Windows 8.1 apps New additions and crucial updates

While many of Windows 8.1 s major changes focus on the user interface ultimately it all comes down to the apps.

After all the modern style side of Windows 8 is supposed to be all about getting out of the way and letting you enjoy those big screen touch friendly applications. In Windows 8.1 Preview Microsoft has done a lot of work on its existing applications and it s also come up with some new apps to help fill the gaps in the Windows Store catalog.

We ve already provided an overview of these apps in our hands on with Windows 8.1 but now let s take a closer look at what s new and what s different

Alarm Jared NewmanThe Alarm interface in Windows 8.1 Preview is minimalist to a fault.

The new Alarm app is a helpful addition if you want to keep a Windows 8 tablet by your bedside but in its current state it seems a bit sparse not unlike the first generation of Windows 8 apps.

All the basic things you d expect from an alarm app are intact including a timer and a stopwatch and the ability to set an alarm to repeat any given day of the week. The interface is slick and the circular dial for setting times is cute. It d be nice to see some more advanced functions such as volume fade in wake to music and a dimmer for using the app as a nighttime clock.

Jared NewmanAlarm options include repeat settings and a long selection of chimes.Calculator

In Windows 8.1 Microsoft has gone above and beyond the basic desktop calculator with this new modern style app. The basic math functions are still there but users can also switch to a scientific calculator. With the unit converter users can calculate volume length weight temperature energy area speed time power and data.

Jared NewmanThe calculator can switch to scientific mode and snap side by side with the desktop.

Although it isn t the most exotic app around this might be the one modern style function that desktop users might fall in love with. It s especially useful when snapped side by side with the desktop allowing you to calculate without messing around with individual window sizes.

Sound Recorder Jared NewmanSimple as ever the Sound Recorder makes quick if not sophisticated work of grabbing audio.

Just like the desktop Sound Recorder app the new modern style version is dead simple. Just hit the microphone button and start recording. You can trim down an audio file rename it and delete it but that s it.

Camera Jared NewmanThe simplified Camera interface puts buttons on the right side of the screen.

If you enjoy taking photos with tablets you ll find lots of useful new features in the Windows 8.1 camera app. The interface is now a little less confusing with quick camera and video capture buttons on the right side of the screen. The app menu includes a camera roll button exposure settings and the timer. Camera options including video stabilization and aspect ratio have been moved to the Settings section on the charm bar.

Jared NewmanThe Windows 8.1 Preview version of Camera has many new editing options.

Once you ve taken a photo the app provides some new editing options. In addition to cropping a photo you can now rotate it or go into a full blown editing mode where you ll find options for red eye lighting color and focus. You can also set a photo as your lock screen open it in another app or start a slideshow. This app doesn t offer drawing cut and paste or the precise cropping and resizing options you get from MS Paint but it looks like a fine option for basic photo editing on touch based PCs.

Food Drink

Although plenty of food related Windows apps exist already Microsoft has gone ahead and made one of its own. It s impressive offering recipes tips and articles about food wine and cocktails all gathered by Bing. Users can select from the app s list of recipes or create their own either by typing it in or taking a picture of a paper recipe and then add those recipes to a collection. The app also lets you create shopping lists and meal plans which can be shared with other apps through the charm bar.

Jared NewmanThe new Food Drink app adds content gathered by Bing.

Less useful at least in my experience was the hands free mode that s supposed to let you swipe through recipes using your PC s webcam. Getting the app to respond to hand gestures was unreliable so it might just be easier to swipe with your elbows.

Reading List

While it s no replacement for true read it later apps like Pocket Reading List at least offers a simple way to save articles for later. There s not much to do in the app itself at least not until you ve saved up some things to read by using the Share charm in other apps such as Internet Explorer or News.

Jared NewmanAlthough it doesn t work offline Reading List does make it easy to save articles for later.

Keep in mind that this app behaves a bit differently from other readers. Instead of sucking up the text into the app itself Reading List actually sends you back to the original source. The downside to this approach is that the app doesn t work as an offline reader. It s strictly a way to save articles for later.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 11 brings some really useful changes to Windows 8.1. Most helpful is the ability to open up to three Web pages side by side in separate windows. To do this you must long press or right click a link or an open tab and select the option for new window. Opening multiple windows creates several instances of IE 11 in the Windows multitasking menu so you can get back to any open pages even if you drag them out of snap view.

Jared NewmanA big and welcome change to Internet Explorer 11 is the ability to open up to three pages side by side.

Other tweaks include syncing between all Windows 8.1 devices a reopen closed tab function saved passwords and a built in download viewer. And for those who can t stand the way modern style IE hides tabs and the address bar IE 11 includes an option in the Settings menu to show them at all times in a collapsed view. Combined these new features definitely help modern style IE serve as a competent replacement to the desktop browser.

Photos

Microsoft has changed the interface for the Photos app in Windows 8.1 bringing it closer to the file picker that appears in other apps. Strangely the ability to view online photo sources such as SkyDrive Facebook and Flickr was missing in our tests. But this may just be a bug as online sources were available through the file picker in other apps. As for editing the Photos app mirrors the Camera app with an edit mode that includes lighting tweaks red eye reduction and other options.

SkyDrive

At last SkyDrive s modern style app functions more like its desktop counterpart in Windows 8.1. Users now have the ability to cut copy paste and rename files seriously you couldn t do any of those things before and make files available for offline access. There s also an option in the Settings menu to make all SkyDrive files available offline which is helpful if you re using a laptop with plenty of storage space. Aside from those substantive changes the SkyDrive app s interface has been tweaked with smaller icons that allow for more items on the screen at once.

Jared NewmanYes You can now cut copy paste and rename files in SkyDrive Music

Microsoft s Xbox Music app is getting a major visual overhaul in Windows 8.1. The new design is a departure from the horizontally scrolling modern style apps we re used to with a navigation column on the left side and a vertically scrolling list of artists on the right. It s definitely an improvement more conducive to quickly getting to your music.

The app also does a better job of explaining itself. Small dialog boxes let you know when music s been stored locally or in the cloud while buttons at the top of the screen offer clear options for sorting your collection. As before Xbox Music lets users stream millions of free songs on demand up to 10 hours per month and listen to their local music collection all in a single app.

Jared NewmanXbox Music gets new look easier navigation and better help files.Maps News Sports Weather Finance and Travel

Most of these Bing powered apps have already received major updates and they are largely unchanged in Windows 8.1. Maps has some minor cosmetic changes to the app menu. Sports News and Finance now have a search bar that appears in the top right corner of the window. These apps didn t need major changes so it s okay that they re left alone for now.

The one exception is Travel which has yet to receive the same visual upgrade. The app puts certain features up front including hotel search and flight tracking and it fits more information on the screen. Actual features appear to be unchanged in the new app.

Mail Messaging People and Calendar

Microsoft made some big changes to these apps in March. While the company has promised further improvements in Windows 8.1 they re not part of the preview.

Windows Store Jared NewmanThe Windows Store layout is less crowded and easier to browse.

When it s time to venture beyond Microsoft s own apps the Windows Store is now much more inviting in Windows 8.1. The layout is completely different with a single carousel of featured apps on the left side of the screen followed by several rows of suggestions. These tiles are less crowded than they were in Windows and they each include a short written description so it s easier to browse without jumping back and forth between pages.

Microsoft has also tweaked the categorization on the main page. Scrolling through you ll see personalized recommendations trending apps new releases and top charts. Categories have been moved to the app menu so you ll have to swipe up or right click to see them.

Jared NewmanPages within the Windows Store now include personalized recommendations and other helpful information.

Individual app pages are getting a makeover in Windows 8.1 as well. Instead of having to click multiple tabs for app details and user reviews everything is laid out on a single scrollable page. That includes a new section of related apps and other apps by the same developer. Overall the Windows Store feels less sparse and easier to browse than it did in Windows 8.

A much better app experience

Going through all the new apps and updates you gain an appreciation of just how broken the modern style app situation was in Windows 8 and how much Microsoft had to do to fix it. Before apps like Internet Explorer and SkyDrive were no match for their desktop counterparts and key functions like a calculator and photo editor were missing entirely. Windows 8.1 has lots of other changes especially for desktop diehards but the improvements to the apps alone should help make Microsoft s platform a lot more hospitable for touchscreen PCs.

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