Microsoft will release a preview version of Windows 8.1 that Windows 8 users can download for free. This software update is meant to address some of the complaints that customers have about Microsoft’s latest operating system.
“If there’s any regret we had…it’s that we didn’t help orient people,” Microsoft’s Jensen Harris told ZD Net.
The preview version contains several substantial updates. Perhaps the biggest change is the start button that appears in the lower left hand corner of the start screen. Right-clicking the new start button allows users to power down their computers via the familiar popup menu.
"The new tip [the new start button] appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop," Microsoft's Antoine Leblond told Tech Radar.
The communication apps, such as mail and messaging, stay the same in the preview but will also be updated for the final release scheduled for later this year.
The camera app will include new controls that will allow users to create panoramas.
The music app has a new look and new features. Music’s home page will have three links that allow users to play music from their hard drive, stream music from a radio service, and buy music from the X Box store.
Internet Explorer 11 is also included in the preview. In the metro app, the tabs appear at the bottom of the screen, just above the address bar. Users will also have access to their favorites.