Windows 8.1 Update: Features and Release Date Revealed

Microsoft has just announced the release date and features of Windows 8.1 Update 1 along with its recent unveiling of Windows Phone 8.1 at the Build 2014 conference in San Francisco.

Though the new desktop update is not as feature-rich as its mobile version, it brings a few interesting tweaks to the table such as booting to the desktop by default, web-browsing in sync across devices and free Windows offer on smaller phones and tablets.

Here is a gist of the new features, tweaks and customisations ported to Windows 8.1 Update 1:

Boot to Desktop by Default

The modern Start Screen that had bewildered new PC users trying to adopt the latest Windows platform is no longer a concern, as Microsoft has tweaked the system settings in Windows 8.1 Update 1 to make it boot directly to Desktop by default. Now the interface looks more traditional and familiar right out of the box.

Support for Universal Apps

The new Update 1 for Windows 8.1 brings support for universal apps, wherein an app created for one device can run on other devices including Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox One.

Windows Store App Navigation Gets Simpler

Windows Store App Navigation has become simpler and more interactive with the introduction of more clickable elements in Windows 8.1 update 1.

Web Browsing in Sync across Devices

Internet Explorer 11 which is part of the new update brings seamless browsing through the web, enabling the user to continue from the point where he/she left off.

Improved Taskbar and Start Screen

In line with rumours, Windows Store apps can now be pinned to the Taskbar, thereby doing away with the limitation associated with customising the quick-access feature.

In addition, the Start Screen features new Power and Search buttons at the top-right corner of the UI which minimises the effort of navigation with the mouse every time.

The top-right corner of any running app now has the familiar 'X' button to close the app. The Taskbar can also be accessed directly from the Start Screen, which is again directed at minimising effort and making the interface more user-friendly.

Performance Improvements

Apart from tweaking the UI functionality for the desktop, the new Update 1 also comes with a handful of performance improvements such as better memory efficiency via Process Lifetime Manager and better system compatibility with Internet Explorer.

Windows for Free on Smaller Phones and Tablets

There is more good news for budget consumers looking to buy cheaper and smaller phones or tablets (less than 9-inches) as Microsoft is offering free Windows software starting with Windows 8.1 Update 1.

In addition, Windows 8.1 Update 1 comes in a smaller footprint and can be installed on any Windows phone or tablet having 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

Those who cannot wait for the official release of this update can download the leaked setup files from here.

Availability and Release Date

Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be officially available from 8 April as free download via automatic Windows update.

[Source: Redmond Pie]