Listed here are Windows 8.1 new features and add-ons as compared to the Windows 8. Is it worth upgrading?

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Windows 8.1 Tweaks
& New Add-Ons

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Windows 8 was Microsoft’s first step towards bringing a new revolution
in the touchscreen computing and its launch was accompanied by loud
and splashy campaign. However, many users didn’t see it the way as
Microsoft ended up not serving both the tablet and PC's particularly
well. Many of the feature and UI changes rubbed consumers the wrong
way, but now with the Windows 8.1 update some of the annoyances
are fixed, and adds some interesting new features.
Let’s see what’s coming!

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The Start button returns:
One of the most confusing changes in Windows 8 was the removal of the Start
menu. In fact, the Start button was completely gone, although there was an
invisible clickable area where it used to be.
Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button, but stops short of resurrecting the
menu. Clicking on the button opens the Windows 8.1 Start screen, but a right
click does give you access to some common functions like the control panel,
task manager and the ability to shut down or restart the computer.

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Boot to Desktop:
Users that don’t use touchscreens with Windows weren’t too pleased with
Windows 8’s insistence on booting into the revamped, tile-based Start screen
UI. In 8.1 Microsoft has offered a compromise of sorts. You will have the option
to boot directly to the desktop.

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More Lock screen and Start screen options:
Microsoft already had picture passwords, but now that feature has been
expanded to allow multiple images to be pulled from the local storage or
SkyDrive galleries. This effectively makes the Lock screen into a digital photo
frame. You’ll also be able to capture pictures with the device’s camera, or
answer Skype calls, without unlocking first. The Start screen now has more tile
sizes and background colors, as well.

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Refreshed Xbox Music:
One of the neat but under-appreciated features of Windows 8 is the Xbox Music
integration. It allows users to stream over 30 million tracks for free. The only
problem was the app’s confusing interface. In 8.1, Xbox Music is more userfriendly and supports custom playlists.

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Better search:
For whatever reason, Microsoft didn’t include true universal search in Windows
8. In Windows 8.1, searching the device will pull up apps, local and SkyDrive
files, and settings. Previously it only found apps. Overall, the entire search and
All Apps view experience has been significantly rejigged to help out mouse-andkeyboard users.

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Snap Views and better multi-monitor:
Some of the Modern/Metro UI apps look cool, but the modal single app usage
could be annoying. In 8.1, users can run multiple apps in the foreground with
Snap. If you have a 2,560×1,440 resolution or higher monitor, you can have four
apps up at once. lower than that, and only three apps can be snapped in. These
figures hold for each monitor, so you can have eight Modern UI apps up across
two high-resolution monitors, for example.

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The Windows Store:
The new Windows Store UI is cleaner and has larger images of the apps.
Currently installed apps can also auto-update in the background. Hopefully this
get developers more excited about making things for Windows 8.

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Extensive SkyDrive integration:
Perhaps the biggest and best change in Windows 8.1 is extensive, all-inclusive
SkyDrive integration. Now, when you set up Windows 8.1, you will be prompted
to turn on SkyDrive — and by doing so, SkyDrive will be integrated right into
Explorer. Accessing your SkyDrive documents from the Desktop is very easy and
surprisingly slick. More files and settings will now be synced/backed up by
default, too.

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Souped up Metro Control Panel:
For touchscreen users, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is a massively
beefed up Metro Control Panel. No longer will you have to fall back to the
Desktop Control Panel to change a large number of system settings!

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3D printing support:
In a rare example of Microsoft being cool, Windows 8.1 now has a 3D printing
API, allowing you to print directly to 3D printers from the Charms bar.

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Miracast streaming:
Windows 8.1 supports Miracast, an open industry standard alternative to Apple’
s AirPlay that uses WiFi Direct to stream content to nearby Miracast-enabled
TVs.

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The Windows 8.1 preview is available to download now,
and if you’re running Windows 8 you can install it without
affecting your apps and settings. The final version is
available now, and will be free to Windows 8 users.

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