Microsoft showed off a wide range of
changes to its operating system with a new update, Windows 8.1, a preview of
which was released Wednesday.
Speaking
at the company’s BUILD developer conference, Microsoft chief executive Steve
Ballmer said Windows 8.1 is an attempt to “reblend the desktop and modern
experience,” and appeal to both traditional PC and tablet users.
Ballmer
said the changes are in response to desktop users who wanted something a little
more familiar on their computers.
The
new system, he said, refines Windows 8 by bringing back some options Microsoft
eliminated in the fall, such as the start button and the ability to boot a
computer straight to the desktop.
The
start menu hasn’t returned in the same form, but users can access some options
from the start button, such as access to the Control Panel and Task Manager, as
well as the ability to shut down or restart the computer.
Microsoft also showed off new additions
such as a Pandora-like makeover for Xbox Music, deeper search integration from
Bing, and more ways to personalize the look of the operating system.
For example, users will be able to pick from
more sizes of Windows 8 tiles, which will also be easier to organize. Also,
Windows users will have the option to snap more Metro apps to their screens at
once — up to four on one screen
Microsoft is also adding prominent
Windows 8 app partners. Facebook and Flipboard will be making native Windows 8
apps, the company said. Microsoft has also made improvements to some of its own
apps, including the camera, which now has more photo-editing tools such as
options to enhance color, remove red-eye, change the contrast and brightness
balances, and overlay filters.
Ballmer said the company expects to pass
the 100,000 application mark in the Windows store by the end of the month,
putting it in a slightly better position to compete with Apple and Google on
that front.
“The future of Windows is very, very
bright,” Ballmer said in his closing remarks.
previous article
Newer Post
No comments
Post a Comment