Windows 8.1 (codenamed Blue) is an upgrade for Windows 8, a computer
operating system released by Microsoft. First unveiled and released as a public
beta in June 2013, it was released to manufacturing on August 27, 2013, and
reached general availability on October 17, 2013, almost a year after the
retail release of its predecessor. Windows 8.1 is available free of charge for
retail copies of Windows 8 and Windows RT users via the Windows Store. Unlike
service packs on previous versions of Windows, users who obtained Windows 8
outside of retail copies or pre-loaded installations (i.e., volume licensing)
must obtain Windows 8.1 through new installation media from their respective
subscription or enterprise channel. Microsoft's support lifecycle policy treats
Windows 8.1 similar to previous service packs of Windows: It is part of Windows
8's support lifecycle, and installing Windows 8.1 is required to maintain
access to support and Windows updates after January 12, 2016. However, unlike
previous service packs, Windows 8.1 cannot be acquired via Windows Update.
Released as part of a shift by Microsoft towards regular yearly major
updates for its software platforms and services, Windows 8.1 aims to address
complaints of Windows 8 users and reviewers on launch. Visible enhancements
include an improved Start screen, additional snap views, additional bundled apps,
tighter OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) integration, Internet Explorer 11, a
Bing-powered unified search system, restoration of a visible Start button on
the taskbar, and the ability to restore the previous behavior of opening the
user's desktop on login instead of the Start screen. Windows 8.1 also added
support for such emerging technologies as high-resolution displays, 3D
printing, Wi-Fi Direct, and Miracast streaming.
Windows 8.1 received mixed reception, although more positive than
Windows 8, with critics praising the expanded functionality available to apps
in comparison to 8, its OneDrive integration, along with its user interface
tweaks and the addition of expanded tutorials for operating the Windows 8
interface. Despite these improvements, Windows 8.1 was still criticized for not
addressing all digressions of Windows 8 (such as a poor level of integration
between Metro-style apps and the desktop interface), and the potential privacy
implications of the expanded use of online services. As of March 2016, the
market share of Windows 8.1 is 10.30%.
System Requirements :
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
No comments:
Post a Comment