Windows
8.1, which Microsoft launched Thursday, is a feature-rich update that
takes Windows 8 machines to a new level of utility. However, it doesn't do much
to address what many critics see as the fundamental problem with Microsoft's
approach to its new operating system: It tries — and fails, some say — to unite
a touch-friendly UI with a machine originally created for a mouse and keyboard.
There's
some truth to this interpretation, and Microsoft didn't
do itself any favors with some poor decisions in the initial Windows 8 launch,
such as removing the Start button. It's corrected that particular mistake in
Windows 8.1, and made the modern UI somewhat friendlier with some new gestures
and different ways to view apps.
The update
includes one subtle interface tweak that could prove to be the most important
in getting Windows 8 holdouts to finally start embracing the new UI: the
ability to share the same background between the Start screen and the Desktop.
While activating the feature changes no functionality, the psychological effect
is palpable — suddenly the new UI doesn't seem as new anymore. It feels as if
the Start screen is now an outgrowth of the Desktop, as opposed to the Desktop
being just another "app" to run.
Anything
that helps potential Windows 8/8.1 users can get over their fear of the modern
UI and its live tiles, charms and minimalist fonts is extremely important to
the success of the platform. Even if users upgrade to Windows 8.1, if they're
spending all their time in the Desktop, that won't give developers any
incentive to create apps for the modern UI. Details like the background may
seem subtle and unimportant, but they're often the things that matter most in
creating the best user experience. It's just a shame Microsoft left
desktop-background sharing out of the initial launch of Windows 8.
Microsoft also isn't helping itself
by keeping the modern UI segregated from the Desktop in other, unnecessary
ways. The two environments still each have their own web browser, status
indicator and settings. While Microsoft moved some of the back-end settings to
the modern UI, it didn't go nearly far enough. Even the setting for sharing the
desktop background between interfaces is frustratingly, inexplicably buried in
the Desktop Control Panel, along with other convenience improvements like Boot
to Desktop and making the "All Apps" view the default Start screen.
As long as
Microsoft keeps this bifurcated approach of spreading settings and apps between
the two environments, the Windows modern UI will never really be what the
company wants it to be: the future of computing. The Control Panel shouldn't
even exist on a Windows RT machine, and on PCs it should be a place for power
users and developers — everyday people shouldn't need to dive deep into it to
change basic settings.
Perhaps in
Windows 8.2 or Windows 9 we'll finally see the new UI become fully formed, but
it's doubtful. A year ago, CEO Steve Ballmer said Microsoft
was "all in" on Windows 8, but from this repeated two-pronged
approach of spreading features and apps between the two interfaces suggests
otherwise. To get people really thinking of Windows devices as tablets, though,
Microsoft's going to have to fully let go of its PC past.
Windows
8.1, with its improved usability, is a step in the right direction. But it's a
baby step for a platform that's in dire need of a much bigger leap of faith.
1. It Takes Up Less
Space
Although
Windows 8.1 introduces many new features, it's actually less of a storage hog
than Windows 8. Microsoft says the footprint is significantly smaller and will
win you back 8-15% of the storage on your device.
2.
Supercharged Search
One of the
most convenient features of Windows 8 is its ease of search: Just start typing
from the Start screen and you can search for settings, content, apps or even
stuff on the web. Windows 8.1 takes this to a new level with Smart Search,
powered by Bing. Now if you search for a subject such as Benedict Cumberbatch,
the White House or Cairo, the results are organized in a search
"hero" -- a visually-driven page that will call up basic facts,
photos, a map (if applicable) and relevant links -- creating an orderly buffet
of information out of what used to be a slop pile.
3.
Better Multi-Tasking
Snap --
the ability to have multiple app screens open simultaneously -- is
theoretically a great idea, but it was kneecapped in Windows 8 by having only
one size and limiting the ability to just two windows. Now Snap is a little
more true to its name, letting you resize the smaller window to virtually any
size with just a finger swipe. If you have a large, high-res monitor, you'll be
able to have multiple windows, potentially having email, Skype, a web browser
and the weather all open at the same time.
4. All
Live Tiles, Great and Small
Since
Microsoft's design philosophy doesn't allow for organizing app icons into
folders, it's a big improvement that Windows 8.1 brings with it two new sizes
for live tiles: A small square that takes up one-fourth the size of a regular
tile, and a biggie size that's the same as four regular squares. The former is
great for power users who want to cram as many shortcuts into their screen real
estate as they can, and the latter is great for apps with lots of "glance
able" info, like Bing Weather.
5.
Automatic App Updates
Sick of
all your devices screaming at you to update two, three or a dozen apps? With
Windows 8.1, all those updates will just happen in the background, and the
Windows Store will stop pestering you with that ever-increasing count of what's
still pending.
6.
Start Screen Can Share Desktop Background
This may
seem like a minor feature, but it may have the greatest potential to make the
modern UI friendlier. By having the same background image on both the Desktop
and Start screen, Windows "traditionalists" may begin thinking of the
modern UI as the extension of the platform that it is, not some alien world to
be feared. Unfortunately, Microsoft buried this option in the Taskbar's Control
Panel on the Desktop for some reason.
7.
Dynamic Lock Screen
The lock
screen on a Windows 8.1 device doesn't have to be a static image anymore.
There's now the option to play a slideshow, which can pull photos from various
folders including whatever you've got in SkyDrive. Plus you can choose to get
calendar alerts, email notifications and even take Skype calls without
unlocking your device.
8.
Improved Multi-Monitor Support
External
monitors are a big deal for Windows tablets, since many of them have serious
computing power but screens that aren't exactly what you'd call large. Now in
Windows 8.1, users will have more control over how content renders on a second
display, giving tablets more flexibility.
9.
Deeper SkyDrive Integration
Cloud
storage has a lot of advantages over saving things locally: you can access the
files from anywhere, they're shareable and they don't take up any room on your
device. In Windows 8.1, Microsoft has made SkyDrive the default place to save
new documents, and improved things on the back end to ensure the system sees
them as local files in every way that matters (for searches, etc.).
10.
The Only Way to Get the Facebook App
Chances
are you're on Facebook, and chances are you interact with the social network
via apps. If you upgrade to Windows 8.1, you'll be able to run the official Facebook
app for Windows, which provides a native experience for PCs. There's room for
improvement -- the app doesn't appear when you call up the Share charm from
another app -- but the response is fast and fluid, and the interface encourages
you to explore parts of the service you may have overlooked (just watch the map
fly when you browse "Nearby").
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