Windows8.1 evaluation

A year ago, Microsoft made drastic changes to the look and feel of Windows systems and gambled into the future of its operating system. Everything is touchable, which means that the most fundamental logic in the design logic of Windows 8 is not for regular notebooks and desktops on the desktop. But at the time, there were still a large number of people who used laptops and desktops on a daily basis, so Microsoft didn't have to build a system that would work equally well for the desktop. Millions of users have installed the latest Windows 8 system, but found that the new system and the old system are completely in two worlds, each with different application and operating habits, which makes users have to re-create the system. Learning.

And the latest release of Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to solve the previous user confusion about the system. Microsoft is trying to build a bridge between new and old, mouse and touch screen. 8.1 system is basically the same in appearance and interactive logic as Windows 8, but there are a lot of upgrades, we can see from these updates Microsoft's future vision of its operating system. For Windows 8, it's more like an investment from Microsoft. Microsoft has been busy with it for the past 12 months, and now making Windows 8.1 more friendly and easier to use is definitely not an easy task.

UI Changes

When you switch to the Windows 8.1 PC interface for the first time, you may not find anything different from Windows 8. The startup speed is still fast, and the dynamic magnet will still appear the first time after you log in. However, when you want to make a sliding interface, some potential improvements are immediately apparent. The first time the user switches between the application and the system, a boot animation will appear, which is very similar to the Window 95 system when it comes to new users. These guided animations are still very helpful for beginners.

In the new interface of 8.1, Microsoft once again borrowed from Windows Phone 8 and introduced new dynamic magnets, large or small. The weather magnet can be enlarged to show weather information in three different cities, and can simultaneously forecast three days of information; the calendar can show you a full day plan; and the Windows Store icon is also activated with dynamic functions, which can be recommended in real time. . The biggest improvement in the start interface is the Windows 8 style application. Microsoft began to use the colorful icon style in traditional desktop applications, which also makes the start interface more beautiful.

From the start screen, you can go to the application list, which includes all the apps that are already installed on your device. You can also set the default arrangement to find your target more quickly when you enter the program list, which makes Windows 8.1 easier to operate with —— this change is more like to help desktop users.

The Start button is back

When you first launch the desktop version of Windows 8.1, you will find that the familiar start button is finally back. Its actual use function is more like switching between the desktop version and the touch screen start interface. If you use the mouse to navigate, this button will only appear if you hover the mouse in the lower left corner of the start interface. The start button in this version uses Microsoft's latest Windows 8 icon, and there may be many people who think that the familiar operation mode is back, but it should be noted that it is just a button: Microsoft has not started the tradition. The function of the key is added to it.

Windows 8.1 supports more free customization. You can set more effects in the background when you slide, and 8.1 still supports changing the theme color for the system. The really useful feature is to support the wallpaper background in the custom start interface. This setup sounds simple, but it is a fairly effective bridge between the desktop and the start interface.

And one of my favorite changes to Windows 8.1 (at least visually) is how it is arranged in the list for Windows 8 style apps. By default, if you click on a link in an app, the interface will immediately become a 55-scale interface: half show the app you are currently using, and the other half shows the app you want to open —&mdash That is, if you open an image in an email, the view will immediately free up half of the space for the image application. This multitasking window mode supports all applications and can be extended to multi-window operations. If you are using multiple apps that are trying to open a new app, Windows 8.1 will prompt you to display a floating app magnet so you can place the app you want to open in the location you want.

These new interfaces allow users to have a new experience when choosing an app. In addition, the small-size screen tablet only supports the 55-scale split screen function, while on the 27-inch display, up to 4 applications can be displayed simultaneously. In this mode, Windows 8-style applications will become more useful, especially if you use them with traditional desktop applications.

Search

Microsoft's biggest change on Windows 8.1 may be search. The search function now supports global search. If you search for "Store" in Windows 8.1, it will display the results of the webpage searched by Bing in addition to the Store application. The search application is now a separate application, and the search content can include local files and data, cloud system settings and web results.

Bing's intelligence on search is still quite surprising, especially when you search for specific people or places. If you search for a star, it will automatically display all the corresponding images, videos, and audio about the star. At the same time, Bing can get the data in the program. When you want to listen to a song from Xbox Music, it can also open the corresponding program directly.

News results can also be displayed in search results along with information from Wikipedia. In addition, if you search for a place, the search results can also display images with geographic information on your computer. Obviously, Microsoft has spent a lot of effort in the new search.

SkyDrive Synchronization with IE 11

To talk about everything from vision to function, the biggest change is SkyDrive. This Microsoft cloud service system is extremely powerful in Windows 8.1. The synchronization engine is set directly in the system. In addition, Microsoft has added several smart improvements to the synchronization feature of Windows 8.1. Unlike the previous cloud library download to the local PC, the new SkyDrive only loads the corresponding icon, with some corresponding file information. When you open the file, it will be downloaded automatically. You can also choose to download all of them in case you need to disconnect the network. This upgrade makes the synchronization function more logical.

Microsoft also uses the technology of cloud synchronization to improve the performance of Internet Explorer 11. IR supports unlimited tabs and supports easy changing the order of labels. This makes the operation faster and more user-friendly, and you can also synchronize tags and browsing history on different Windows 8.1 devices. In the future Windows Phone update, synchronization will also be added, but for now, this browser synchronization only supports PCs and tablets.

Microsoft also supports WebGL in IE 11, which allows developers to make the browser a more powerful browser game. IE 11 also has the function of detecting the phone, and the user can directly make a call on the webpage. All of these improvements make IE 11 more suitable for touch operations, but Microsoft doesn't seem to add reminders, application extensions, or even a complete system like its competitor's Chrome.

Applications & Stores

In Windows 8, the system comes with an application that always feels lacking in functionality, but Microsoft has greatly improved it in Windows 8.1. Each application has been redesigned in appearance, and some applications have even added a status bar on the phone to help users perform better. The email app has been completely rebuilt, and it has been greatly improved for keyboard, mouse or touch operations. You can drag and drop information to a folder or filter information more easily.

Microsoft has reduced Skype as a communication tool for Windows 8.1, further reducing its limitations on information applications. Microsoft also added Skype receiving function to the lock screen interface. Now you can answer the phone even if you don't unlock the PC. However, the information function on Skype still needs further improvement.

In the native photo album app, Microsoft has added some useful tools, such as cropping, rotation, and some editing features. The automatic upload function of SkyDrive is also added to the album function. After the user takes a photo, the photo will be automatically uploaded to the cloud.

The Windows Store has also been improved, and newer apps will be automatically updated in the background. The store's new interface makes it easier to find the apps you need, but it's still a lot behind the app quality: the store is full of fake unofficial software like Facebook and YouTube, and good third-party apps are still scarce. The situation is the same as that faced by Windows Phone. Software quality is the key to the success of Windows 8 and Windows RT, so Microsoft needs to continue to improve the quality of its store applications.

Summary

Windows 8's new touch operation can be seen as Microsoft's future, but as far as the Windows tablet's response is concerned, Microsoft is not doing enough. This 1.0 OS is far from meeting the expectations of users. And Windows 8.1 can be seen as Microsoft is willing to pay more than a declaration, so that the system is more thoroughly integrated on the tablet and PC platform. The return of the start button can be seen as a compromise that Microsoft admits to be too radical on the road to exploration.

You know, it took Microsoft less than 12 months to complete it. The strong integration of SkyDrive and the increasing power of global search have given us greater confidence in Microsoft's future updates.

However, it is clear that Microsoft still needs to work harder. Some “Metro” style apps are still far from flexible and functional in comparison to desktop apps. A system that "does not compromise" is Microsoft's ultimate goal, but now Windows 8 is still on the way to this goal. I hope that in the future update, Microsoft can open Windows 8 style applications to the desktop and "Metro" world.

As a Windows 8 user, upgrading to 8.1 is a matter of course, this system will help users solve some of the confusion in the previous operation. If Microsoft can keep this update speed, then we will no doubt have more expectations for future systems.