The 4 new from Microsoft BUILD 2014
The first day of the event Microsoft BUILD 2014 we quickly many new features to Windows. Microsoft has just unveiled what will be the imminent developments of his system on a desktop and mobile, as well as what will be the future of Windows Phone 8.1. There are some real surprises and confirmations, even some anticipation, you come from a keynote that has churned out news nonstop for more than 3 hours. Not as bad as day one!
Windows 8.1 Update
The third edition of Windows 8 is already available on MSDN but it will become a global network on April 8, 2014. The main changes relate to a better management of the UI with a mouse and keyboard (so there will be another back) and greater integration with the desktop environment Modern.
The Windows Store apps will also be launched from the desktop, will be in the taskbar and their icons will be shown along with the others when they open. It will also be possible to open them and minimize them in the window, so as to exploit their interfaces designed for the touch screen when you are working on your desktop.
Windows Update 8.1 will introduce new contextual menus that allow you to access more easily to certain functions; Examples are the power menu located at the right corner of the screen (not just in the Charm) and for research, visible in the same position. You can manage the Tile with a mouse and keyboard in a more convenient location. Still, the system will boot in desktop mode when used on notebook or PC. Everything as expected, no real change from the beta release issued in recent months, but still a good number of things for the use of Windows 8.1 on tablets and laptops in small denominations.
Windows Universal Apps.
These apps will be able to run on smartphones, tablets, notebooks and desktops, and to adapt their interface to the device. It will also be possible to use the Xbox One. The Windows Universal Apps can be developed for most Windows devices using the Windows libraries and runtime languages like C, C++, C#, . NET, HTML and JavaScript. Developers will be able to choose how to interact with the software based on several factors, including the resolution of the screen. For example, un apps for the news will show a column on smartphones, tablet two out of three and four on the desktop when connected to the TV via the Xbox. You can choose to enable some features only in the presence of a high-profile CPU, maybe just on the desktop. In a sense, it is a real breakthrough for developers, a method to improve the user experience and another approach to the unification of the operating systems that we all hope.
Microsoft Office Touchscreen
Microsoft showed some screenshots and a video of the Office for touchscreens. This is the first time you see this version with a custom interface for use with your fingers bound to machines running Windows 8.1. Office has Touchscreen UI with large buttons, supports gestures such as swipe and pinch-to-zoom and integrates touch-friendly menu. This software is using the new technologies in Windows Universal Apps then be able to adapt to different contexts / devices to use. It’s a step, something inevitable has given the trend of the mobile market, on which we can hope in light of all the good since the last Office for iOS. It is also interesting viewpoint tablet, because it could make Office completely at ease on small screens. And this serves to introduce the 4th latest news from BUILD 2014.
Windows 8.1 for free on the tablet.
Windows 8.1 for free on the tablet. The Windows 8 license becomes free for tablet manufacturers with displays smaller than 9 inches. This will reduce the prices of the 8-inch models, already very good these days, and will permit the development of the operating system. Now difficult to quantify what kind of savings we will have on the final list (because the latest licenses were already heavily discounted on tablets like the Dell Venue Pro 8, ASUS VivoTab Notes and others) but the impact on producers is expected to exceed $30. And, to be honest, there is no information about the features in this version: will be reduced? will be the Windows 8.1 with Bing, which has been talked about? Continue to integrate a license of Office 2013 Home & Student? It’s too early to tell, but there is enough to define it already excellent news for us users.
