over the pinned applications on the taskbar.
Taskbar can also be accessed while using metro applications. You just need to move your mouse pointer towards the lower-end of the screen.

3. The charms menu and the application switcher

Charms menu are present to make some shortcuts available in an easier and faster way. Mouse pointer was hovered around the corners, known as ‘hot corners’ to get access. But sometimes an unintentional hover towards the corners made menus to pop that was irritating at times.
Windows 8.1 has reduced this to some extent by taking a bit more time to trigger the charms menu and the application bar when you hover around the corners with the mouse pointer.

4. Right click context menus in start screen

This one is a major change. With Windows 8.1 you can now right click tiles in the start screen to access a context menu that offers various options (just like in desktop).

5.  Title bar for modern applications

A title bar has been provided for the modern applications which gives you access to various options like splitting, minimizing and closing the applications. This title bar can be accessed by moving your mouse pointer to the top of the screen. (Note that the close button on the top-right only suspends the program. It does not close it.)

6. Better start screen

Many of you might have had problems with finding the power off button and power search button. This was tackled in Windows 8.1.Now, you can find a power button and search button to the top of start screen, next to user’s name and avatar.

7. Default applications are now desktop applications

Modern applications that were used as default applications even in the desktop mode made no sense and were quite irritating.
In the updated version, now the default applications set to launch are desktop applications. It is good for non-touch based devices.

After going through the new features, you might want to update your windows as it’s for free and does not require you to take a backup and install. You simply update, restart and it’s done. Windows 8.1 is more usable operating system for non-touch devices.

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