Yesterday at BUILD, Microsoft unveiled several new updates to its software range, and as well as finally taking the wraps off Windows Phone 8.1, the software giant also dropped Windows 8.1 Update 1, with a clear emphasis on improving the experience for desktop users. Today it has emerged that folks tethered to the MSDN developer program can download the ISO image of the new build right now, ahead of the official, Windows Store end-user release scheduled for next Tuesday.
It's immediately apparent, when checking out the new features of the Windows 8.1 Update 1, that Microsoft is pandering to the large faction of users still running a traditional desktop PC rig. From tweaking the way that the search and power options are accessed to ensuring that Windows Store apps play nicer with the keyboard and mouse, there's no doubt that today's announcement at BUILD 2014 was aimed squarely at the traditionalists. Following the announcement of the new Windows 8.1 Update 1, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson also took the opportunity to showcase how Windows 8.1 will eventually offer users the chance to roll back the clock with the return of the traditional Start Menu.
With Microsoft officially ceasing support for the antiquated Windows XP early next month, the company has been making some last-ditch attempts to get customers running the software to switch to something a bit more contemporary, pushing a series of very attractive trade-in programs. In the latest, those on Windows XP machines looking to upgrade to Windows 8.1 will, in return for lugging their old rig to their local Microsoft Store, be the recipient of a $100 savings voucher against a purchase of a computer over the $599 mark, and if you've been meaning to grab yourself a new computer and still find yourself languishing on XP, now's the best time to take the plunge.
It has only taken the best part of 18 months, but VideoLAN has finally come through on its promise to tailor its famed VLC media player for users of Microsoft Windows 8 / 8.1. Finely tuned for seamless integration with the tiled interface, VLC for Windows 8 is now available to download, although unfortunately for Windows RT users, the RT edition is not quite ready.
The iOS 7 theme for Windows 8 (and 7) is intended to emulate the look of Apple's mobile operating system, but because of the nature of Windows being a desktop-like environment (despite the recent touch-based support), it arguably appears more similar to OS X. Not that this is a bad thing though. The folks behind this skin seem to have found a nice balance between the two, and considering how Apple is also in the process of amalgamating its two key ecosystems, the crossover doesn't come as much of a surprise.
When Microsoft first announced Windows 8 - along with Windows RT – the software giant made song and dance of the fact that their latest operating system had a smaller footprint compared to previous iterations of Windows. While that’s true to some extent, the major problem with Windows still remains, it becomes sluggish after extended period of usage.
Windows is still, by quite some margin, the big fish in the pond of desktop (and now tablet) operating systems. Yes, many users have struggled to adapt to the touch-focused Windows 8 era and beyond, but while the Redmond still holds a strong position over the likes of OS X and Chrome OS, the company is beginning to feel the heat. Microsoft's recent inaction, such as its late entry into the smartphone and tablet game, are already biting it on the behind as pressure from Apple and Google's respective ecosystems continues to mount, and in order to stave off the competition, the company is to offer discounted Windows 8.1 licenses to manufacturers of low-priced Windows devices.
It may have its detractors in both the PC and Mac world, but Windows 8 certainly has its good points. It seems that we're not the only ones to think that either, with the news coming out of Microsoft today that the controversial Windows 8 can now boast 200 million licenses sold.
Dell is one of the foremost manufacturers of desktop computers, notebooks, monitors, and other such peripherals based around computing. In recent years, it has tried with a notable amount of gusto to tap into the hybrid market, with some success. But in an ad for its latest laptop-plus-tablet, it makes the cardinal sin of showing both Windows 8 and OS X at the very same time. With a simple sideways gesture, the user seems to move from the Start Screen to a Mac app, and although there are ways of running both of these operating systems on one machine, Dell certainly didn't intend to market this fact to the world.
The guys over at VideoLAN, developers of the iconic VLC media player, have once again teased the Windows 8 / RT version of the app, providing eager video enthusiasts with a glimpse of the Snap View. VLC for Windows 8 has certainly been a long time in coming, but if these new screenshots are anything to go by, then the wait will have been worth it. Check it out after the fold!
