Your top 5 new features in Windows 8.1

[Studio384]

Well hello everybody. Let's discusse about your favorite features in Windows 8.1 so far! :) Those are mine:

1. Internet Explorer 11

2. New tile sizes

3. The 9 new apps

4. New All Apps menu

5. New settings app

So, whats your favorite new feature in Windows 8.1?

[jakem1]

The new tile sizes

Adjustable window sizes in Metro multitasking

Ability to have more than one instance of a Metro app open at a time

Apps automatically update in background

Improved Metro settings

The new colours and background images on the Start Screen will also be nice.

I really hope that the back gesture in Metro IE is improved in IE11. It's really annoying that it does a full page refresh rather than just returning to the cached version of the previous page the way it does when you hit the back button.

[+virtorio MVC]

- More complete Settings app

- Tile sizes

- Boot to Desktop

- Start button (big deal for me when running Windows 8 in a virtual machine window)

- Changes to multitasking / softer resolution limits with the Snap feature

[Ian W]

I wish this topic had a poll.

• Unified search results
  
• Improved application snapping
  
• Start screen improvements
  
• Internet Explorer 11
  
• Start button
  

[Chasethebase Reporter]

1. The new sizes of tiles.
   
2. Start Screen customisation
   
3. Not just an 80:20 split between two metro apps
   

I think that's it, can't think of 5.

[Jan Veteran]

• More colours
  
• Larger tile sizes
  
• Improved Search
  
• Desktop tile colour adapts to the icon
  
• Improved multi monitor support - Metro apps on dual mons are pathetic.
  

[LimeMaster]

1. Windowed Modern Apps.

2. Wallpapers on both Desktop and Start Screen.

3. Boot to desktp.

4. Resizable tiles.

5. Free upgrade, I think.

[theyarecomingforyou]

1) Start Screen customisation (using the desktop background; smaller tiles; syncing your tile layout)

2) Auto-updating of Metro apps

3) Boot to desktop

4) Irregular split of Metro apps

5) Option to change the functionality of the hot-corners

[incendy]

I really hope that the back gesture in Metro IE is improved in IE11. It's really annoying that it does a full page refresh rather than just returning to the cached version of the previous page the way it does when you hit the back button.

Am I crazy of was this the way it was in the initial Windows 8 beta? For some reason I feel like the beta/rc didn't refresh the page.

[Silver47]

1. All Apps. Honestly wished there was this before, I used to think we would get an Apps style pivot next the Start on the start screen. WP style works great too :)

2. Improved CP. Should of been from the start.

3. Unified Search. Far, far easier

Those were the top 3 annoyances I have Win 8 right now and glad they will be fixed. The next I feel are added bonuses

4. Customizable Tiles and other options. Just make Win 8 feel more yours.

5. New split screen options. Hey, its helps!

6. Start Button on Taskbar. Meh, handy in some cases I but not a major want

Ok, that's more than 5, but 3 in each looks better :D

[McKay]

The new Tile sizes, not to bothered about Startscreen wallpapers because I already bought Decor8, the Metro app resizing? I bought the app that lets them run windowed, plus I only use Netflix and Audible.

[moloko]

1. Tile sizes.

I do not use metro apps as I find them annoying so everything else is blah.

[Dashel]

I think all my core annoyances have been addressed, I'm impressed.

1) Unified search + enhancements

2) Snap views/More visible apps

3) All Apps update (aka Start Menu, still is barely a toddler but the direction is right)

4) Start customization (being able to set desktop wallpaper will be a huge help in making the transition to RT less jarring on desktop PCs, as the animated one will be awesome on my slate)

5) Corporate focused additions

[siah1214]

1. Search, search, 1000x search

2. Multiple monitors for metro

3. New start screen options (tile sizes, customization)

4. New apps

5. Love the new corporate stuff, going to make my life SO much easier! Especially being able to export the start screen layout to xml.

[LUTZIFER]

START button.

[PGHammer]

My Fave Five?

 

1.  IE 11 Preview Enhanced Protected Mode.  (No, I'm not kidding.)  It's ABP with finer-grained teeth - and a lot tougher.  Even better, it's native - not an add-on, extension, or plug-in.  It's been around (in Windows Server 2003 and later) - this marks it's appearance on the desktop and ModernUI/RT side of IE.  Hate ads, but want to preserve your viewing experience on the Web?  THIS is what works.

2.  The improved CHKDSK (commented on in another thread in this forum).

3.  The improved "All Apps" screen.  First off, it's right below the StartScreen, and directly accessible from it (via touch OR mouse - mouse users, such as moi, simply click on the down arrow at the foot of the StartScreen).  Further, new applications OR apps (that means desktop or ModernUI/RT) are specifically highlighted - the highlighting is actually MORE obvious than previous versions of Windows did.

4.  Improved performance (IE11 Preview).  By and large, I used Google Chrome because of rather dismal IE Flash performance - now, that is no longer the case.  That means that Chrome has to find other reasons to keep it around - that ALSO means there is real browser competition again. When browser performance is mostly equal, users win.

5.  Better driver performance.  This is an area I didn't expect to even test - however, a recent hardware (GPU) change shows exactly how improved driver stability is in 8.1 preview.  Usually, you have to remove the old driver before installing the new - problem is, if you still have the old hardware in place, Windows would, more often than not, complain when removing the old driver in this circumstance.  In my case, I went from AMD to nVidia.  An initial boot post-swap led (naturally) to Microsoft reinstalling the Basic Display Adapter driver (which replaces the old VGA driver of yore) - from there I could install Forceware.  Another reboot later, and confirmation that things were working as they should - then, and ONLY then, did I uninstall the AMD Catalyst driver.  Actual peace of mind - in case of everything from driver issues to outright bad hardware.

[derkim]

Just boot to desktop for me. Nothing else.

[johnporter29]

1. Windowed Modern Apps.

2. Wallpapers on both Desktop and Start Screen.

3. Boot to desktp.

4. Resizable tiles.

5. Free upgrade, I think.

 

You have to have Stardock's ModernMix for this don't you? Not a built-in feature of Windows 8.1, unless that's something I missed????

 

1. Boot to Desktop

2. Start Button

3. All Apps Screen

4. Use Desktop Wallpaper as Start Screen Background.

[LimeMaster]

You have to have Stardock's ModernMix for this don't you? Not a built-in feature of Windows 8.1, unless that's something I missed????

I realise now that the windowed metro app is not a feature of Windows 8.1, but an article on a random tech site claimed that it was going be a feature.

 

I guess ModernMix does windowed metro apps, but its not free. :(

[Dot Matrix]

I realise now that the windowed metro app is not a feature of Windows 8.1, but an article on a random tech site claimed that it was going be a feature.

I guess ModernMix does windowed metro apps, but its not free. :(

"Windowed Modern Apps" means you'll be able to dock Modern apps side, by side, by side, instead of just to the side. By design, Modern apps are not developed to run on the desktop.

[LimeMaster]

"Windowed Modern Apps" means you'll be able to dock Modern apps side, by side, by side, instead of just to the side. By design, Modern apps are not developed to run on the desktop.

Thanks for clearing that up, Dot Matrix. :)

Now what do you call what ModernMix does?

 

Edit: Fixed spelling error.

Edited July 20, 2013 by LimeMaster92

[WizardCM]

Oooh, this is tricky. With 8.1, it really is a combination of everything that makes it such an improvement. Tiny things in every corner contribute. It's not perfect, but it's better.

 

1. Different tile sizes - and easily customizable
2. The Windows Phone-esque tile management - how it's no longer the buggy "pull the tile really far down for it to snap off so you can drag it" - it's now "hold it down, wait a bit, then move what you need"
3. Much more detailed, and neatly categorized "PC Settings" - this is what we have needed for years, and even on a device without a touch screen, I much prefer this over the Control Panel - everything is consistent and easily reachable
4. Improved Search - while it takes a little getting used to (where I didn't realise I had to change the search location when I wanted to search within an app), it's a much faster way of getting around
5. Something I haven't really seen discussed (and something I'd love to see in Windows Phone) - improvements to the universal media control panel when you hit a volume key. Basically, open up two media player devices (say, a YouTube app and the Music app). Play then pause on both of these apps individually - now hit a volume key. As you'll notice, you can actually SWITCH between the two, in the little menu, and decide which you want to play now - it's very cleverly done

Honestly, I could go on forever - but there are also still many things missing that should be addressed. The ugliness of the Win+X menu, inability to choose the vertical count of tiles on the Start screen, stuff like that.

[Jose_49]

Thanks for clearing that up, Dot Matrix. :)

Now what do you called what ModernMix does?

ModernMix is a Stardock's software that enables you to run Modern apps on a windowed environment on the desktop. Resize, move, snap, even pin on the taskbar is supported. 

 

It's very buggy on Windows 8.1, though.

http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/