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Starting the morning of October 17th, you’ll be able to purchase and download Windows 8.1, or update your existing Windows 8 device for free. On October 18th, retail packages of the software will be available in stores, and that’s when dozens of laptops and tablets running the latest Microsoft OS will probably also start to go on sale in stores.
The new software brings the return of the Start Button (but not the Start Menu), offers new Live Tile options, offers a more consistent visual experience by letting you use the same wallpapers for the desktop and Start Screen, and offers support for running more than two apps in side-by-side windows using the new Modern UI.
Microsoft’s also been publishing a series of blog posts explaining some of the changes in the web browsing eperience, search, SkyDrive cloud storage, and other features. If you just can’t wait to get your hands on Windows 8.1, you can find out an awful lot about it by checking out the official Windows Blog.
Here’s a roundup of tech news from around the web.
- Microsoft updates its photo, video editing apps for Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1 will be available for download starting October 17th, and Microsoft is also promising a series of new and updated apps to go along with the new operating system. [Windows Blog] - Intel’s next-gen “Broadwell” 14nm chips could be delayed by about a quarter
Sure, Intel’s 4th-gen Core “Haswell” chips are still pretty new, but the company’s already hard at work on the next-gen, 14nm chips called Broadwell. Unfortunately a temporary roadbump could push back their launch by a few months. [CNET] - Netflix 3.0 for Andorid brings slide-out navigation, smoother operation
Netflix has rolled out an updated Android app with slide-out navigation, improved graphics, and a smaller lock screen widget when you use the app with a Chromecast. It’s a staged rollout, so it might not be available for everyone yet. [Android Police] - Google promises to support Chrome browser for Windows XP through at least April 2015
Windows XP is already pretty long in the tooth, but Microsoft hasn’t officially pulled the plug just yet. That’ll happen in about half a year — but Google says its web browser will continue to support Windows XP users for at least another 18 months or so. [Chrome Blog] - Single-board computer for embedded applications with Ti OMAP 5 ARM Cortex-A15 CPU
Texas Instruments may not be making chips for consumer devices anymore, but the company’s TI OMAP5 ARM Cortex-A15 chip is alive and kicking in niche devices like this tiny embedded computing board. [LinuxGizmos]
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I do not fear the coming of Windows 8.1. Both Start8 and Classic Shell have been updated to work with the newest offering from Redmond.
All of Microcruft’s advertisments have people golfing, driving, jogging, dancing, everything except use computers…
That seems to match their developers, they don’t want computer users, they just target Walmart shopping couch potatoes, who think their lives will be all happy and bouncy if they just buy one of those turds from Microcruft. “Rule the living room” “copy Apple’s business model” pffft
The direction taken by Microsoft is no picnic for developers either, whether within the company or outside. Many are calling it the end of software development as we know it and expect to be reduced to scribbling JavaScript in the near future. Better look toward alternative platforms like the far more open Android for possible salvation.
So does anyone know if Windows 8.1 now allows you to modify past networks while not connected to them or even in range if it was a WiFi access point? I know I can delete past WiFi access points using a command prompt but I can’t modify past network locations or Ethernet networks. Also, when I tether my phone using USB, it keeps creating a new network for it (ie. Network 1, Network 2, Network 3, …, Network 35, …). I have to modify the registry to get rid of them. That’s just going backwards in usability.
Also, does it automatically connect to WiFi access points when they come into range while in Connected Standby? Currently, you have to go out of Connected Standby for Windows to recognize and connect to them. You’d think touting “always connected” would mean it’ll try to connect to WiFi when in Connected Standby.
Talking about Connected Standby, does Windows now honor wake locks requested by desktop applications (ie. download/upload applications, 3rd party malware scanners, etc.). Right now, Windows still goes into Connected Standby which suspends the desktop side even though I have something running that normally prevents standby while active.