Everything You Need To Know About Windows 8.1

Courtesy of Beta News/Wayne Williams:

Most memorable part for me at least:

A Start Button
Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed the return of the Start button in Windows 8.1 and there’s been no sign of it in any of the leaked builds. There have been lots of rumors about it though, with some people claiming it will be a traditional Start button with a Start menu, and others just that it will be there purely to open the Start screen.
In an interview with The Verge last week, Tami Reller, Windows division CFO, admitted Microsoft was aware of the outcry for a Start button. "We have heard that, we definitely have heard that and taken that into account," she said, before adding: "We've really also tried to understand what people are really asking for when they're asking for that".

Oh dear. Has Microsoft really not grasped what people have been requesting since before Windows 8 even launched? A Start button, Tami, with a Start menu attached.

Everything you need to know about Windows 8.1

 

[McRuff]

MS didn't make changes on a whim. They collected data on what users were using via the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), surveys, and product testing. Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program

That resolves all my issues. We all know Microsoft would not lie or in anyway mislead their customers so it must be true.

 

[Ray8]

MS didn't make changes on a whim. They collected data on what users were using via the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), surveys, and product testing. Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program

That assumes that the data that was collected was in fact relevant, comprehensive and correctly analysed and interpreted. By the sound of the outcry, someone stuffed up monumentally.


Remember the old adage: 'Lies, damn lies and statistics.'

 

[SIW2]

Apple had a great run of massively successful products. They didn't rely entirely on telemetry to understand the customers wants and needs.

Android wasn't built like that either. Might have something to do with why it is selling so well.

The S4 will be Samsung’s first '10 million seller’ device less than a month after its official debut."

The sales success of the Galaxy S4 has apparently come even though initial supplies of the smartphone were limited, which caused some wireless carriers in the US to delay launches. In addition, Verizon, the United States' largest wireless carrier, isn't expected to begin selling the S4 until May 23rd.

Samsung co-CEO: Galaxy S4 sales to reach 10 million next week - Neowin

 

[robinb9]

Did I miss something or did the article say that the 8.1 is going to be free for those on Windows 8 already?

 

[SIW2]

I understand it will be. MS wouldn't get away with charging existing 8 users for it.

 

[robinb9]

I understand it will be. MS wouldn't get away with charging existing 8 users for it.

You never know what they would do for money- they created Windows 8

 

[DavidY]

MS didn't make changes on a whim. They collected data on what users were using via the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), surveys, and product testing. Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program

The message is clear that the majority of people want most of their apps on the taskbar rather than having to dig into Start.

... so how do I pin apps to a Taskbar which is visible in Metro then?

It seems bizarre that Microsoft are making a big thing of this, but they're ignoring their own research.

A single taskbar, visible across all of Metro and Desktop, which you could pin apps to, would indeed make navigating through Windows much easier.

 

[EMINENT]

I'd pay for an upgrade.

I think MS should move forward with their design decisions and keep improving 8. Those few whiners can be left behind to use 7 if they want continue with that tired, old, non-touch friendly UI.

 

[SIW2]

You can go on believing in your "few whiners " fantasy.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

That resolves all my issues. We all know Microsoft would not lie or in anyway mislead their customers so it must be true.

That assumes that the data that was collected was in fact relevant, comprehensive and correctly analysed and interpreted. By the sound of the outcry, someone stuffed up monumentally.

Remember the old adage: 'Lies, damn lies and statistics.'

MS never listened to their customers before, right?

CEIP, surveys, creative/planning meetings, and product testing is all a big waste of money and time.

Now all of a sudden they're lying, right?

Customers are important I agree, but not the only entity that any public traded company has to answer to. There are stock holders also of whom have meetings to keep an eye on things. Corporate planning and direction is explained quite well at these meetings. They simply cannot lie about such matters.

MS is putting out a leading edge product they think will sell the best. Their stock is doing quite well, so one has to assume that the stock holders have some confidence in their products for future use. It's not about the company today so much as it is for the future profitability of that company. Windows 8 is and will do quite well.

 

[labeeman]

You can go on believing in your "few whiners " fantasy.

• 
  

 

[McRuff]

Now all of a sudden they're lying, right?

So you are saying that they were not lying? And that it has nothing at all to do with their vision of a unified interface that works on everything from a phone to a server.

That the one unifying way to interact with all these devices is touch and the finger.

And that it has nothing to do with the fact that a big fat finger does not work well with a start menu. And because it does not work well on phones and tablets they removed it from the server and desktops where virtually everyone uses a pointing devise a lot better than the finger.

 

[EMINENT]

You can go on believing in your "few whiners " fantasy.

As can you and the everyone h8's 8 nightmare that blossoms many tears.

 

[SIW2]

I don't believe everyone hates 8. Far from it.

It is clear a lot are not buying it. MS have got the product wrong.

Anyone who claims it is all down to a tiny number of "whiners" is either deluded, or deliberately trying to mislead.

 

[Coke Robot]

Opinions are like crap, everyone's got one but the only anyone cares about is their own....

 

[EMINENT]

I don't believe everyone hates 8. Far from it.

It is clear a lot are not buying it. MS have got the product wrong.

Anyone who claims it is all down to a tiny number of whiners is either deluded, or deliberately trying to mislead.

Oh no! The same can't be said of the other way around!

 

[EMINENT]

I wouldn't be surprised if the same ones trying to garner attention to their blogs are here trying to reinforce it.

Good idea to take everything you read with a large grain of salt.

 

[SIW2]

No, it can't.

It is perfectly obvious it isn't selling well. MS have made announcements about altering the product.

It doesn't matter if I personally love it or not. I liked Vista, that didn't stop me realising it wasn't well received generally.

 

[SIW2]

Good idea to take everything you read with a large grain of salt.

Particularly your posts.

 

[SIW2]

Opinions are like crap, everyone's got one but the only anyone cares about is their own....

You should know - it is something you are full of.