Microsoft bringing back Start Button in Windows 8.1 (Windows Blue)

As we already know that Microsoft will be releasing update for Windows 8 on June 26th as Windows 8.1 aka Windows Blue. Windows 8.1 will bring lots of new changes and improvements which will advance the touch experience and mobile computing’s potential for its users. Keeping customers feedback and their usage pattern in mind Microsoft has enhanced features in key areas like personalization, search, the built-in apps, Windows Store experience, and cloud connectivity.

Changes and improvements so done are:

Pesonalization: Based on user’s behavior while using Windows 8, Windows 8.1 will have extra new capabilities in it like one can make Lock Screen a slide show of your pictures no matter where your pictures are – either locally on the device or photos from the cloud in SkyDrive. One can even take pictures with the built-in camera right from the Lock screen without having to log in.

Start Screen: Start Screen will be having its old friendly Start button back with Windows 8.1. This time we’ll see moving pictures as background. Now you can rearrange, name groups, select multiple tiles at a time, sort apps by name or date. Change your Start Screen background or make it same as of desktop. Press and hold tiles (or right click) to move tiles around. Image Source TheVerge.

Search: Windows 8.1 search will be modern version of the command line and will give global search results which are powered by Bing. It will help users to interact with Web and Windows in a easy way.

Apps and Windows Store: All built-in apps will be improved in Windows 8.1 and some new apps will be added by default. Apps which will see improvements are Music, Photos, SkyDrive, Mail and Camera apps. Now you can also work at multiple apps at once and open multiple instances of same apps at once.

Windows Store will also see enhancements in its design, listing results and in searching of apps.

Cloud connectivity: SkyDrive connectivity of your files with Windows in Windows Blue will be much better than Windows 8. Files can be accessed even when you’re offline. When you login to your Outlook account all your apps and other info get synced instantly.

PC Settings: No need to go to Control Panel for some settings changes as PC Settings will be much more powerful and enhanced so that you can change product key, see SkyDrive storage space, buy more space, change display settings and more from their only.

Internet Explorer: Windows 8.1 will see Internet Explorer 11 as new version of IE in it. IE11 is only web browser built for touch and will give best touch performance. Even you can access your open tabs in sync across your other Windows 8.1 devices.

Keyboard and Mouse: People are moving to touch enabled devices and so Microsoft is improving their touch capabilities in their Hardware as well Software. Better navigation using Keyboard and Mouse in future products as well in Windows 8.1.

These are the few updates coming to Windows 8.1. Soon we’ll update about more features going to be introduced in Windows 8.1 Stay Connected. 🙂