14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft yesterday started shipping Windows 8.1 Update to consumers across the world, but while many are still waiting to get the pack via Windows Update, others are already running it as we speak trying to figure out what’s new and get used to the changes.
In the meantime, the software giant has already released the first promotional video for the new update, explaining that “the new Windows is all about you and the way you work.”
As you know, Windows 8.1 Update has been tweaked to better address the needs of desktop users, who are still relying on the mouse and keyboard as the main input method, so it now comes with options to pin Metro apps to the taskbar and access features of the Start screen easier.
For example, consumers are now provided with Context Menu options right on the Start screen, which makes it easier to use the Modern UI with a mouse, while Metro apps are launched in their own windows, which have a title bar and minimize and close buttons.
Windows 8.1 Update is currently being delivered via Windows Update, but you can also download it manually if you can’t see it among the patches released yesterday.
“One of the first things I noticed with the update is that when I’m on my mouse-and-keyboard desktop PC, there are now more familiar mouse controls that show up to make it faster for me to get around. When I open up an app, if Windows detects that I’m using a mouse, it’ll show me a title bar with familiar-looking minimize and close buttons,” Microsoft's Amy Dullard said.
Of course, the company didn't miss the occasion to praise Windows 8.1 Update a little bit, explaining that most of the features are supposed to make it appropriate for both touch and non-touch devices that have already been upgraded to Windows 8.1.
“With the latest update, Windows now switches seamlessly to show me the controls that are most useful for how I’m interacting with my PC. If I press and hold something on the Start screen instead of right-clicking it to select it, the app commands at the bottom of the screen, which are big and easy to touch, pop up instead of the mouse-friendly but not finger-friendly right-click menus.”
It appears however that some users are already experiencing a number of issues with Windows 8.1 Update, as the installation process fails with error code 80070020 every time.
