win8.1 Your observations on Windows 8.1 update 1 (a.k.a. Feature Pack)

[Zimmedon]

If you press space instead of right clicking, it brings the context bar.[...]

 

I'm not a touch user, but wouldn't this behavior be context-sensitive (i.e. get the context bar or menu based on input device that was used)? That seems to make the most sense if that's the case.

 

Touch users keep their context bar; desktop users get context menus. Everyone is happy*.

 

* - not really

[cooky560 Veteran]

It doesn't seem the Aeroglass effect made it in to rtm.

https://www.neowin.net/news/aero-glass-can-be-turned-on-in-the-leaked-build-of-windows-81-update-1

 

Unless there's a step needed to be done after adding the registry key, and a reboot.

 

This I am glad about, while the desktop design in Windows 8 is far from perfect Aero Glass was far far worse, transparency is not needed on the desktop.

[+Red King Subscriber²]

Gaming performance differences?

[LimeMaster]

I think I've encountered a weird bug with Update 1: :huh:

[Dot Matrix]

I think I've encountered a weird bug with Update 1: :huh:

The desktop icons? I got that in 8.1 the other day.

[gohpep]

I'm not a touch user, but wouldn't this behavior be context-sensitive (i.e. get the context bar or menu based on input device that was used)? That seems to make the most sense if that's the case.

 

Touch users keep their context bar; desktop users get context menus. Everyone is happy*.

 

* - not really

It shows the context bar on touch events, and on mouse right clicks, it shows the context bar.

I think I've encountered a weird bug with Update 1: :huh:

That's not a bug, that's a feature! :P

[macoman]

I think I've encountered a weird bug with Update 1: :huh:

that's not a bug, your windows is messed up.

[gohpep]

Gaming performance differences?

For some reason I feel it's faster, but it might be placebo.

[exotoxic]

I think I've encountered a weird bug with Update 1: :huh:

 

I have had the desktop icons in the background of the start screen on 8.1. I think it makes the start screen fit in much better overall, too bad its just an occasional bug :/

[LimeMaster]

The desktop icons? I got that in 8.1 the other day.

Really? Only seen this after installing that update. Although, it's only happened once so far.

 

That's not a bug, that's a feature! :p

Not sure I'd like it to be a feature, but then again it could be used for the desktop threads for lazy people like me. :p

 

that's not a bug, your windows is messed up.

It's not messed up as it only happened once. :)

 

I have had the desktop icons in the background of the start screen on 8.1. I think it makes the start screen fit in much better overall, too bad its just an occasional bug :/

Why would you want that? I think it looks kinda ugly. :o

[exotoxic]

Why would you want that? I think it looks kinda ugly. :o

 

It makes the start screen look part of the desktop and vice verse merging the 2 together and that is what imo was the problem.

[gohpep]

It makes the start screen look part of the desktop and vice verse merging the 2 together and that is what imo was the problem.

Makes it too cluttered. The start screen was a mere replacement for the desktop, instead of pinning all your applications on the desktop in a grid, you could pin them to the start screen, that's why the medium tiles are just a little bit bigger than the desktop tiles.

[PGHammer]

Um, defaults are defaults, i.e. how Windows behaves out of the box before user customization. No one's suggesting that customization be removed, simply that the defaults be different. You are completly missing the point.

No - you are missing what I pointed out; the ModernUI version starts out the default because there is no OTHER application - let alone a desktop application - that will open those file types.  In order for a desktop application to be the default, it has to be installed first.

 

Since Microsoft can't bundle such a desktop application with Windows itself (those pesky consent decrees), with versions of Windows pre-8 (such as 7) there IS no default by default.  With Windows 8, those decrees don't apply - however, Microsoft's only application with which it can open PDFs is Word (which is part of Office) and is only bundled with either WindowsRT or with hardware deals with OEMs.  Installation of any other application that can open a particular file format - regardless of type - unbinds the previous dewfault from that file-type and/or offers it as an alternative (if the user wants to keep the current default unchanged).

 

So that puts the choice in the hands of the OEM - not the user.

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

No - you are missing what I pointed out; the ModernUI version starts out the default because there is no OTHER application - let alone a desktop application - that will open those file types.  In order for a desktop application to be the default, it has to be installed first.

...

That's not true with pictures or videos. They default to the metro apps even though desktop applications (photoviewer and wmp) are available.

[PGHammer]

There is, like there always has. Windows Media Player is a desktop application, and Windows Photo Viewer is a desktop application. These still exist in Windows 8. There is no reason they shouldn't be the default to open files from the Desktop. I don't understand why you bring user choice in this: I'm talking about having sensible defaults.

Windows Media Player is largely despised - even in Windows 7; in fact, it has been largely despised since XP.  Name one group of post-XP users tha still uses WMP as tthe default for ANY file format - audio OR video.  The same applies to Photo Viewer - or even MSPAINT (both of which are also still around, and have gone nowhere).  I still use both, because they are very simple, and thus quite suitable for simple tasks (primarily screen-captures and editing thereof - largely cropping in Paint's case) - however, while I WAS a heavy user of WMP with XP, that was only until I could replace it with a lighter application that suits my needs better (and wound up replacing it with multiple applications, because, as much as I wish, there is no single application that suits my needs for every audio and video file).  The ModernUI versions exist BECAUSE the desktop applications are so heavily despised.

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

Windows Media Player is largely despised - even in Windows 7; in fact, it has been largely despised since XP.  Name one group of post-XP users tha still uses WMP as tthe default for ANY file format - audio OR video.  The same applies to Photo Viewer - or even MSPAINT (both of which are also still around, and have gone nowhere).

I use photo viewer as the default photo viewer and mspaint (for misc. things like saving as a different file type, saving print screens, drawing arrows in an image to point things out, etc.)... non tech users will use whatever the defaults are under most circumstances.

 

EDIT1: I leave WMP as the default on my systems, but I don't use it. I just right click and open with MPC-HC.

EDIT2: I just remembered, I do use WMP as my player for audio files. Just not video files. 

[spaceelf]

Windows Media Player is largely despised - even in Windows 7; in fact, it has been largely despised since XP.  Name one group of post-XP users tha still uses WMP as tthe default for ANY file format - audio OR video.  The same applies to Photo Viewer - or even MSPAINT (both of which are also still around, and have gone nowhere).  I still use both, because they are very simple, and thus quite suitable for simple tasks (primarily screen-captures and editing thereof - largely cropping in Paint's case) - however, while I WAS a heavy user of WMP with XP, that was only until I could replace it with a lighter application that suits my needs better (and wound up replacing it with multiple applications, because, as much as I wish, there is no single application that suits my needs for every audio and video file).  The ModernUI versions exist BECAUSE the desktop applications are so heavily despised.

I wouldn't say despised, so much as passed over for better options.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

The ModernUI versions exist BECAUSE the desktop applications are so heavily despised.

Why wasn't improving the desktop apps an option? 

[Auditor]

Windows Media Player is largely despised - even in Windows 7; in fact, it has been largely despised since XP.  Name one group of post-XP users tha still uses WMP as tthe default for ANY file format - audio OR video.  The same applies to Photo Viewer - or even MSPAINT (both of which are also still around, and have gone nowhere).  I still use both, because they are very simple, and thus quite suitable for simple tasks (primarily screen-captures and editing thereof - largely cropping in Paint's case) - however, while I WAS a heavy user of WMP with XP, that was only until I could replace it with a lighter application that suits my needs better (and wound up replacing it with multiple applications, because, as much as I wish, there is no single application that suits my needs for every audio and video file).  The ModernUI versions exist BECAUSE the desktop applications are so heavily despised.

I like WMP and it is good media player. The only sometimes we have is codec issues. 

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

You know, I'm really enjoying this update. Feels very smooth with nice little improvements across the board. Once again a step in the right direction, as far as I'm concerned. :)

[mzta cody]

After the update the OS feels smooth, overall feels a bit snappier. Notice certain animations are quicker- minimizing and close in particular. I notice an almost imperceptible difference there. Disk usage after cleanup is about the same as pre-update.

A little tip I just heard about is that Windows key + T brings up the taskbar in a modern app, and it indeed does so.

[subcld]

I've used almost all operating systems what ever they do i'll adapt and move on

[snaphat (Myles Landwehr) Member]

I've used almost all operating systems what ever they do i'll adapt and move on

But, what if they all move to command line only interfaces with virtual keyboards? What will you do then? :-p I know I won't be adapting. I'll just disown technology and be a hermit.

[Dot Matrix]

Why wasn't improving the desktop apps an option? 

What desktop apps? There are no desktop versions of popular consumer apps.

[spaceelf]

But, what if they all move to command line only interfaces with virtual keyboards? What will you do then? :-p I know I won't be adapting. I'll just disown technology and be a hermit.

Well considering we're talking about reality here I just don't see that happening. :)