TeachUcomp, Inc.

 MY CART
  • VIDEO COURSES
    • All-Access Subscriptions
    • Business Licensing
    • Course List
      • Accounting
      • Adobe
        • Acrobat
        • Lightroom Classic
        • Photoshop
        • Photoshop Elements
      • Crystal Reports
      • Employment Skills
        • Interview Skills
        • Resume Skills
      • For Lawyers
        • Excel for Lawyers
        • Outlook for Lawyers
        • QuickBooks for Lawyers
        • Word for Lawyers
      • HTML
      • JavaScript
      • Microsoft Office
        • Access
        • Excel
        • Microsoft Office Suite
        • OneNote
        • Outlook
        • Outlook on the Web
        • PowerPoint
        • Publisher
        • Word
      • Microsoft Project
      • Microsoft Teams
      • QuickBooks Online
      • QuickBooks Pro
      • Sage
        • Peachtree
        • Sage 50
      • SQL
      • Windows
    • Video Course Options
  • SUBSCRIPTIONS
  • MANUALS
    • Adobe
      • Acrobat
      • Lightroom Classic
      • Photoshop
      • Photoshop Elements
    • Crystal Reports
    • For Lawyers
      • Excel for Lawyers
      • Outlook for Lawyers
      • QuickBooks for Lawyers
      • Word for Lawyers
    • HTML
    • JavaScript
    • Microsoft Office
      • Access
      • Excel
      • OneNote
      • Outlook
      • Outlook on the Web
      • PowerPoint
      • Publisher
      • Word
    • Microsoft Project
    • Microsoft Teams
    • QuickBooks Online
    • QuickBooks Pro
    • Sage
      • Peachtree
      • Sage 50
    • SQL
    • Windows
  • REFERENCE CARDS
    • Adobe
      • Acrobat
      • Lightroom Classic
      • Photoshop
      • Photoshop Elements 2023
      • Photoshop Elements 2022
      • Photoshop Elements 2021
      • Photoshop Elements 2020
      • Photoshop Elements 2019
      • Photoshop Elements 2018
      • Photoshop Elements 15
    • Google
      • Google Classroom for Teachers
      • Google Docs
      • Google Drive
      • Google Forms
      • Google Sheets
      • Google Slides
    • Mac OS
      • Mac OS Ventura-Mojave Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Microsoft Office
      • Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
      • Microsoft Office 365
        • Access for Office 365
        • Excel for Office 365
        • Microsoft Office 365
        • Outlook for Office 365
        • PowerPoint for Office 365
        • Publisher for Office 365
        • Word for Office 365
      • Microsoft Office 2021
        • Access 2021
        • Excel 2021
        • Microsoft Office 2021
        • Outlook 2021
        • PowerPoint 2021
        • Publisher 2021
        • Word 2021
      • Microsoft Office 2019
        • Access 2019
        • Excel 2019
        • Microsoft Office 2019
        • Outlook 2019
        • PowerPoint 2019
        • Publisher 2019
        • Word 2019
      • Microsoft Office 2016
        • Access 2016
        • Excel 2016
        • Microsoft Office 2016
        • OneNote 2016
        • Outlook 2016
        • PowerPoint 2016
        • Publisher 2016
        • Word 2016
      • Microsoft Office 2013
        • Excel 2013
        • Microsoft Office 2013
        • OneNote 2013
        • Outlook 2013
        • PowerPoint 2013
        • Word 2013
      • Microsoft Office for iPad
        • Microsoft Office for iPad
    • Microsoft Teams
      • Microsoft Teams
    • QuickBooks Online
      • QuickBooks Online
    • QuickBooks Pro
      • QuickBooks Pro 2023
      • QuickBooks Pro 2022
      • QuickBooks Pro 2021
      • QuickBooks Pro 2020
      • QuickBooks Pro 2019
      • QuickBooks Pro 2018
      • QuickBooks Pro 2017
      • QuickBooks Pro 2016
      • QuickBooks Pro 2015
      • QuickBooks Pro 2014
    • Sage
      • Sage 50 2019
      • Sage 50 2018
    • SQL
      • SQL
    • Windows
      • Windows 11
      • Windows 11 and 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
      • Windows 10
  • STICKERS
    • Chrome OS
      • Chrome OS for Chromebooks
    • Mac OS
      • Mac OS Ventura
      • Mac OS Monterey-Mojave
    • Microsoft Office
      • Word and Excel (Mac) 2022
      • Word and Excel (PC/Windows) 2021-2016 and 365
    • QuickBooks Desktop
      • QuickBooks Desktop (PC/Windows) 2023
      • QuickBooks Desktop (PC/Windows) 2022-2015
    • Windows
      • Windows 11 and 10
  • SUPPORT
    • Company
      • About Us
      • Blog
      • Contact Us
      • Our History
      • Our Philosophy
        • Customer Service
        • Mission
      • Policies
      • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Help
    • Lost Password
    • Register a Product
  • LOGIN
    • Manage My Account
    • Member Login
    • My Courses
Shop Now

What’s New in Windows 8.1?

by TeachUcomp / Thursday, October 17 2013 / Published in Latest, News

 

 

Today, Microsoft released the long-awaited release of its update to Windows 8. Responding to feedback (some might say backlash) from users who switched to Windows 8 last year, Microsoft has made improvements and re-introduced some features with Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 is now available as a free download for Windows 8 users in the Windows Store.

 

 

So, what’s new in Windows 8.1? 

 

Start Button is Back

That Start menu has been around since Windows 95. When Windows 8 launched last year, Microsoft removed it and faced the backlash from legions of Windows devotees. Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button. Well, sort of. Still located in the lower-left corner of the Windows Desktop View, a click or tap of the Start button will send you back to the Start screen (the new tiled interface that Windows 8 introduced last year). A right-click (or a tap and hold on touch screens) displays a short menu with what Microsoft calls “Power User Settings” – providing easy access to the Task Manager, Network Connections and power controls.

 

Boot to Desktop

With version 8.1, you can now start up the machine in desktop mode, bypassing the Start screen and Live Tiles. Windows 8 always had the ability to easily switch to a classic Desktop view by clicking that tile in the Start screen. Boot to Desktop is an attempt to appease users who would rather go straight to Desktop view on startup.

 

New Live Tiles Sizing

A common user complaint in Windows 8 was that there wasn’t enough room on the Start screen to fit apps. Microsoft responded by adding two new live tile sizes to the Start screen. The two new sizes are called Small and Large. The small tile resembles the small tiles on a Windows 8 phone, with just a small icon to identify the app. The large tile is the size of four by four small tiles. Windows 8 already had two tile sizes. They have been renamed Medium and Wide. These changes allow for more customization of your Start screen to meet your personal needs. You can change the size of any tile by right-clicking it (or tapping and holding on a touch screen) and then choosing “Resize” to display the sizing options.

 

Jazzing Up the Start Screen & Improving Search

Windows 8.1 has introduced new backgrounds and color choices to further customize your Start screen. Changes include backgrounds that move when you swipe the Start screen to new color shades. In addition to cosmetic improvements, Microsoft added an “All Apps” view – a screen at the bottom of the Start screen which includes a sortable list of all installed apps on your device. You can access the All Apps view by swiping up on the Start screen or (if you are on a PC) scroll the Start screen to the right and click on the arrow that pops up.

 

Improved App Snapping

While the ability to “snap” an app window to the side of the screen was introduced in earlier versions of Windows, you will find that snapping apps to the side of the Desktop screen is even easier in Windows 8. This feature allows you to lock two app windows to the sides of the Desktop so that you can have multiple windows open at the same time without having to toggle between them or having them overlap one another. Version 8.1 takes it a step further, allowing you to snap up to four apps side by side (depending on your screen’s resolution setting). Additionally, as you move one of the apps around on the screen, the other apps will automatically move around and resize to fill the space.

 

Smart Search with the Charm Bar

The Charm Bar of Windows 8 only searched for apps and files on your hard drive. With version 8.1, search results now include web results from Bing (Microsoft’s search engine).

You can access the Charm Bar at the right side of the window by simply rolling your mouse pointer over to the upper-right or lower-right corners of the screen. The charm bar will then appear and you can roll your mouse pointer over it in order to access its content, displayed as buttons within the Charm Bar. You can also open it by swiping in from the right edge of a touch screen, or by simply pressing the Windows + C keys on your keyboard.

 

SkyDrive Improvements

With Windows 8.1 and SkyDrive, you can now make some or all of your SkyDrive folders offline for editing. It’s also a little easier to get to SkyDrive, as it is now displayed in the Desktop file menu (in the sidebar, along with local folders).

 

Photos App Improvements

The Photos app in Windows 8.1 has undergone a makeover. With a new, simplified user interface, Photos makes it easier to view your collections. Other improvements include new photo filters, lighting controls, a retouching tool and other new editing features.

 

What do you think about Windows 8.1?

About TeachUcomp

What you can read next

Adobe’s Subscription Only Software Gets Hacked a Few Days After Release
Add a Password to a PDF in Acrobat Pro DC - Instructions: A picture of a user adding a “Permissions” password to a PDF using the “Password Security - Settings” dialog box of Acrobat Pro DC.
Add a Password to a PDF in Acrobat Pro DC – Instructions
Using the Database Expert in Crystal Reports 2013- Tutorial: A picture of the Database Expert within Crystal Reports 2013.
Using the Database Expert in Crystal Reports 2013- Tutorial

 

Recent Posts

  • A picture that shows how to rename a photo in Photoshop Elements.

    Rename Photos in the Organizer in Photoshop Elements – Instructions

    Overview of How to Rename Photos in the Organiz...
  • A picture of a user editing a photo in Guided Edit mode in Photoshop Elements.

    Guided Edit Mode in Photoshop Elements – Instructions

    Overview of How to Use Guided Edit Mode in Phot...
  • A picture of a user editing an image in Quick edit mode in Photoshop Elements.

    Quick Edit Mode in Photoshop Elements- Instructions

    Overview of How to Use Quick Edit Mode in Photo...

Categories

Archives

  • GET SOCIAL

© 2001-2023 Copyright TeachUcomp, Inc. All rights reserved.

TOP
Go to mobile version
Sale! $49 All-Access 2 Days 21 Hours 29 Minutes 32 Seconds      $199 $49 Entire Library!
See Deal