Windows 8.1 x86/x64 Direct Download

Windows 8.1

Microsoft has just released the Preview edition of Windows 8.1 codenamed Windows “Blue”. For the uninformed this is an updated version of Windows 8 that was released back in 2012. The version number 8.1 here indicates that it not a new OS but more of an update. This update is free for all Windows 8 users.

This is a preview version and may have some rough edges. So it is not recommended for production use. So don’t install it on your main system. The final version will be release later this year. The changes in this update are subtle. Many existing features are refined. Here are the major changes:

What’s New

Apps

New calculator, sound recorder, video editing app.
Internet Explorer 11 and powershell v4.0.
The skydrive app is revamped and is much more usable now.
The search app provides integrated search result from PC, web and apps.
Improved App Store that can update the installed apps automatically.

Usability

Live tiles can now be resized to smaller size. New extra large size for desktop tile.
The colour of start screen can be changed to any colour instead of selecting from predefined colours as before.
The biggest improvement in usability is that the the apps can be snapped to half of screen instead of either 25% or 75% earlier.
There is now a visible start button.
Now you can boot directly to desktop.
The hot spots in the upper right and left corner of the screen can now be disabled via settings.

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