Windows 8.1 Update 1 leaked

Windows 8.1 Update 1 leaks on the web ahead of its March release | The Verge


UPDATE: Windows 8.1 Update 1 now looking like April | ZDNet

 

[Rickkins]

I think I'll just wait for 9, as I think this update is mostly for the metro crowd.

If you seriously still think Microsoft is going to drop the metro design philosophy anytime soon, you're going to be waiting a REAL long while....

I think we'll see a refocus on the desktop environment, while still keeping metro for the tablets & phones.

But one thing for sure.... we'll know more in about a year...

 

[Edwin]

To be honest, I wasn't as impressed as I though I'd be! Little to brag about features wise, but functionality keeps getting better. If you've got dual monitors, you can do a lot of multitasking!
View attachment 36567

 

[SIW2]

This so called "design philosophy" is MS way to leverage their large user
base into user info gathering, tracking, targeting, selling services, controlling content use etc.

They want a piece of the action.

I think I'll just wait for 9, as I think this update is mostly for the metro crowd.

If you seriously still think Microsoft is going to drop the metro design philosophy anytime soon, you're going to be waiting a REAL long while....

I think we'll see a refocus on the desktop environment, while still keeping metro for the tablets & phones.

But one thing for sure.... we'll know more in about a year...

 

[justmetoday]

The modern clock is not always visible because people would complain that it was always visible.

That's not the same as installing an app at all. It's just another way of doing it instead. If you like, another way is to press the :winkey: + C keys to see the modern clock.

The date and time will always show on your desktop taskbar just like it is in Vista and Windows 7.

Exactly the issue. If I am in a app I need to close it to see the time. Or swipe. Or whatever. It's asinine.

So what exactly is so hard about doing one of these very simple options to see the modern clock to warrant such a melt down about it??

It only takes a second to do.

If seeing the time is so critical to you, then you might consider setting or hanging a clock next to the computer to always have it available.

Sorry,

I have to agree with the OP on this one, I leave my PC on all the time, I use it as my clock at least with my windows 7 computers, it saves me from having to purchase a clock and take up desktop real estate. It is simple things like these that make Windows 8 such an albatross, everything you want to do always has extra steps added to it.

 

[davehc]

As Brink Says "The date and time will always show on your desktop taskbar just like it is in Vista and Windows 7."

If you are constantly in , and using, Metro Apps, then it could be a nuisance for the majority to have a clock in there faces, on a full screen display. If, on the other hand, you are using legacy apps on the legacy desktop, nothing has changed.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there.

I can't say that this update so far fills me with any great interest. I find the whole concept of endlessly swiping tiles even on Mobile Phone apps tedious in the extreme - especially when you get more than about 5 apps on your phone. I suppose we tolerate the tiles on mobile devices which aren't geared to any decent sort of multi-windowing - although the latest versions of android do support some sort of multiple windows.

I just boot to desktop directly in Windows 8.1 and use a combination of custom toolbars and the quick launch taskbar to organise my desktop.

I can't say I have ANY interest in running full screen metro apps on a desktop -- things akin to the old small gadgets would be far better - especially if they were re-sizeable.

This would then be an update I probably won't bother with.

I'll see how Windows 9 pans out.

anyway here's a sample of what you can do with a custom toolbar - and you can nest it to any level you like --no need for 3rd party programs.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[labeeman]

[h=1]Didn't download the leaked Windows 8.1 build? Here's a video walkthrough[/h]

 

[Brink]

Exactly the issue. If I am in a app I need to close it to see the time. Or swipe. Or whatever. It's asinine.

So what exactly is so hard about doing one of these very simple options to see the modern clock to warrant such a melt down about it??

It only takes a second to do.

If seeing the time is so critical to you, then you might consider setting or hanging a clock next to the computer to always have it available.

Sorry,

I have to agree with the OP on this one, I leave my PC on all the time, I use it as my clock at least with my windows 7 computers, it saves me from having to purchase a clock and take up desktop real estate. It is simple things like these that make Windows 8 such an albatross, everything you want to do always has extra steps added to it.

As Brink Says "The date and time will always show on your desktop taskbar just like it is in Vista and Windows 7."

If you are constantly in , and using, Metro Apps, then it could be a nuisance for the majority to have a clock in there faces, on a full screen display. If, on the other hand, you are using legacy apps on the legacy desktop, nothing has changed.

Hello Justmetoday,

In addition to leaving your PC on the desktop to see the time and date on the taskbar, you could also lock your computer winkey: + L) so that when the lock screen appears shortly after like below, you'll have the modern clock showing in it along with any notifications.

From my experience: while Windows can never be what everyone wants out of the box since that would be impossible, you are able to customize it however you like with whatever you like.

People may ask, but why should I have to?

I say, you don't have to, but why would you not want to.

 

[Coke Robot]

To be honest, I wasn't as impressed as I though I'd be! Little to brag about features wise, but functionality keeps getting better. If you've got dual monitors, you can do a lot of multitasking!
View attachment 36567

This already is a thing Windows 8.1 can do on dual monitors. It's like six apps running together in snapped mode.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4439-snap-views-apps-how-use.html

Which I find can be a point to expand further on.

 

[Edwin]

@ Coke Robot:
I here ya mate! The thing for me with dual monitors is that I can snap one window to ½ screen on the outside edge of monitor 1 and 2, when on the inside edges the windows spill onto each other.
With the Metro Apps they 'hover' and drop into thirds on each screen automatically, then you can re-size them even more if you want.

 

[alphanumeric]

@ Coke Robot:
I here ya mate! The thing for me with dual monitors is that I can snap one window to ½ screen on the outside edge of monitor 1 and 2, when on the inside edges the windows spill onto each other.
With the Metro Apps they 'hover' and drop into thirds on each screen automatically, then you can re-size them even more if you want.

Windows Logo Key and left or right arrow key will split Desktop apps to half screen without spilling over from monitor to monitor. I get what your saying though, it would be nice if they would just snap to half screen like Metro apps when moved with a mouse.

 

[Edwin]

@ alphanumeric:

Windows Logo Key and left or right arrow key will split Desktop apps to half screen without spilling over from monitor to monitor. I get what your saying though, it would be nice if they would just snap to half screen like Metro apps when moved with a mouse.

Ahh... forgot about the :winkey: + ◄ ►; I'm a lazy mouser!
Thank you.

 

[blackroseMD1]

If you upgrade using this leak, do you lose your activation? I've got a spare machine I'd like to test it out on, but the kids use it for internet and games, so I'd rather not try it if it's gonna timebomb or something.

 

[Edwin]

@ blackroseMD1:

Don't upgrade anything! I cut a 100GB partition and clean installed as a dual boot.
That was the easiest for me anyway.
You could run it in a VM, (dual boot is a pain!)

On a side note: there are some bugs; one disappointing thing was minimizing Metro apps to the taskbar, great, but with a browser, it logs you out of any site you were logged into! Only when it's minimized to the task bar, not the app switcher! Go figure.

 

[blackroseMD1]

@ blackroseMD1:

Don't upgrade anything! I cut a 100GB partition and clean installed as a dual boot.
That was the easiest for me anyway.

Heh, I like living on the edge. I've run every leak since the early Vista ones as my main OS at one time or another. Not gonna do that with this one though. Just wondering if it deactivates if installed over a legit copy of 8.1.

 

[Edwin]

@ blackroseMD1:

Don't upgrade anything! I cut a 100GB partition and clean installed as a dual boot.
That was the easiest for me anyway.

Heh, I like living on the edge. I've run every leak since the early Vista ones as my main OS at one time or another. Not gonna do that with this one though. Just wondering if it deactivates if installed over a legit copy of 8.1.

Not sure, I had a few install, update and logging into the Store issues though.

 

[blackroseMD1]

Hmm, alright. Thanks for the info.

 

[pcRat]

I just love the link to Control Panel in PC settings. How Microsoft managed to screw up Windows so badly is beyond me. And that they're still trying to patch this monstrosity up instead of shooting it in the head, burying it, and going back to the drawing board is simply baffling.

Control Panel everywhere.

• You could pin a Control Panel tile on your Start Screen
• Right click the new Start Screen button
• If you have a vertical taskbar on left side of Desktop - you'll get one by right clicking top or bottom left corner
• If you're in Explorer just press that down arrow on left edge of address bar and Control Panel is in the drop down menu
• 

 

[davehc]

I just love the link to Control Panel in PC settings. How Microsoft managed to screw up Windows so badly is beyond me. And that they're still trying to patch this monstrosity up instead of shooting it in the head, burying it, and going back to the drawing board is simply baffling.

Not forgetting, it can also be pinned, from the Metro tiles, to the taskbar. But I really cannot see any reason to remark on a "screw up" The Control Panel, apart from the suggestions, is where it has always been, and can be put back on the legacy screen in the normal way (personalise)

 

[alphanumeric]

@ alphanumeric:

Windows Logo Key and left or right arrow key will split Desktop apps to half screen without spilling over from monitor to monitor. I get what your saying though, it would be nice if they would just snap to half screen like Metro apps when moved with a mouse.

Ahh... forgot about the :winkey: + ◄ ►; I'm a lazy mouser!
Thank you.

If you do Logo key plus shift key plus left or right arrow key the open windows will move from monitor to monitor and stay full screen. Lazy trackball user here, more often than not I just drag and drop. I hardly ever split screen desktop programs. I run three monitors on my desktop PC.