Windows 8.1 Public Preview现在可供下载，它为 Windows 8 带来了许多变化。此更新中有很多新内容，而且一切都很好。虽然你们中的许多人会认为 Windows 8.1 主要是关于触控和平板电脑(touch and tablets)，但你这样想就大错特错了。Windows 8.1 为传统 PC 用户提供了大量升级。我测试了可用的最新版本，这是我学到的：
安装和设置过程(Different Installation & Setup Process)略有不同
Windows 8.1 的设置过程(setup process)略有不同，其中包括一些关于激活操作系统(operating system)和设置与SkyDrive集成级别的新步骤。
此外，首次登录后显示的教程略有不同。
具有许多可用性(Many Usability)改进的新开始屏幕(New Start Screen)
开始(Start)屏幕看起来更好，更易于使用，尤其是对于没有触摸屏的 PC 用户。有更多可用的磁贴大小、使用应用程序访问列表的更快和更直观的方式、更轻松地搜索应用程序、更轻松地对磁贴和快捷方式进行分组和命名(grouping and naming)，以及更多可用的视觉自定义。
您还可以将桌面(Desktop)墙纸设置为“开始(Start)”屏幕的背景，从而使两者之间的过渡比以前更加顺畅。
Charms得到了改进，现在它们提供了更多的交互性。例如，“设备(Devices)”超级按钮允许您从连接到 PC 或网络的设备播放多媒体内容。
共享(Share)魅力提供了新选项，例如轻松截屏或共享您正在使用的应用程序的Windows应用商店链接(Windows Store link)。
这提高了Windows 8应用程序之间的交互级别。
改进的桌面和桌面应用程序(Improved Desktop & Desktop Applications)
开始(Start)按钮回到Windows任务栏(Windows taskbar)。当您单击它时，它会将您带到“开始(Start)”屏幕，并且它会保持可用几秒钟。这只是为了以防您想快速切换回桌面(Desktop)- 一个小小的触摸会在可用性方面产生巨大的差异，尤其是对 PC 用户而言。
PC 用户最大的抱怨之一是他们可以轻松触发Charms的显示，即使他们不想显示它们。Windows 8.1 默认配置为，在传统 PC 上，Charms和最近的应用程序(Recent Apps)列表仅在转到右上角或左上角时显示。您还可以禁用触发它们的热点。再见(Goodbye)意外触发Charms ！
文件资源管理器(File Explorer)有一个新的有用的“启动文件夹”("Startup folder")。计算机(Computer)部分已重命名为这台电脑(This PC)，它现在显示标准用户文件夹和库（桌面、文档、下载、音乐、图片(Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures)和视频(Videos)）的快捷方式，以及可用的分区和驱动器，以及它检测到的网络设备。如果你问我，这是一个可喜的变化。
一些博主说库(Libraries)将从Windows 8.1中消失。这不是真的！他们要留在这里。只有文件资源管理器(File Explorer)的组织方式已更改。
隐藏的高级用户(Power User)菜单 ( Windows + X ) 得到了进一步增强。它包括更多快捷方式，包括Shut Down或Restart的快捷方式。许多极客和 IT 专业人士会喜欢这个。
你想启动到桌面(boot to the Desktop)吗？现在你可以。但是，您还可以做更多的事情(LOT)。只需查看下面的配置窗口(configuration window)。桌面体验(desktop experience)的增强列表很棒：您可以自定义开始(Start)屏幕以显示应用程序(Apps)列表并模拟旧的开始菜单(Start Menu)。您可以将Windows 8.1设置为(Windows 8.1)应用程序(Apps)列表中的桌面应用程序和许多其他有用的东西的优先级。
应用程序(Apps)列表还有更多过滤器可用于对应用程序进行排序 - 可用性改进将受到许多人的欢迎。
接下来，PowerShell正准备作为命令提示符(Command Prompt)的继任者。很可能，命令提示符在(Command Prompt)Windows 9中将不再可用。
正在为企业 PC 用户准备一项新功能：工作文件夹(Work Folders)- 它将您的工作文件与您的个人文件分开，并使它们在您的所有设备上保持同步。
Internet Explorer 11在标准合规性、速度、性能和开发工具(performance and developer tools)方面获得了更新。但是，界面基本保持不变。此外，它现在支持无限选项卡，而不是像Internet Explorer 10中那样只有 10 个选项卡。现代版Internet Explorer 11还可以并排显示选项卡，这只有在使用桌面版时才有可能。
并排对齐窗口效果更好。现在窗口可以排列在多个位置，尤其是当您有多个可用显示器时。Windows 8.1 还可以在更高分辨率下更好地扩展，并提供对Retina显示器的支持。它还可以将图像无线扩展至兼容 Miracast 的显示器——随着SmartTV(SmartTVs)的扩展，这一标准越来越受欢迎。
新的 Windows 8 应用程序和一个很棒的商店
有更多可用的应用程序。Windows 8.1 现在包括：Bing Food & Drink、Bing Health & Fitness、日历、相机、帮助和提示、Internet Explorer、人物、照片、阅读器、天气、Windows 警报、Windows 计算器、Windows 阅读列表、Windows 扫描、Windows 录音机、金融、游戏、邮件、地图、音乐、新闻、体育、SkyDrive、旅游(Bing Food & Drink, Bing Health & Fitness, Calendar, Camera, Help & Tips, Internet Explorer, People, Photos, Reader, Weather, Windows Alarms, Windows Calculator, Windows Reading List , Windows Scan, Windows Sound Recorder, Finance, Games, Mail, Maps, Music, News, Sports, SkyDrive, Travel)和视频(Video)。
旧的Windows 8应用程序已得到改进。它们在平板电脑和 PC 上都更有用。它们提供更多功能和更多自定义选项。Xbox SmartGlass 应用程序(Xbox SmartGlass app)也即将推出新(New)更新，该应用程序仍未与操作系统(operating system)捆绑，必须从商店(Store)安装。
说到商店(Store)——它已经有了很大的改进：根据您过去使用的应用程序，更加专注于为应用程序提供定制的推荐。此外，新应用程序的发现更简单。您可以轻松识别商店中的新产品以及流行的产品。
应用程序(Apps)以更好的方式显示：访问评论和查看来自同一开发人员的应用程序现在非常容易。商店(Store)显示的上下文菜单要好得多。它包括更多选项，使应用程序发现过程(discovery process)更快。
您还可以从应用商店管理您的(Store)Microsoft 帐户(Microsoft account)，添加付款方式、礼品卡、促销代码以及执行许多其他过去需要使用Web 浏览器(web browser)的有用活动。这就是Store最初应该做的。
严重改进的 PC 设置
PC 设置(PC Settings)现在是控制面板(Control Panel)的强大替代品。如果您在平板电脑上使用Windows 8.1，您将不再需要像过去那样经常使用控制面板。(Control Panel)
当您打开它时，PC 设置(PC Settings)会显示一个列表，其中包含您最常访问的顶级设置。这个小而有用的可用性改进(usability improvement)将取悦许多用户。
然后，在PC 设置(PC Settings)中，您现在可以配置许多新内容：从显示器的分辨率到SkyDrive或文件历史记录(File History)的工作方式。
它还不是控制面板(Control Panel)的完整替代品，因为一些真正高级的设置不可用，但它肯定会实现。
更好的搜索
搜索更容易，尤其是在Windows 8.1应用程序中，而且在您使用“开始(Start)”屏幕时也是如此。在应用程序中，搜索框(search box)更容易找到，因为您不再需要使用“搜索”(Search)超级按钮。
然后，当从“开始”屏幕执行搜索时，您可以获得更多可用资源，包括(Start)Bing提供的网络信息、图像和视频。
在搜索结果页面中，Windows 8.1 在一个大屏幕上显示本地文件和应用程序，以及来自网络的数据。
尽管目前体验存在很大缺陷，但这无疑是微软(Microsoft)朝着正确方向迈出的一步。
显然，如果您不希望Windows 8.1搜索网络并显示(web and display results)来自Bing的结果，则可以禁用此集成，您将只能执行本地搜索。
更紧密的 SkyDrive 集成
SkyDrive集成更好，并遵循Office 365设置的模型。Windows 8.1 捆绑了现代应用程序和SkyDrive桌面应用程序。此外，SkyDrive现在在(SkyDrive)文件资源管理器(File Explorer)中有自己的部分。
在Windows 8.1中，您可以更好地管理 SkyDrive 同步数据的方式、同步的数据、SkyDrive 上的可用空间等方面。全部，直接来自操作系统(operating system)。您不再需要为这些任务使用Web 浏览器。(web browser)
Windows 8.1 中未包含的内容
我仍然希望在Windows 8.1中看到一些东西，但还没有。至少不在公共预览版(preview version)中：
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没有简单的方法可以从“开始”屏幕关闭或重新启动 Windows 8.1(There is no easy way to shutdown or restart Windows 8.1 from the Start screen)。是的，隐藏的高级用户菜单(power-user menu)使其更容易，但访问它并不直观。用户需要使用新的键盘快捷键(keyboard shortcut)来访问它：Windows+X。
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“开始”屏幕上不显示时间和日期信息(There is no time and date information being displayed on the Start screen)。这是微软(Microsoft)迄今为止尚未处理的另一个问题。许多用户，包括我自己，都喜欢将时间直接显示在“开始(Start)”屏幕上。这是非常有用的信息。
结论
在对Windows 8.1 Public Preview进行了几个小时的测试后，我对所看到的感到非常满意。是的，还有一些事情需要解决，但微软(Microsoft)确实听取了反馈。他们几乎解决了用户在Windows 8(Windows 8)中抱怨的所有问题。这绝对是一个很棒的更新，它会让许多批评者安静下来，并且肯定会提高采用率。简而言之：Windows 8.1是(Windows 8.1)微软(Microsoft)及其客户向前迈出的一大步。
What's New in Windows 8.1 Public Preview (codename "Blue")?
Windows 8.1 Public Preview is now available for download and it brings many changes to Windows 8. There's lots of new stuff coming in this update and all of it is good. While many of you would think thаt Windows 8.1 is mostly about touch and tablets, you would be very wrong to think ѕo. Windows 8.1 packs lots of upgradeѕ for traditionаl PC users. I tested the latest verѕion available and here's what I have learned:
Slightly Different Installation & Setup Process
Windows 8.1 has a slightly different setup process that includes some new steps about activating the operating system and setting up the level of integration with SkyDrive.
Also, the tutorial shown after the first login is slightly different.
A New Start Screen with Many Usability Improvements
The Start screen looks better and it is easier to use, especially for PC users without touch screens. There are more tile sizes available, quicker & more intuitive ways to access the list with applications, easier searching for apps, easier grouping and naming of tiles and shortcuts, plus more visual customisations available.
You can also set your Desktop wallpaper as the background for the Start screen, thus making the transition between the two smoother than it used to be.
The Charms have been improved and they now provide more interactivity. For example, the Devices charm allows you to play multimedia content from the devices connected to your PC or your network.
The Share charm offers new options like easy screenshot taking, or the sharing of the Windows Store link for the app you are using.
This enhances the level of interactivity between Windows 8 apps.
Improved Desktop & Desktop Applications
The Start button is back to the Windows taskbar. When you click it, it takes you to the Start screen and it remains available for a couple of seconds. This is just in case you want to quickly switch back to the Desktop - a small touch that makes a huge difference in usability, especially to PC users.
One of the biggest complaints PC users had was that they could easily trigger the display of the Charms, even when they did not want them displayed. Windows 8.1 is configured by default so that, on traditional PCs, the Charms and the Recent Apps list are displayed only when going to the upper-right or upper-left corners. You can also disable the hot-corners that trigger them. Goodbye triggering the Charms by accident!
The File Explorer has a new and useful "Startup folder". The Computer section has been renamed to This PC and it now displays shortcuts to standard user folders and libraries (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures and Videos), as well as the partitions and drives available, plus the network devices it detects. A welcome change, if you ask me.
Some bloggers said that Libraries will be gone from Windows 8.1. That's not true! They are here to stay. Only the way File Explorer is organized has been changed.
The hidden Power User menu (Windows + X) has been further enhanced. It includes more shortcuts including shortcuts for Shut Down or Restart. Many geeks and IT professionals will love this.
You wanted to boot to the Desktop? Now you can. But, you can also do a LOT more. Just look at the configuration window below. The list of enhancements to the desktop experience is great: you can customize the Start screen to show the Apps list and emulate the old Start Menu. You can set Windows 8.1 to prioritize desktop applications in the Apps list and many other useful things.
The Apps list also has more filters that can be used to sort apps - a usability improvement that will be welcomed by many.
Next, PowerShell is being prepared as the successor to the Command Prompt. Most probably, the Command Prompt will no longer be available in Windows 9.
A new feature is being prepared for enterprise PC users: Work Folders - it keeps your work files separate from your personal files and keeps them in sync across all your devices.
Internet Explorer 11 received updates in terms of standards compliance, speed, performance and developer tools. However, the interface remains mostly unchanged. Also, it now supports unlimited tabs, instead of just 10 tabs as it was in Internet Explorer 10. The Modern version of Internet Explorer 11 can also display tabs side by side, which was possible only when using the desktop version.
Snapping windows side by side works even better. Now windows can be arranged in a multitude of positions, especially when you have multiple displays available. Windows 8.1 also scales better at higher resolutions and it provides support for Retina displays. It can also extend the image wirelessly to a Miracast-compatible display - a standard that is growing in popularity with the expansion of SmartTVs.
New Windows 8 Apps & A Great Store
There are more apps available. Windows 8.1 now includes: Bing Food & Drink, Bing Health & Fitness, Calendar, Camera, Help & Tips, Internet Explorer, People, Photos, Reader, Weather, Windows Alarms, Windows Calculator, Windows Reading List , Windows Scan, Windows Sound Recorder, Finance, Games, Mail, Maps, Music, News, Sports, SkyDrive, Travel and Video.
The old Windows 8 apps have been improved. They are more usable both on the tablet and the PC. They provide more features and more customisation options. New updates are coming also to the Xbox SmartGlass app which is still not bundled with the operating system and must be installed from the Store.
Speaking of the Store - it has been greatly improved: there's a lot more focus on providing customized recommendations for apps, based on those you have used in the past. Also, the discovery of new apps is simpler. You can easily identify what's new in the store as well as what's popular.
Apps are displayed in a better way: accessing reviews and viewing apps from the same developer is now very easy. The contextual menu shown by the Store is so much better. It includes many more options that make the app discovery process faster.
You can also manage your Microsoft account from the Store, add payment methods, gift cards, promotional codes and do many other useful activities that used to require using a web browser. This is what the Store should have been in the first place.
Seriously Improved PC Settings
PC Settings is now a strong alternative to the Control Panel. If you are using Windows 8.1 on a tablet, you will no longer have to use the Control Panel as often as you did in the past.
When you open it, PC Settings displays a list with your top settings, those you access most often. This small but useful usability improvement that will please many users.
Then, in PC Settings, you can now configure many new things: from the resolution of the display, to the SkyDrive or the way File History works.
It's not yet a full-blown alternative to the Control Panel, as some really advanced settings are not available, but it is definitely getting there.
Better Search
Searching is easier, especially in Windows 8.1 apps, but also when you are using the Start screen. In apps, the search box is easier to find, as you no longer have to use the Search charm.
Then, when performing searches from the Start screen, you have more sources available, including web information, images and videos, provided by Bing.
In the search results page, Windows 8.1 displays both local files and apps, as well as data from the web, in one big screen.
Even though the experience is a big buggy at the moment, this is a definite step in the right direction on Microsoft's part.
Obviously, if you don't want Windows 8.1 to search the web and display results from Bing, this integration can be disabled and you will be able to perform only local searches.
Tighter SkyDrive Integration
SkyDrive integration is better and follows the model set by Office 365. Windows 8.1 bundles both a modern app and the SkyDrive desktop application. Also, SkyDrive now has its own section in File Explorer.
In Windows 8.1, you can better manage how SkyDrive syncs your data, what data it syncs, the space available on your SkyDrive and other aspects. All, directly from the operating system. You no longer have to use a web browser for these tasks.
What's not included in Windows 8.1
There are still a few things that I expected to see in Windows 8.1 but are not there yet. At least not in the public preview version:
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There is no easy way to shutdown or restart Windows 8.1 from the Start screen. Yes, the hidden power-user menu makes it easier but accessing it is not intuitive. Users need to use a new keyboard shortcut to access it: Windows+X.
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There is no time and date information being displayed on the Start screen. This is another problem that hasn't been handled so far by Microsoft. Many users, including myself, like to have the time displayed directly on the Start screen. It's really useful information.
Conclusion
After testing the Windows 8.1 Public Preview for a couple of hours, I am very pleased by what I am seeing. Yes, there are still a few things that need to be ironed out but Microsoft has really listened to feedback. They have addressed almost everything users complained about in Windows 8. This definitely feels like a great update, one which will quiet many critics and will surely improve adoption. To put it simply: Windows 8.1 is a great step forward for Microsoft and their customers.
