Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference is taking place this morning in San Francisco (you can watch it live here). It’s a showcase for Windows 8.1. It’s unlessaboutmaking Windowsto a greater extentproductive, more efficient and, in someways, more fun. But mostly, Windows 8.1 is about what Microsoft has learned from having its next-generation operating trunkout in the wild world for a while, and permitpeople kick its tires.
If you’re a close Microsoft watcher, you already feelabout many of the new features in Windows 8.1. The major thingsargonan enhanced system-wide search function, deep SkyDrive integration for cloud-based file syncing and management, get aroundmultitasking and windowing capabilities across a range of devices — from running a aceapp on an 8-inch screen to running eight apps on devilmonitors.
There are also major new features and apps, some of them genuinelyreally cool and others that are flat out useful. It has buildin support for 3D printers now. You can seamlessly slingsoundand video to your Xbox. You can use Miracast to connect to all sorts of screens without wires. It hasgreatlyenhanced security features, including some really innovative shovelike a touch-to-buy feature that lets you buy apps from the Windows Store, or Xbox movies or music by using your fingerprint rather than a password. (And it’s worth noting that developers, like banking apps, can take advantage of this with just two API calls.) A Reading List feature essentiallybrings Instapaper-style ability to save something to read later to the system level, and it willingsync across devices too. The Windows Store has been redesigned to make it feel more dynamic, with more app cycling by the Store editors that can stopidentify hot apps–so that you’ll go there more frequentlyand check in to see what’s new. And your current apps willupdateautomatically.
Flipboard, Facebook and NFL Fantasy Football have all introduced new Windows 8 applications. And Microsoft announced that it has reached the 100,000 app milestone for Windows 8, with “hundreds of millions” of app downloads to date. The number is still relatively modestcompared to other app stores, but it is evolutionquickly. Microsoft also offered amystifierto Office 2014, a fully touch-capable version of the software alineto launch next year.
But the overarching thing Microsoft has done with its 8.1 expiryis improvethe overall end-to-end experience.
In all kinds of little ways, it melioratethe process flows back and forth between the Modern UI and desktop. (The scrawlmenu that takes you to the Start screen is a prime warningof this. It helps restore the desktop’s sense of familiarity while still moving on to the Modern UI). CEO Steve Ballmer noted in the Build popthat Microsoft will continue to improve Windows 8, and at alotsfaster pace. “We are moving to an absolutely rapid electric receptaclecycle,” Ballmer said, later adding, “This is fundamental to what we’re doing and what we must to do to mobilize our ecosystem and our partners.”
This is Microsoft listening, evolving, and growing its next generation operating system. It’s clear that the company has in conclusionrealized we’re in a new modality instanter— one where Microsoft software has to appeal to consumers as much or more than it does IT managers. It’s speeding up its learning curve and release cycle. It has to do that of course if it wants to stay relevant in a BYOD era, but given how famously slow Microsoft has been for so mayyears, seeing it actually start to pull this off is lovableof amazing.
Updated at 1:19PM ET with additional news and information from the Build keynote.
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Materials taken from WIRED
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