‘Start’ button makes debut on new Windows 8.1 ad

With the upcoming October 18 release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft has started to roll out ads for the new operating system.

The first ad for the new OS highlights the return of the Start button. It emphasizes your ability to start up your Windows device straight to the desktop and switch back and forth between the desktop and the Metro Start Screen by tapping or clicking on the start button.

Skype will be pre-installed on Windows 8.1

While Skype won’t be consider bloatware by it supposedly over 300 million users, it’s still joining the ranks of what PC users usually call bloatware as it is going to come pre-installed with Microsoft’s Windows 8.1.

Other programs that are going to be front-and-center when you use the upcoming OS include Outlook.com, SkyDrive, Internet Explorer, Music, Games, Video, Bing Health & Fitness, Bing Food & Drink, Bing News, Bing Weather, Bing Travel, Bing Finance, Bing Sports, Mail, Calendar, People, Reading List, Camera, Photos, Maps, Alarms, Calculator, Reader, Sound Recorder, and Scan.

Source: Windows Experience Blog

Microsoft wants you to gear up for Windows 8.1 release

The folks at Redmond want you to mark your calendars for the worldwide release of Windows 8.1. Windows 8 users will be receiving it as a free update through the Windows Store on October 17 and the retail release is set for the next day, October 18—just a few days shy of the one-year anniversary of the operating system (October 26).

Microsoft promises new features and the return of the Start button with the OS update. Supposedly, it’ll have better integration between the desktop and Start screen to minimize the jarring effect of the two interfaces. They have also improved Internet Explorer 11, cloud connectivity with SkyDrive, search capabilities, and Windows Store experience, among others.

New details on SkyDrive for Microsoft Windows 8.1

Microsoft outlined details about the improvements done on SkyDrive for the upcoming Windows 8.1, including placeholder files, offline access, and file picker integration.

Placeholder files gives you access to your files and folders without downloading them, minimizing the use of local disk space and internet bandwidth. You’ll be able to see the basic properties and file contents and the files will only be downloaded when you access them. With offline access, you can mark the files or folders you need to access when you aren’t online. And if you’ve edited a file on a device, SkyDrive will automatically make this accessible for offline use. And file picker lets any Windows Store app save files to SkyDrive easily without added work. You can find out more information about these features here.