The Windows 10 upgrade automatically downloads itself to Windows 8 and 7. You can disable it if you don't want it eating up your limited Internet package, here's a step-by-step guide on how.
Here's how you can download Windows 8.1 and 8.1 Pro ISO files legally and directly from Microsoft without needing a product key, and create bootable USB the easy way.
Here's how you can add a battery percentage Live Tile on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Start Screen. Completely step by step instructions can be found right here.
Want to find out which program or app is using the Internet from your Windows PC? While you can configure your firewall to block or allow incoming and outgoing connections for certain applications, keeping an eye out on applications can often be needed. This can be done via internal and even external tools.
We've given away device accessories, iPhones and even granted our readers early access to the fantastic Titanfall Xbox One / PC beta that graced the gaming world before its official launch. Today we area back with yet another giveaway, this time for Windows 8 Pro license.
Windows operating systems have seen additions of several highly useful features throughout the evolution cycle of the OS. From Windows XP to Windows 7 was the most major leap that the Redmond company ever made, both in aesthetics and in the feature set that the operating system had to offer. Jump lists, aero Snap and dynamic search are just some examples that one can quote in this context. However, that doesn’t mean that highly revered features didn’t exist prior to that. Windows XP was the first operating system to introduce Hibernation, and beyond doubt, that was one of the most useful power features that the operating system came with, allowing the user to save the state of the whole machine when powering it down, and consequently resuming work much faster than a cold start.
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.
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.
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.
