Windows 8.1 Update + Remote Desktop App for Android and iOS.

[The Milkman]

Starting today, those with Windows 8 machines can upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free via the Windows Store. The update hit at 7 a.m. ET this morning, and will be rolling out over the next 24 hours.

Those on Windows 7, Vista, or XP can visit the Windows upgrade page, which will detect whether or not your PC can handle Windows 8.1.

The update brings a host of new features and tweaks.

The changes in 8.1 include:

start button - tapping (left click) once on this brings up the tiled interface and a long press (right click) opens up system controls

desktop mode - lets people avoid the tiled interface entirely

keyboard shortcuts - removes the need to toggle between different on-screen keyboards when typing numbers and letters

gesture control - some applications, such as those for cooking, can now be paged through without touching a screen

tile sizing - the blocks on the touchscreen interface can be in one of four sizes

web browsing - Windows 8 machines will now display separate web pages side by side

A host of other changes, including better support for multi-tasking and improved links to Microsoft's Xbox game console, are also in the update

The download is a bit more then 3 GBs and can be found on the Windows Store's front page.

IN OTHER NEWS!

Microsoft is providing a new way for iOS and Android users to access their Windows PCs today. A new Remote Desktop app is now available for both operating systems, letting you simply connect to a Windows PC and control it. While a number of third-party solutions have existed previously, including Citrix and others, Microsoft's native support is the latest in its continued push to provide apps across Windows, Android, and iOS.

Link for Android


Pretty nice stuff. Can't wait to mess with it after 8.1 is done downloading.

Source (Win 8.1)

 

[Deleted-236924]

Kewlio, going to wait until tomorrow to update though.

 

[Gahars]

So they've fixed the problems? Windows Hate.Done

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Pffft, yeah, right.

 

[basher11]

at least the upgrade is free.

 

[RupeeClock]

start button - tapping once on this brings up the tiled interface and a long press opens up system controls

Why do they continue to design methods of interaction that are occur, unestablished and improperly conveyed?
In what instance in any desktop OS can you recall the use of a long press to operate something?
I mean, asides from the standard click and dragging maneuver, or if you're using a touch screen interface, something you might do to register a right click instead of a left click.

 

[YayMii]

Already had it on my desktop for a month now, really liking it more than Win8. And it quickly installed on my laptop today
Looks really nice too IMO:

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Why do they continue to design methods of interaction that are occur, unestablished and improperly conveyed?

In what instance in any desktop OS can you recall the use of a long press to operate something?
I mean, asides from the standard click and dragging maneuver, or if you're using a touch screen interface, something you might do to register a right click instead of a left click.

On a desktop or a laptop, 'long press' translates to 'right click'. Dunno why that isn't specified in the OP.

 

[The Milkman]

Already had it on my desktop for a month now, really liking it more than Win8. And it quickly installed on my laptop today
Looks really nice too IMO:

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On a desktop or a laptop, 'long press' translates to 'right click'. Dunno why that isn't specified in the OP.

I was in a hurry and actually was going to correct him myself

Got it now.

Nice screen also.

EDIT: Also, its an OS for tablets too you know, and I highly doubt nobody here uses one. Hence why I left in the bits about the gestures and such.

 

[FluffyLunamoth]

Why do they continue to design methods of interaction that are occur, unestablished and improperly conveyed?
In what instance in any desktop OS can you recall the use of a long press to operate something?
I mean, asides from the standard click and dragging maneuver, or if you're using a touch screen interface, something you might do to register a right click instead of a left click.

Long press is the term equivalent, for tablets, to a right-click. Whether you like it or not, Windows 8/8.1 is both a desktop OS and a tablet/mobile OS. Cut them some slack.

 

[Taleweaver]

desktop mode - lets people avoid the tiled interface entirely


THANK GOD!!!!

(okay, I'm avoiding it already with a scheduled task...but it's not a pretty solution)

 

[Duo8]

Downloading it since last night. At 26% now. Dunno why I updated despite not needing any of the new features Although customizable Modern UI background is nice.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Gonna go download this now. Though I like the start menu, Classic Shell is too buggy and clunky for me to really like it. As long as I can boot to desktop now, this'll do just fine.

Why do they continue to design methods of interaction that are occur, unestablished and improperly conveyed?
In what instance in any desktop OS can you recall the use of a long press to operate something?
I mean, asides from the standard click and dragging maneuver, or if you're using a touch screen interface, something you might do to register a right click instead of a left click.

I'm sure it was a bigger adjustment for people moving from DOS to 3.1 or such. Things change. You'll survive.

 

[shakirmoledina]

thing is you cant upgrade from win8 if u've used KMS. i hope an upgrade is still possible.
Another highlight is that can boot in a minimum of 22 secs

 

[filfat]

the only problem though is that the Jailbreak dosent work on Windows RT 8.1 :/ but whatever XD

 

[Sicklyboy]

Upgrading as we speak and it's taking forever. Got through the last two episodes of Archer Season03 and holy shit it just Finished. Finally.

 

[filfat]

why does everybody say that the update takes long time to download? the pro version is just 3GB it took like 40 minutes...

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

Still no way to download apps without changing your system password to your Microsoft account password.
Still no official search without using Metro.
Still no official solitaire/minesweeper/etc. apps that don't require subscriptions to be ad-free.

I'm aware that the last two can be easily circumvented, but it's the fact that Microsoft gave absolutely no shits about any of it that grates at me. Fixing a couple of major flaws and bundling it with prior security fixes or features that no one will use isn't a new version of Windows, it's a service pack. I can only laugh at anyone who says Windows 8.1 is more than marginally better better than the basic Windows 8 release - it doesn't do anything that shouldn't have been an option in the first place, nor does it do anything that 20 minutes of downloading and setup of third-party programs post-install couldn't have done better in the original Windows 8 or in 8.1.

 

[filfat]

Whats wrong with metro? its looks realy good on a desktop AND a tablet, its easy to use and learn. and it support a own type of programs that calls "Apps".

 

[Sicklyboy]

So to everyone/anyone who's "scared" about right clicking the start button for access to administrative options, all because it's different, this is what you're afraid of:

Nothing stops you from swiping in from the right still and clicking Settings -> Control Panel. Now I don't have to search "cmd" to run it as administrator, it's right there on the Start menu.

why does everybody say that the update takes long time to download? the pro version is just 3GB it took like 40 minutes...

Well, yeah, installation took about 40-45 minutes. Download about the same but that was all background.

Still no way to download apps without changing your system password to your Microsoft account password.
Still no official search without using Metro.
Still no official solitaire/minesweeper/etc. apps that don't require subscriptions to be ad-free.

I'm aware that the last two can be easily circumvented, but it's the fact that Microsoft gave absolutely no shits about any of it that grates at me. Fixing a couple of major flaws and bundling it with prior security fixes or features that no one will use isn't a new version of Windows, it's a service pack. I can only laugh at anyone who says Windows 8.1 is more than marginally better better than the basic Windows 8 release - it doesn't do anything that shouldn't have been an option in the first place, nor does it do anything that 20 minutes of downloading and setup of third-party programs post-install couldn't have done better in the original Windows 8 or in 8.1.

When I set up Windows 8 initially, I logged in with my LiveID, so this is a non-issue.
You can search from the top right corner of Windows Explorer like you could in Windows 7.
Well, as far as Solitaire goes, "Microsoft Solitaire Collection" is presumably official, and as far as I can tell, ad-free. And free.

I have to figure out how to get it to boot to desktop since that's a new feature. Sure, it's not a huge upgrade, but I still like it. Windows 8 is just fine for me, and it's good to see Microsoft supporting a product that's received so much negative backlash by upgrading it to Windows 8.1 (yes, essentially SP1). I'm not afraid of change. I feel like anyone who bashes Windows 8 hasn't given it the opportunity it deserves, they see the tiles and think the entire OS is like that.

Edit - Oh, look at how normal and Windows 7-like the scary Windows 8.1 OS looks.

Warning, big pic.

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Edit 2 - I can right click the Start button and have one-click access to "Programs and Features". This is fucking fantastic as far as I am concerned. :o

 

[FAST6191]

Hmm. I really should add this to a few windows 8 machines just to say I have done it. On the other hand Classic Start does well for them and none of the extras are all that interesting to me or mine.

 

[Depravo]

why does everybody say that the update takes long time to download? the pro version is just 3GB it took like 40 minutes...

Because some of us have a download speed of only 1.5Mb. It will take the best part of the day to download 3GB of data.

 

[filfat]

Because some of us have a download speed of only 1.5Mb. It will take the best part of the day to download 3GB of data.

there's not even possible order a speed like that
the lowest speed is 20mb