Five Distinct Features Of Windows 8.1 Os

By Author: Brooke Perry
Total Articles: 84
Comment this article

Microsoft Corp has released Windows 8.1, as an update to Windows 8, during Oct 2013 for free to all existing Win 8 users, to ensure that its huge consumer base remains in favor of adopting technological updates. It is a much awaited version of the OS previously offered by the company because it promises to carry some amazing features and performance enhancing functions that leverage the usability of the program. If you have a PC either running on Windows 8 or capable of doing so, there are a few major reasons to upgrade your existing OS to the new version.

The updated OS version is carrying many useful tools along with the solutions that have fixed issued raised by Windows 8 users regarding its design and interface. The concept of Windows 8.1 for combining the tablet user interface with the desktop user interface is a challenging step in the field of combining technologies of both the product lines. Many of the users are still confused between the complete removal of the old ‘Start’ menu from Windows 8 and the return of the ‘Start’ Button in the Windows 8.1.

In this article, you will read about ...
... the various productive fronts where the enhancements in the latest Windows OS are highly appreciated.

1. Interface

The newly introduced OS by Microsoft is still using the same dynamic Live Tile interface as Windows 8 did, but it is more consumer oriented than its previous versions. Making it easy to see your social updates with one swap, the OS is now capable of producing details related to the latest weather conditions and news headlines at one glance. Added as an advantage, the software giant has now offered you the system software with more tile size options that can be adjusted according to your needs and preferences.

The OS allows setting up the same background for the modern interface as well as the desktop UI to provide a more simplified and common appeal to its users. But the Modern UI and the desktop UI feature distinct computing environments that distinguish user experiences from that of a tablet or PC mode. Fortunately, now you can boot directly to the desktop with the help of Modern settings menu located in the Control Panel.

Although, Microsoft brought back the Start button in its updated version but it doesn’t actually functions like the one in previous versions. It only allows you to switch between the Metro and the Windows Desktop mode.

2. Built-in Apps

Backed by a huge base of enhanced apps from Windows Store, the latest Windows OS has introduced some brand-new choices in the apps segment to help users get more touch-friendly interface. Apart from offering some basic apps such as the Bing News, Travel, Finance and Sports apps, you can now even make your favorite apps reside on the desktop for as long as you want. Renowned for their sleek panoramic designs and customizable interfaces, these apps try to offer an amazing experience for the windows users with fast loading and easy swapping gestures.

Creative users and artists can make the most out of this user-friendly OS by accessing the Fresh Paint app, which helps you in creating masterpieces using oil paints, graphic pencils and watercolors. The new Bing Food & Drink app is specially designed for all the foodies located round the world as it possesses a huge database of tasty recipes, a shopping list and meal planner.

If you are feeling a bit fat or tired, then take help from the ‘The Bing Health & Fitness’ app that helps you in managing your diet, exercise and health trackers. A symptom checker feature paired up with a 3D model of the human body showcases the exact problem and solutions for the same within a few minutes. A new Mail app allows you to filter mail by important contacts and separate newsletter and social update views to make your mailing experience simpler and better. With enhanced split screen ability, you can now view your image attachments in split-screen mode with the Photo app.

3. Cloud Integration

Microsoft has paired itself with SkyDrive in the modern-style interface in Windows 8.1 and has included it on the desktop as well. The storage is well-integrated into the Internet Explorer and offers a free storage facility for up to 7 GB to its users. The files stored on SkyDrive will appear with a complete thumbnail view, expressing as they’re stored locally on your devices, but surprisingly they occupy a very little hard drive space.

The segment has been made smarter as you can now make your files available offline by just right-clicking on them. The updated Modern-style SkyDrive app allow you to access files, which are stored locally as well as in the cloud. Moving files, integrating images and videos, attaching files directly to the mails and accessing the files without being available on the web will be easier now.

4. Snap

One of the frustrating limitations in Windows 8 was that you could only have two modern apps on the screen at one time. However, the latest Windows 8.1 has resolved this issue by offering the feature that can evenly split the screen between two modern apps. The developers state that having the even split makes it easier and comfortable to simultaneously work on two apps.

The Snap shortcut keystrokes allow the user to easily switch the windows' positions and adjust it accordingly by using the arrow positions such as right, left, up and down. The snap function allows you to open a third app, which will appear as a large thumbnail in the middle of the screen, if you have already opened two apps on the screen. You can also tilt the thumbnail back and forth to replace either one of the apps currently on the screen or to spill the screen into three segments.

5. Security

Microsoft’s new security features are majorly focused upon authentication, hardware security, data protection and malware detection. The company has stressed upon its focus on various features including encryption, improving biometrics capabilities, and expanding its trusted hardware efforts to ensure complete safety of the device.

The newly improved OS has laid emphasis on improving security of its operating system and overall user security. Just like Vista was more secure than XP, the Windows 8.1 is the most secure OS from its predecessors and is considered to be the safest system software from Microsoft till date.

Apart from the above mentioned features, the latest OS by Windows has also improved itself on various parameters including gaming, apps store, notifications, search, and many others. Coined as the OS made available for both tablet as well as PC modes, the 8.1 has also stressed upon catering to sharing and social integration needs of today’s user. By using this feature, you can easily have a look on what your friends and other contacts are up to on Facebook and Twitter. The windows OS has created a huge market base owing to its simple interface, faster browsing, unmatched cloud storage and budget-friendly features.

About the Author:Hi! I am Brook M. Perry, a pro lific blog writer and keen author of articles related to pc security supportand solution for issues related to computers and mobile devices. Being associated with the reputed laptop support service provider Qresolve, I have resolved thousands of tech issues for our customers from worldwide. online computer support.My areas of interest are virus removal, PC security, endpoint security system, router support etc. You can follow me for my useful computer support articles on Ezine and other article-oriented websites.