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Was Windows 8.1 A Worthwhile Update?

Slightly more than a year since the release of Windows 8, Windows 8.1 has finally arrived to deliver on some longstanding promises for improvements over the initial release. As for if it will live up to those promises, the answers depend on who you are and what you do. Although nothing in 8.1 is earth shattering, there’s plenty to be happy about.

Improvements in Customizable Design

The most obvious changes in Windows 8.1 have to do with expanded customizability. The latest iteration of Windows may be the most personable of any generation. With more background colors and variance in tile size available in 8.1, these customizable elements should be particularly welcome for anyone who uses a mobile Windows 8 device. While tile size variance is an enjoyable customization on a desktop version of Windows 8.1, tile size control on any mobile device with a touch screen is a fairly significant addition in functionality.

The Start Button

Windows 8.1 also marks the return of the Windows Start button – sort of. The Start button has been a part of the Windows OS for so long that when it was discontinued with Windows 8, many users decided to stick with Windows 7 or find third party solutions to bring the Start button back. But fans of the Start button should keep in mind that the 8.1 version of the button doesn’t bring a up a start menu of programs and folders, instead it redirects you back to your tiles. Fans of the traditional Windows look will also appreciate that 8.1 allows you to boot directly to a Windows 7 style environment rather than to the new Windows 8 tiles screen.

Integration with Windows Services

Microsoft has also used 8.1 as an opportunity to integrate some of its services more directly into Windows. For instance, with Windows 8.1 you no longer need the SkyDrive desktop app to sync your files to the cloud. They’ve also added special features for users of Microsoft’s Bing search engine in the form of Bing Smart Search. These features include media enriched search results, for instance, searching for a popular musicians name will bring full streaming examples of their work thanks to Microsoft’s Xbox Music service.

And More

There are also some multitasking improvements in 8.1 to fill out the more practical side of the update. For instance, depending on the size of your display, 8.1 allow you to run up to four apps adjacent to each other as well as the ability to adjust those windows to about any size. Windows 8.1 also marks the release of Internet Explorer 11 (with WebGL Support) and improvements to most of the Microsoft tablet apps. Bing apps in particular are improved to better reflect the expanded capabilities of 8.1 and Bing.

The Big Picture

If you haven’t yet upgraded from Windows 7 for one reason or another, 8.1 might be worth a second look. It’s hard to say anything negative about the improvements in 8.1, and they’re certainly far more visible changes than your standard Windows update. Although 8.1 wasn’t breaking any new ground or changing the industry, it did succeed as an incremental improvement over the previous iteration and should leave us with nothing but optimism about whatever may be coming in Windows 8.2!