Those waiting for more drastic changes to Windows will likely need to keep holding out for the next version, which Microsoft may discuss in more detail later in the Build conference. One criticism of the Windows 8.1 update is that Microsoft's mouse and keyboard-focused changes make the interface less consistent and still won't address complaints from users who want nothing to do with the touch-friendly Start screen and Modern apps. And finally, when the new version of Windows 8.1 is installed to systems without touchscreens, they will now boot to the desktop by default instead of to the Start screen. A new PC settings tile and dedicated power and search buttons on the Start screen also make those features more obvious to people coming from Windows 7 or older versions. In theory, this should cut down on the number of times users accidentally invoke a Modern app and can't figure out how to get back to the desktop. Like Windows 8.1 before it, this new update continues to tweak the core user interface concepts Microsoft introduced in Windows 8, and it focuses specifically on making the operating system more welcoming to mouse and keyboard users.įor instance, Windows Store apps developed to use the full-screen 'Modern' mode can now be pinned to the desktop taskbar, and the taskbar can be used from within Modern apps. Further Reading Windows 8.1 Update 1: More interface concessions that still won’t make people happyWhile Microsoft only made the update official today, it has already leaked in the most public way possible-it was actually downloadable from Microsoft's servers for a couple of days early last month.

Windows 8 lock keyboard