GeekwithEnvy

windows 8.1

Microsoft Offers $200 for your iPad

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Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft is trying to get you to part with your iPad in hopes that you will buy a Surface RT/Pro instead. You can bring in a used iPad 2, 3, or 4 and get a minimum of $200 on a gift card for use at the Microsoft store. Of course the offer can be used towards other Microsoft products as well, like Xbox or anything else that you fancy in the Microsoft store.

Microsoft has been ramping up it’s campaign against Apple as of late as it tries to gain some ground in the mobile device market. The Surface opened up to some pretty weak sales and unfortunately this trend has continued throughout the life of the product. Microsoft’s tablet has already seen a price cut, which is now permanent, and currently the RT version is selling for $349 while the Pro version is selling for $799.

Despite weaker sales numbers Microsoft does see a strong future for mobile versions of Windows and will soon be revealing Surface 2 to the world on September 23rd which will ship with Windows 8.1.

 

How To Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8.1

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Windows8DesktopBoot

The new Windows 8 Start screen is great but it’s not for everyone and having to click to get to the desktop just a waste of time if you never use it. Thankfully, there is a way to get past this and it’s built right into Windows 8.1. Yes, there are no secret codes, buttons or hacks necessary to accomplish this.

Just follow these steps:

  • Boot up your computer and click the “Desktop Tile” to enter “Desktop Mode”
  • Right-Click on the “Task Bar”
  • Select “Properties”
  • Select the “Navigation Tab”
  • Place a check in the checkbox next to “Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in”
  • Click “OK”

That’s it, it really is that simple. Next time you reboot your computer it will take you right to the desktop, no questions asked.

Don’t have the Windows 8.1 Preview and you want to try it out? Microsoft has you covered on their Windows 8.1 Preview page.

 

 

 

Microsoft Gives Us a Glimpse of Windows 8.1

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Win8_1StartScreen
Screenshot of the new, more customizable, Window 8.1 Start Screen. (Credit: Microsoft)

Windows 8.1 will be here soon and it will add much needed improvements to the currently somewhat broken and fragmented experience.

To keep us excited about the release of Windows 8.1 Microsoft has created a blog post detailing some of the features of the new update. Here is a very brief summary of that update, you can read the full blog post from Microsoft for complete details.

Some of the features include:

  • Deeper customization of the Start Screen, which will allow you to have more choice in backgrounds, some even have motion.
  • Improved search functionality from the charms search feature which will now see the integration of Bing.
  • PC settings will now be fully integrated into the new UI so you will no longer need to access the control panel on the desktop to change your PC’s settings.
  • Internet Explorer 11, which will work better with touch and offer faster browsing.
  • Overall better support and features for mouse and keyboard users. Microsoft has said many times that Windows 8 is a touch-first OS but this should hopefully smooth out a lot of the desktop unfriendly issues that Windows 8 has.

 

 

 

It’s No Longer Blue, It’s Windows 8.1

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Windows 8 LogoThe next update to Windows 8, which was codenamed “Blue”, now has an official name, Windows 8.1. That sounds about right, there’s really no need to put any spin on it, just increment and improve please. Windows 8 is an adventure and whether you love it or hate it, it’s clear that the OS needs a bit of repair and a whole lot of love. The update will be available for free.

One of the biggest problems I have with Windows 8 is it’s dual personality. Currently, the new UI doesn’t allow you to access to all of the settings that are available in the control panel, instead you end up back in “Desktop Mode” with the “old” control panel open. The experience needs to feel complete and flipping between old and new just breaks up the flow. It needs to be one or the other. Windows 8.1 will hopefully address some of these issues by fully integrating your settings into the new UI.

This is the first of many updates that will eventually hit Windows 8 users as Microsoft has ramped up their update release schedule. Some see this new cycle as an advantage for Microsoft as it allows them to keep things “fresh”. Others have criticized the new cycle saying that updates could be a lot less stable and/or secure since they have less time to work out the bugs. No matter what we think, Microsoft has chosen a direction and time will tell whether it was the right direction.