Microsoft has now revealed a few more details about the next version of Windows, version 8.1, codenamed Windows Blue. For users, the big news is that Microsoft is bringing back the familiar start button and offering a whole lot of new customization options for the start screen. But Microsoft is making a lot of other changes as well. Here are some that will be of interest to developers:
- Downloaded apps will no longer pin to the Start screen.
- Swiping up will allow users to see all of their apps at once.
- Apps will update automatically, instead of users needing to apply updates manually.
- Users will have the option of booting to the desktop interface instead of the Windows 8 touchscreen-friendly interface.
- Apps will automatically sync across all of a user’s Windows 8 devices.
- Microsoft will include several new apps and updates for several of its existing apps.
- Users will have the option of displaying more than two apps at once in “Snap” mode.
- The Windows Store will get a redesign.
- Windows 8.1 will add support for smaller tablets.
