While Microsoft finally ended support for the beloved Windows XP operating system, it has now made its latest Windows 8.1 major update available.
This is the first major update to come for the Windows 8.1 OS and it will bring a slew of improvements and new features to the table, aiming to enhance the experience and fix what the previous versions botched.
Windows 8.1 Update 1 is now available for free for users who are already running Microsoft's latest Windows 8.1 OS. In addition to the set of new enhancements and features, the update will also improve support for keyboard and mouse.
Moreover, the new update will also sport enhancements that will enable it to automatically detect the device on which Windows 8.1 is running and act accordingly. If it detects a tablet, for instance, the OS will automatically launch the tough-based Metro interface mode for more convenience.
"The Windows 8.1 Update delivers a collection of refinements designed to give people a more familiar and convenient experience across touch, keyboard and mouse inputs. It also brings improvements for business customers, really accelerates opportunity for developers and enables device makers to offer lower cost devices," Microsoft touted in a company blog post on Tuesday, April 8.
"On the Start screen, if you right-click on an app tile, you will get a context menu next to the app tile that shows you what you can do with the tile, like unpin from Start, pin to the taskbar, change the tile size or even uninstall the app. Right-clicking on an app tile on the Start screen works just like right-clicking on something on the desktop," adds the blog post.
Windows 8 was highly-criticized and the subsequent Windows 8.1 rolled out to patch things up, but the latest update is expected to bring notable and much-needed improvements. Among the most highly-anticipated features is the new Power and Search buttons in the Start menu, which will make things much easier for Windows 8.1 users.
The update has started rolling out to customers worldwide on Tuesday, April 8, via Windows Update. The rollout will be gradual and users who have automatic updates turned on will get it without any input from their part. If, however, you want to get the latest update ahead of the automatic install, you can do so by manually checking for new updates via the Windows Update control panel. In the meantime, watch the video below to learn more about the latest Windows 8.1 Update 1.
