Windows 8.1 Update Released, With Improvements For Non-Touch Hardware

DroidJason1 (3589319) writes "Microsoft has released the highly anticipated Windows 8.1 Update, adding numerous improvements for non-touch consumers based on feedback. It is also a required update for Windows 8.1, otherwise consumers will no get any future security updates after May 2014. Most of the changes in the update are designed to appease non-touch users, with options to show apps on the desktop taskbar, the ability to see show the taskbar above apps, and a new title bar at the top of apps with options to minimize, close, or snap apps."

Comments

A patch closer to usability, few more to go

[sinij]

You can pry Start Button from my cold blue-screen hands.

Re:A patch closer to usability, few more to go

[MightyYar]

The amazing thing (to me, anyway) is that I always hated the start menu. Never liked having such redundancy... rather than giving me some flexibility in how applications are organized you make this ghetto of delicate "shortcuts", requiring installers for even the most simple binaries.

And yet, what they replaced it with is so much worse that I find myself wishing for it back.

I would not have thought this was possible.

Re:What version are they changing?

[WilliamGeorge]

Windows 8.1 Update 1 - then next they will do Windows 8.1 Update 1 Service Pack 1 ;)

Re:Fascinating release date timing

[MightyMartian]

A long long time ago,
I can still remember how that NT kernel made me smile.
And I knew that if I had my chance,
I'd write a helluva lot cool VB 6 apps.
And maybe my manager would be happy for a while.

But April made me shiver,
With each Win 8 PC I'd deliver.
Bad news in the staffroom steps.
And I couldn't take one more step.

I can't remember if I cried,
When I read about some XP user heaved a sigh.
But something touched me deep inside.
The day Windows XP died.

So bye bye Windows XP has died.
Rode my Segway to the to the levy,
But the levy was dry.
And good ol' sysadmins were drinking coffee and Sprite,
Singing "This is the day Windows XP has died,
This is the day Windows XP has died."

Re:Microsoft the Old Dinosaur

[Anonymous Coward]

BOOOO Micro$oft Windoze!!!!!!!!!!!

HOOOOORRRAAYYY open source and slashdot type stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOOOO GUIs. HOOOORRRAAAYY command line interface.

BOOOOOOO blackslash path seperator. HOOOOOORRRRAAAAYYY forward slash path seperators!!!!!!!

Re:What version are they changing?

[lgw]

I maintain my stance that Windows 9.5 will be the version that changes everything, with Windows 9.8 mostly getting it right.

Re:It's a start

[Joce640k]

"Most of the changes in the update are designed to appease non-touch users"

Do they exist? Really????

How out of touch can a company be?

Re:It's a start

[93 Escort Wagon]

You can have my TopView when you pry it out of my cold, dead fingers.

Re:It's a start

[sproketboy]

Live tiles have new and improved security holes.